Chapter 1400: On the Edge of Life and Death, Blood Spreads (2)

When Nicole arrived at the agreed-upon location with Steven Cooper, she saw Steven already standing there waiting.

Aside from a few early risers exercising, the park was deserted in the early morning.

Nicole walked over, "Brother Cooper."

Steven gave Nicole a gentle smile and gestured towards the breakfast he had brought, "Let’s sit down, eat, and chat; it’s quite early."

"Okay."

The two of them sat on the park bench, facing a man-made pond where a group of goldfish was frolicking.

"It’s cool in the deep autumn mornings of City C. I brought red date soy milk, scallion pancakes, and soup dumplings." Steven handed the soy milk to Nicole and placed the breakfast on the bench between them.

Nicole smiled faintly and accepted the soy milk as they began to eat and talk.

"Brother Cooper, why did you suddenly want to meet me today?"

Steven’s gaze deepened, and he spoke with a subtle, low voice, "Nicole, have you had any thoughts about our engagement?"

Nicole paused with her hands around the warm soy milk, "Brother Cooper, why bring up the engagement all of a sudden? Are the elders planning to arrange it?"

Steven turned his head and looked deeply at Nicole, "I received some photographs yesterday—of you... and Jose Floyd."

Nicole tightened her grip, waiting for Steven to continue.

"A package arrived at my house yesterday. The recipient was in my name, which my mom collected on my behalf. After she handed it to me, I opened it and was taken aback by the photographs inside," Steven said, taking a few photographs out of his suit pocket.

Nicole glanced at the photographs, seeing images of her together with Jose Floyd, and fell into silent contemplation.

After a long silence, Nicole spoke softly to Steven, "Brother Cooper, these photos are not fabricated—they’re... real."

Nicole’s non-denial deepened Steven’s gaze, tinged with a fleeting sorrow, "Nicole, you could have lied to me and said the photos weren’t real. You know that between others and you, I would only believe your words."

"I know. That’s why I couldn’t lie to you, Brother Cooper..." Nicole pressed her lips together.

Steven looked at Nicole’s fingers holding the soy milk—delicate and beautiful but no longer adorned with their engagement ring. Unable to bear the painful image, he turned his gaze forward and spoke hoarsely, "Nicole, I know our engagement was my one-sided wish. To you, I can’t compare to Jose Floyd. Yet, even knowing this, I still wanted to gamble for the possibility that you might love me."

"Brother Cooper..." Nicole’s voice was slightly choked.

"You don’t have to say anything, Nicole. I actually understand you quite well." Steven interrupted Nicole with a deliberately calm demeanor, "In a lifetime, a person encounters only one who truly moves their heart; others are merely substitutes or compromises. Unfortunately for me, the one who moved my heart is you, but the one who moves your heart isn’t me, it’s Jose Floyd. It’s not your fault. If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t have chosen to get engaged. Falling in love is falling in love—irresistibly drawn to Jose Floyd, while I’m irresistibly drawn to you. You won’t turn back, and that’s solely because I failed to make your heart flutter."

Nicole held the warm soy milk in her palm, feeling guilty as she looked at the gentle and considerate Steven who cared for her.

In this emotional whirlpool, the last person she wanted to hurt was the innocent Steven Cooper, which is why she refused when Steven initially suggested the engagement...