Chapter 661

Vivian Bennett was not awake for long.

She remained in the ICU.

The doctors, concerned about disturbing her rest, only allowed brief visits.

Sophia Miller and the others took turns going in to see her.

Each person offered words of encouragement and comfort.

Vivian was very weak.

The pain in her lungs made it difficult to breathe and speak.

But her expression was calm.

She reacted to each person's visit.

Oliver Winston emerged from the room.

He gently closed the door.

Turning, he spotted Liam Sullivan hiding in the shadows by the window.

Liam was like a ghost.

He peered through a small corner of the window, stealing glances at Vivian.

His movements were cautious, as if afraid she might notice him.

Oliver looked at his haggard appearance.

His tall frame was crouched by the window.

A pang of sorrow hit Oliver's heart.

"Liam, aren't you going in to see her?"

Oliver asked softly.

"You've been so worried. She's finally awake. Don't you want to hold her hand?"

Liam flinched.

A flicker of light flashed in his eyes.

But it quickly dimmed again.

He recoiled as if stung.

His hand trembled slightly.

He took two steps back.

He closed his eyes in pain.

"I can't go in."

His voice was hoarse and low.

"She'll be angry if she sees me. She'll be upset. What if it agitates her and worsens her injuries? I can't... hurt her again."

These past few days, he could barely eat.

He relied on IV nutrients to sustain himself.

Even the strongest man would grow weak after ten days without sleep or proper food.

"Liam, you didn't hurt her."

Oliver couldn't bear to see him blame himself like this.

"You were worried about her. You genuinely want what's best for her. You want her to recover smoothly."

"Do I still have that right?"

Liam's face was as pale as paper.

His eyes were hollow, filled only with desolation and bitterness.

"She won't want to see me. Right now, she probably wishes I would disappear completely from her world."

Oliver thought for a moment.

He could only sigh inwardly.

Liam had a point.

Probably the last person Vivian wanted to see right now was him.

Having suffered such a deep heartbreak, before she could even begin to heal.

Seeing him again might only cause her more distress.

They would have to wait until she was better, then figure something out.

"Liam, given how things stand, I don't know how to comfort you."

Oliver said.

"You two have inflicted every possible hurt on each other. You've experienced the deepest pain. If you truly part ways now, perhaps that pain can finally end. Letting her go, letting her leave to live a peaceful life... that might be the easiest way for her wounds to heal."

Liam was startled.

"You're telling me to let her go? To separate completely, never to cross paths again?"

His expression twisted in sudden agony.

"No. I can't lose her."

A splitting headache tore through his mind.

He wasn't unaware.

Vivian had given up on him completely. She wanted to leave his world for good.

But just the thought of it.

It felt like a dagger twisting in his heart.

He couldn't bear her leaving.

He couldn't watch her vanish from his life.

"Then there's only one other path, the most difficult one."

Oliver could only offer this encouragement.

"Use the greatest effort in the world, the deepest love, to slowly warm her heart again. But she may not accept it. This can only be your one chance. Not giving up... is a chance in itself."

Though he also felt.

Given Vivian's current state of utter heartbreak.

Even if Liam knelt before her, she might not be moved.