Chapter 647 She Is Nothing
"No." Ryder rejected her without a second thought.
Saskia's tear-filled eyes flashed with shock. Then, without warning, she slapped herself hard across the face. The sound echoed through the hospital room.
"What are you doing?" Ryder lunged forward to grab her wrist, preventing her from hurting herself further.
Tears streamed down her face. "I'm the one who messed up. Don't you have any feelings for me at all anymore?"
"Not love," Ryder's answer was blunt. "Only guilt."
"Guilt?" Saskia sniffled, her tears gradually subsiding. She looked at him intently. "That really hurts, you know. But if that's how it is, I won't push you anymore."
"I'm glad you understand," Ryder said, relieved. He released her wrist.
In that moment, Saskia threw herself at him, landing in his arms.
Startled, his instinct was to push her away, but she spoke in the most pitiful voice:
"Ryder, please don't push me away. Do you think I'm dirty? Do you despise me for all the awful things I've done?"
Her voice trembled. "Yes, I was raped by Alfonso. He abused me in countless ways, even passed me around as a sex slave. And later, I became that horrible old man Constantine's mistress!"
She continued, her voice breaking. "I know I'm not good enough for you anymore. You may be just a delivery guy, but you're clean. You're still as bright and pure as you were in college, while I've fallen so far. I don't deserve you!"
"I won't ask to be with you anymore. Just give me one last hug, please? Let this be the perfect ending to these miserable years."
Ryder opened his arms, allowing her to embrace him.
After everything she had said, he felt obligated to grant this small request. He owed her this much at least.
Besides, if one hug could help her move on from the past, it was worth it.
Just then, through the transparent glass of the hospital door, Sarah stood watching as Ryder and Saskia held each other tightly.
The color drained from her face, rivaling Saskia's pallor in the hospital bed.
After everything that had happened at the hotel, Sarah couldn't stop worrying about Ryder.
That's why she had followed him to the hospital—only to find him embracing another woman.
Any wife would be upset seeing her husband in another woman's arms, especially when that woman was his first love—no matter how pitiful the first love might be.
When she first arrived at the hospital, she had run into Ryder's friend Donna, who explained the complicated history between Ryder and Saskia, asking Sarah to be understanding.
After all, Donna had emphasized, Ryder had wronged Saskia, and she hoped Sarah could be generous about it.
Sarah had initially thought she could handle it, but seeing them embrace made her heart ache unbearably.
Besides, Ryder was her husband. Why should she pretend to be magnanimous about another woman?
With that thought, Sarah pushed open the door and walked in.
"Sarah, why are you here?" Seeing her, Ryder instinctively pushed Saskia away and took a couple steps back, afraid Saskia might throw herself at him again.
Sarah positioned herself between them, facing Saskia directly. "Ms. Stewart, I've heard about what happened between you and my husband. Regarding your experiences, both Ryder and I sympathize deeply. If there's anything we can do to make amends, just name it. We'll do whatever we can."
Saskia easily detected the preemptive strike in Sarah's words.
She shrugged nonchalantly. "What if I said I wanted Ryder to divorce you and be with me? Could you do that?"
"You have quite the sense of humor, Ms. Stewart," Sarah replied with a cool smile.
"Do I?" Saskia countered. "But you're right. After all, someone like me who's been with countless men is hardly worthy of Ryder anymore. I shouldn't even dream of it."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "But what about you? If you were in my situation, do you think Ryder would still want you?"
"Whether he would or wouldn't doesn't matter," Sarah responded evenly. "I just know that if I were you from three years ago, I wouldn't have chosen this path for my life."
The tension in the hospital room was palpable as the two women faced off.
Ryder stood frozen, unable to find the right words to intervene.
After a heavy silence, Saskia suddenly laughed. "Look at you two! I was just joking. I can't believe you took me seriously!"
She leaned back against her pillows. "Anyway, I'm exhausted. Ryder, you should go. As they say, 'Don't cry over spilled milk'—that's something I understand perfectly well."
"Let's go," Sarah said firmly, turning to Ryder.
"Yes, let's head home," he agreed, relief evident in his voice.
Sarah grabbed Ryder's hand and pulled him out of the room without another glance at Saskia.
Her husband's hand belonged in hers alone!
She definitely wouldn't let Saskia damage their relationship.
-
As they were leaving the hospital, Ryder ran into Donna, who suggested he should be grateful to her for revealing the truth—perhaps with money or a meal.
Ryder's response was a swift kick to Donna's backside that nearly sent her sprawling.
Passing hospital staff and visitors cast curious glances their way. Rather than fighting back as they expected, Donna simply slunk away while he continued toward the exit, holding Sarah's hand.
The drive home was painfully quiet. Sarah focused on the road while Ryder fidgeted uncomfortably in the passenger seat.
The silence stretched between them until Sarah finally spoke.
"Why did you kick Donna? Shouldn't she have told me about you and Saskia?"
"Of course not!" Ryder replied quickly.
Sarah responded with a simple snort.
The silence returned, heavier than before. Ryder grew increasingly anxious in the quiet car.
"About Saskia, I can explain!" he said desperately. "Really, I haven't had any contact with her since we broke up three years ago. The only time I've seen her was when I picked you up at the train station that one time!"
Sarah remained silent.
"Sarah, are you listening? I truly have no feelings for Saskia anymore, you don't need to worry."
Still nothing.
"Sarah? Honey? Sarah, sweetheart?" His voice grew more pleading. "Are you listening to me? Really, don't worry. You're the only woman in my heart."
"Even if another woman stood naked in front of me, I wouldn't react at all! Don't be angry—she doesn't compare to you in any way."
"Who said I was angry?!" Sarah finally snapped, her knuckles white on the steering wheel.
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