Chapter 403

Evelyn climbed the steps, dressed in a white hospital gown, looking so frail that a gust of wind could blow her off the building.

The onlookers screamed in fear, covering their eyes, unable to watch.

"This is terrifying, absolutely terrifying."

"Someone get her down from there."

"Has she jumped yet?"

"This is too scary."

"My heart can't take this!"

Brian's face also showed signs of tension. Evelyn's emotions were extremely unstable right now, and he feared that one wrong step could send her plummeting down.

Swallowing hard, Brian lowered his voice, trying to calm her down. "Come down first, and then we can talk."

"You break up with her, and I'll come down," Evelyn shouted hoarsely, pointing at Layla.

"If you insist on doing this, then just jump." Layla's words shocked everyone.

A doctor quickly pulled Layla aside. "Don't provoke her any further. What if she really jumps?"

"She'll find another way to kill herself if she doesn't jump now. This isn't the first time she's threatened suicide. If she's going to jump, let her do it and stop scaring everyone," Layla urged loudly.

Her words drew disapproval from the crowd.

"You're being too heartless. Are you trying to drive her to her death?"

"After all, it's a human life. Don't speak so harshly."

"How can you be so cold-blooded?"

Evelyn clenched her fists and stood up straight. "Brian, did you hear that? She wants me dead so she can have you all to herself. You can't be with such a heartless woman who doesn't deserve you."

"Better than being with someone as extreme as you," Layla retorted. "You've been using suicide threats to cling to him for a whole year! If you don't die, Brian will be driven to death by you eventually. What's the point of scaring people with suicide threats? Just do it and stop bothering us."

"You... you want me dead, but I won't give you the satisfaction. I'll cling to him and make sure you two can never be together. Brian is mine. You can't have him!" Evelyn took one foot off the ledge, and the crowd let out a collective sigh of relief.

Evelyn took one foot off the ledge, and the crowd let out a collective sigh of relief.

"Weren't you going to die? Why haven't you jumped yet?" Layla sneered. "Scared?"

"Why should I die just because you tell me to? I won't make it that easy for you, you bitch," Evelyn cursed. "Brian, come back to me, please?"

"It's not going to happen," Brian replied.

"You've fallen in love with her, haven't you?" Evelyn asked, heartbroken, pointing at Layla. "She wants me dead, and you don't care?"

Layla whispered to the doctor, "You all should go downstairs."

"No way! Your blunt words might really push her to jump," doctors said.

"I know what I'm doing. Trust me, I won't let her jump," Layla said with absolute certainty.

"But, but... just don't provoke her anymore," the doctor said, looking back several times before finally leaving.

Only the three of them remained on the rooftop. Evelyn still refused to come down, ready to risk her life at any moment.

Layla looked at Evelyn indifferently. "If you're going to jump, just do it. Brian has done enough for you. If you die, he won't feel anything."

"You're lying!" Evelyn screamed at Layla. "He loves me. He promised to take care of me for life. Brian, have you forgotten? In that little apartment, you promised me."

"He still loves me... he loves me!" she kept repeating, trying to convince herself. But her voice was so weak, trembling violently.

"He only loved you in the past. No matter how deep the feelings were, your constant pestering has worn them out. Now, all he feels for you is disgust," Layla said.

"No! That's not true. He loves me. If he didn't love me, he wouldn't be here," Evelyn replied.

"You're just using his kindness and soft heart. You know that very well," Layla retorted. "He and you are history. He doesn't love you anymore. Can't you see he's exhausted from your torment?"

Evelyn looked at Brian in pain. His brows were tightly furrowed, and the concern in his eyes was gone, replaced by frustration and exhaustion.

Brian hated her now.

Evelyn's pale lips trembled. "Brian... do you not love me anymore?"

Brian looked at her and answered without hesitation. "Yes, I don't love you anymore!"

There was only coldness in Brian's eyes.

Evelyn's sorrow was greater than her soul could bear. Unable to accept this reality, she turned to jump.

"Even if you die, it won't change anything," Layla said calmly. "Jumping off won't bring you peace. If you don't address your mental issues, death won't bring you any relief. You're just running away from your failures."

"He doesn't love me anymore. My life has no meaning. If I die, won't that just make things easier for you two?" Evelyn cried, glaring back at her. "But even if I die, I won't let you off."

Layla smiled faintly. "Dying is easy. It only proves you're a coward. The real challenge is having the courage to live."

"If he doesn't love me, what's the point of living? Those men just took my money, and now even the only one who loved me doesn't want me anymore..." Evelyn had clung desperately to this last hope. But now that he didn't love her, her life had completely collapsed. She could only end her suffering through death.

"The scariest thing isn't that no one loves you, but that you don't love yourself," Layla said each word calmly and softly, "A person who doesn't love themselves won't be loved by anyone."

"Do you know what's most pathetic for a woman? It's pinning your fate on someone else, living like a lowly vine clinging to others. Once abandoned, you end up like this, seeking death," Layla continued.

"What else can I do if I don't die? You have no idea what I've been through!" Evelyn's psychological defenses were completely shattered, and she broke down emotionally. She squatted down in pain, holding her head.

"I know everything. You've been deceived by men. You've had abortions. Yes, it's tragic, but there are many people worse off than you..." Layla said.

"You haven't experienced it yourself, so you don't understand how I feel! Brian likes you now. Aren't you just showing off to me?" Evelyn retorted.

"Showing off to a failure wouldn't give me any sense of achievement. At least, I wouldn't waste my time on it." Layla took another step forward.

"One should never lose the courage to start over, especially when you're so young. Brian isn't the only man in the world. I believe you can find someone who truly loves you. As for children, while it's unfortunate you can't have your own, there are many options, such as adoption, IVF, and so on. True despair is when even you give up on yourself. That's the most terrifying thing."Layla said.

Hearing this, Evelyn completely broke down, crying her heart out.

Brian stood silently by for a long time.