Chapter 230: I was driving the car that hit your father.

Elias’s eyes turned watery as he watched Evelyn and Ian standing together on the stage.

’Finally, Eve has gotten her love back.’

"They look lovely," Elena murmured beside him.

Elias blinked away his tears and smiled. "Yes. They were separated by misunderstandings, but their love survived everything and brought them back to each other."

"They were made for each other."

Elias wrapped an arm around Elena and gently rested his hand over her baby bump. "And we were made for each other too."

Elena looked up at him and smiled. Neither of them noticed the woman watching them from the corner of the banquet hall.

Tessa’s eyes widened when she saw Elias and Elena together.

’Elena.’ Hatred immediately surged through her. ’I won’t let you walk out of here tonight. You’ll pay for everything.’

Her eyes fell on a knife lying on a nearby serving tray. Without hesitation, she grabbed it.

Meanwhile, Elias noticed Elena shifting uncomfortably on her feet.

"You must be tired from standing for so long." He gently guided her toward a sofa in the corner. "Sit here. I’ll bring you something to eat."

"I’m fine."

"I know. But you still need to eat something."

He smiled and walked away.

Elena sat down and turned her attention toward the newly married couple.

Evelyn and Ian looked radiant. After everything they had gone through, seeing them finally reunited filled Elena with happiness.

"Elena..." A familiar voice suddenly drew her attention.

She looked up. Her expression changed when she saw the man standing in front of her.

"Noah?" She hadn’t invited him.

She had invited Richard and Catherine because of their years-long relationship with her family, but she had never expected Noah to attend.

"What are you doing here?"

Noah’s expression faltered. ’No greeting. Not even a question about how I’ve been.’

A bitter smile tugged at his lips. "Mom and Dad couldn’t come. They had to attend a relative’s funeral. So I came instead."

His gaze drifted toward Elena’s baby bump. "You look beautiful."

Elena immediately looked away, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze.

Noah took a hesitant step closer. "Elena... I can’t stop thinking about you. If I hadn’t made those mistakes back then, would you have stayed with me?"

Elena’s expression hardened. "There is no ’if,’ Noah. The past is gone. Let it go and focus on the present."

Noah lowered his gaze. "I’m trying."

A faint sadness appeared in his eyes. "I know I have no place in your heart anymore. And I’m relieved that you are happy with Elias. But sometimes I can’t stop thinking about what I lost."

His eyes dropped to her abdomen again. "If you hadn’t miscarried back then, our baby would be here with us. You wouldn’t have left me."

"You don’t deserve to mention my baby."

Noah’s face paled.

Elena stood. "This is a happy day for my family. Don’t ruin it. Since you are here as a guest, enjoy the wedding."

She turned and walked away. She had barely taken two steps when a bloodcurdling voice rang through the hall.

"Elena. Just die."

Tessa charged toward her with the knife raised.

Gasps erupted from the guests. People stumbled backward in panic.

Elena turned. Her eyes widened. For one terrifying second, her entire body froze.

She couldn’t move, couldn’t scream. Then someone grabbed her arm and yanked her backward.

Noah didn’t think or hesitate. He pulled Elena behind him and turned his body toward Tessa.

The knife struck him in the back.

Noah’s breath caught. His pupils widened. His muscles went rigid.

A wave of screams erupted throughout the hall. Guests rushed toward the exits in panic.

Noah staggered. But he remained standing long enough to make sure she was behind him. Then he looked at her.

Despite the pain twisting across his face, he forced a faint smile.

"You are safe."

"Noah!" Tessa stared at him in disbelief. "You risked your life for her?"

Before she could move again, several security guards rushed forward. They seized her arms and forced her to her knees.

"Let go of me." Tessa struggled violently.

But the guards held her firmly.

"Elena!" At the same time, Elias rushed toward Elena. He pulled her into his arms. "Are you hurt?"

His eyes quickly scanned her from head to toe. "Did the knife touch you?"

"I’m fine..." Elena trembled, terrified and shocked. "But..."

Her gaze fell on Noah. "He took the knife."

Elias turned. He saw Noah struggling to remain upright.

Tessa glared at Noah. "Why? Elena left you. She doesn’t love you anymore. She doesn’t even want you in her life." Her eyes burned with hatred. "Then why would you risk your life for her?"

Noah clenched his jaw against the pain. "Because..." He struggled to breathe. "Because I hurt her enough in the past. I won’t let anyone hurt her again."

Tessa stared at him as though he had lost his mind. Then she laughed.

"So you played the hero and saved her?" Her laughter turned cruel. "But it’s too late, Noah. She hates you. No matter what you do, she’ll never forgive you."

"Get her out," Elias ordered.

The guards immediately began dragging Tessa away.

"You are nothing but a loser, Noah," Tessa screamed as she was pulled toward the exit. "You lost Elena. You lost your baby. And now you are going to lose your life too."

She laughed hysterically. Her voice faded as the guards dragged her away.

Noah’s breathing became increasingly ragged. Pain radiated through his body. Unable to keep himself upright any longer, he stumbled to the ground. But when he saw Elena standing unharmed, relief washed over him.

"Thank goodness..." His voice was barely audible. "I blocked the knife in time."

Elena’s eyes filled with tears.

She had spent months resenting Noah. She had never wanted to see him again. Yet seeing him lying there, bleeding because he had protected her, made something inside her ache.

She slowly knelt beside him. "Why? Why did you do that?"

Noah looked into her eyes. "Because I owe you two lives."

"Two lives?" Elena frowned. She didn’t understand.

"I owe you this life." He breathed heavily. "Saving you was the least I could do."

"Stop talking. Save your strength. Elias..." She looked toward her husband. "Call an ambulance."

Elias immediately dialed for emergency medical assistance.

Noah suddenly reached out and caught Elena’s hand. "Don’t stop me."

She looked at him.

"Let me tell you something I’ve never told you before."

"We can talk later." Elena gripped his hand tightly. "First, you need to get to the hospital. You are losing too much blood."

"No." Noah coughed, his face tightening in pain. "I have to tell you now."

His breathing became heavier. "I don’t know if I’ll get another chance."

"What are you talking about? You’ll be fine."

At that moment, Ian rushed over. He immediately examined Noah’s condition.

"He has lost a lot of blood." He pressed his hand firmly against the wound. "His pulse is weakening. We need to get him to the hospital immediately."

He looked toward Elias. "If he doesn’t receive treatment soon, he could die."

"I’ve already called the ambulance," Elias replied. "It’ll be here soon."

Noah shook his head weakly. "I only need five minutes with Elena." He tried to sit up despite the pain. "Please."

Ian immediately pushed him back down. "Don’t move." He applied more pressure to the wound. "You are making the bleeding worse."

Noah ignored him and looked at Elena. "Please hear me out."

Elena stared at him. "What could possibly be so important that it can’t wait?"

"Something..." His chest rose and fell heavily. "Something I hid from you all these years."

Elena’s brows drew together.

Noah’s lips had turned pale. He struggled to gather enough strength to speak. "Your father’s accident..."

Elena’s heart suddenly skipped. "What about my father?"

Noah swallowed painfully. "I-I was there." His lips trembled as the words finally escaped. "I was driving the car that hit your father."

Elena’s face went completely pale. For a moment, she couldn’t even breathe.

The noise of the banquet hall seemed to disappear. All she could hear were those last words echoing inside her mind.

’I was driving the car that hit your father.’