The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 440

Jude took two steps forward. "Gardenia, you disgust me now."

Gardenia shook her head weakly, completely at a loss for words.

She scrambled for an excuse. "What Lara just said..."

"What do you want to say? That Lara wasn't telling the truth? That she's lying? Then why are you so terrified? Why didn't you want me to know?"

Gardenia was utterly speechless, completely out of defenses.

She collapsed onto the ground, pressing a hand to her leg. "It hurts..."

Jude pressed his lips together tightly. Remembering the year she had spent by his side, he ground his teeth, his dark eyes fixated on her.

"It hurts so much..."

Ultimately, out of consideration for their past, he reached out and helped her up.

Gardenia gripped his wrist, refusing to let go. "I only did it back then because she was occupying the position of your fiancée. I didn't think she was good enough for you, which is why I did it. Besides, the Vance family was just using you for your money. I wanted her to realize she was out of her depth and leave you on her own."

Jude stared at her, his voice chillingly deep. "You're really good at making up excuses for yourself, aren't you?"

Gardenia shook her head wildly. "I'm not—then what do you think my reason was? Do you really think I'm that malicious? If I were truly that bad, why would I willingly stay by your side for an entire year? Back then, I didn't even know if you'd ever wake up! I..."

Jude shook his head slowly. "Gardenia, it's already come to this. What are you still pretending for? Do you expect me to believe that someone capable of hurting others could be so innocent and kind? When you came to take care of me, you must have had an ulterior motive. Your goal was to get me to protect you so Lara couldn't hurt you anymore, wasn't it?"

Gardenia's lips trembled.

Jude sneered. "That was it, wasn't it?"

He lowered his eyes, his lashes trembling slightly as an ache bloomed in his chest.

It felt as if the one pure, untainted sanctuary in his heart had just been polluted.

He had genuinely treated that year as his life's salvation.

Those days had been the anchor that kept him alive.

But now, God was telling him that everything had been calculated.

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