The Heiress With Seven Secret Identies (Stella Shaw) novel Chapter 426

Amelia watched him approach, her brow furrowing. She turned to run, but he called out to her.

"Amelia!"

"What do you want?" she asked, stopping.

"Don't be with him," Jaron said.

"That's none of your business."

"Amelia, I regret everything. It ate at me when I thought you cared about someone else, but seeing you actually about to start something with another guy... I can't take it."

Amelia let out a dry, frustrated laugh. "And?"

"Could you...?"

"No," Amelia said, cutting him off before he could finish.

"Jaron, we've always just been good friends," Amelia said. "As a friend, I can offer you some comfort after a breakup, but what makes you think my way of comforting you would be to get with you? Do you really think that little of me?"

Nicole's eyes lit up, and she gave Amelia a subtle thumbs-up.

"No, that's not what I meant," Jaron stammered. He knew he was being unfair, but he was genuinely panicked.

"Also," Amelia added, "jumping straight from one person to the next is pretty repulsive."

"I'm sorry," Jaron muttered.

Amelia gave Nicole a quick wave and walked away without looking back. Jaron started to go after her, but stopped, realizing he had no right to. He stood by the side of the road, looking completely dejected.

Jasper clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Look, man, I hate to say it, but you really brought this on yourself."

"Do you actually love Amelia?" Nicole asked, eyes narrowed.

"I do," Jaron replied.

Nicole glared at him. "You're just a jerk. That's not love—it's selfishness. You just can't stand the thought of her being with anyone else."

"Maybe you're right," Jaron admitted.

"Jasper, let's go," Nicole snapped, pulling him away and picking up her pace.

"Jaron is..." Jasper started.

"He got exactly what he deserved!" Nicole interjected. She stopped and looked Jasper dead in the eye. "You aren't actually rooting for him to end up with Amelia, are you?"

"No, it's just—"

"I know it's not his fault Amelia was heartbroken before," Nicole said, "but it still pisses me off. He spends years messing around, and then he just expects her to be waiting for him? No way."

Jasper gently patted her head. "Alright, don't let it get to you."

"I'm serious."

"Look," Jasper said gently, "we'll follow Amelia's lead. Whatever she wants to do, we won't interfere."

Nicole nodded, finally calming down a bit. "Take me shopping. I want to get a gift for Amelia."

"Another one? What's the occasion?"

"The occasion is that I feel like spoiling her," Nicole replied.

Jasper leaned in. "Could you maybe spoil me a little, too?"

"Mr. Wellington!" Elliot called out as Jaron arrived.

Jaron stared at the massive flames, Tiffany's words echoing in his head: I can't live without you.

Without a second thought, he bolted toward the house.

"Mr. Wellington!" Elliot shouted, as emergency responders grabbed Jaron to hold him back. "The fire is too far gone! Let the professionals handle the rescue!"

"Tiffany! Tiffany, come out! Please, come out!" Jaron screamed, his voice breaking. He collapsed to his knees, punching the ground in a fit of self-loathing.

If anything happened to her, it was his fault. He was the one who had pushed her.

Tiffany, please don't let this happen. Please, stay alive.

"Mr. Wellington, they found her!" Elliot called out.

Jaron scrambled toward the paramedics, looking down at the familiar face on the stretcher. His legs gave out, and he fell to his knees again. He reached out a trembling hand to touch her soot-covered face, but drew back when he saw the doctors working on her. He watched through a blur of tears as they tried to revive her.

Finally, the doctor stopped. "I'm sorry. We did everything we could."

Jaron froze for a few seconds. "Get her to the hospital! Take her to the hospital now!"

"There's no point in going to the hospital anymore."

"What do you mean there's no point? Save her! Save her!" Jaron grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Tiffany, get up! Wake up!"

But there was no heartbeat, no breath. Jaron couldn't process it. Tragedy had struck with the same cruel suddenness as the day his mother died—a single moment, and then gone forever.

"Tiffany, wake up. I'll answer your calls, I'll reply to your texts, I won't avoid you anymore! Just wake up! I'll do whatever you say, just don't stay like this. Get up!"