Gone Quiet, Gone Love novel Chapter 18

Nester looked down at Della, whom he once believed needed protection and indulgence. Now, she felt utterly foreign and repulsive to him.

He raised his foot and gave a light kick to shake her hands off his leg. Turning around, he no longer looked at her and announced, "From today onward, whatever we had is over.

"Take her back to the psychiatric hospital. If I ever see you appear before Sabrina or me again…"

He paused, then continued in an icy voice, "I'll show you what regret truly means."

Della collapsed on the ground. Watching as he resolutely left, she suddenly burst into shrill, piercing laughter. "Sabrina is gone! She doesn't want you anymore!

"Wake up, Nester! She'll never forgive you, and she won't even know about everything you're doing right now. Even if she does, she won't care because she hates you so much that she'll never forgive you."

Nester's steps faltered. His back stiffened for a split second.

Della's words pierced him like a poisoned dagger and struck him right in the softest, bloodiest part of his heart.

He staggered and braced himself against the wall to stay upright.

Instead of turning around or responding, he straightened up and began walking away, one heavy step at a time. From behind, his back was straight, but there was an unmistakable air of desolation and loneliness around him.

…

After everything with Della and the Green family was dealt with, Nester's body finally gave out. When he suffered a gastric hemorrhage, Reid had him forcibly admitted to the hospital.

After an examination, the doctor's expression was grave. "Chronic severe stress, extremely irregular sleep and eating habits. The gastric lining is badly damaged, so he needs hospitalization and complete rest."

Nester lay on the hospital bed, staring up at the white ceiling with empty eyes. He refused intensive treatment and only agreed to basic medication and nutritional drips to keep himself alive.

Reid couldn't bear it any longer. He tried to talk Nester into changing his mind several times, but the latter simply kept his eyes closed and stayed silent.

In the end, Reid went home, brought an old phone, and handed it to him. "Mr. Blackwell, this is your old phone… It still has messages and voice notes from Mrs.—Ms. Frye. Please… listen to them."

Nester opened his eyes and stared at the phone for a long time before slowly taking it. He turned it on and opened the messages.

The screen was immediately filled with messages from Sabrina, starting from the first day of their marriage until the day before she left.

"It's raining today. Remember to grab your umbrella, and don't get wet."

"The stomach medicine is in the first drawer on the left in the study. Remember to take it."

"I made you soup. It's warming in the kitchen. Drink it when you get back."

"I passed a flower shop today and noticed the sunflowers blooming beautifully, so I bought a bunch and put them in the living room. I hope you'll notice them."

"Oh, and I learned to make your favorite dish. When you come home tonight, shall I make it for you? Just come home earlier."

The voice note ended there. After that, there was a long silence, then a very soft sigh that carried a trace of disappointment and unspoken hurt.

Nester closed his eyes. Tears quietly slipped from the corners of his eyes and disappeared into his hairline.

Like an addict—or maybe a man punishing himself—he replayed the voice note nonstop. He listened to her gentle voice, her careful hope, and her final soft sigh. He survived on the memories like poison that kept him alive while slowly killing him.

Reid couldn't stand it anymore and secretly contacted Claudia, Sabrina's only close friend in Crisea, with whom she still kept in touch.

On the phone, Reid practically begged. "Please, Ms. Armstrong. Tell Ms. Frye how Mr. Blackwell is going. If this continues, he'll really break…"

There was a long silence on Claudia's end before she said, "Sab is doing very well now.

"She's excelling in work at Elyndoria. Her superiors appreciate her, and her colleagues like her.

"She's started a new life. There are outstanding men who admire and make advances on her, so she's asked me to pass Mr. Blackwell a message."

Claudia paused, then continued in a calm, powerful voice, "Please make sure you live a long life. Watch with your own eyes how happy I can be without you."