Love Rekindled After It Was Too Late

Lennon Shepard's first love, Jessie Sterling, has caused a medical malpractice incident due to an operational mishap. That night, Lennon cuts off the oxygen for Mabel Judson's mother to coerce her into taking the blame. At the moment, he's sitting across from Mabel with a confession placed between them. Once she signs it, she will never be able to pick up a scalpel in this country for the rest of her life. Chapter 1 Lennon Shepard's first love, Jessie Sterling, caused a medical malpractice incident due to a surgical error. That same night, he cut off the oxygen for Mabel Judson's mother and forced her to take the fall. He sat across from her, a confession laid out between them. One signature on that document, and Mabel would never hold a scalpel in Cresvane again. On the hospital bed, Mabel's mother, Gisselle Quinn, breathed rapidly with her eyes closed. Lennon toyed with her oxygen tube with his fingers. "Mabel, you've got two minutes. If you don't sign in two minutes, your mom will suffocate to death, and that will be entirely on you." Mabel shook, her lips pale. "Lennon, you'll really kill my mom if I don't sign it? She's the most important person in my life." Lennon smiled. "Mabel, Jessie is important to me too. I made you my wife, so I have to make it up to her in other ways." He leaned forward slightly, his gaze locked on Gisselle on the bed. Her mouth opened with ragged gasps as the oxygen supply ran out. Lennon watched with morbid fascination while counting aloud, "40, 41, 42, 43…" Each count made Mabel's face paler. She had no idea how they'd ended up like this. Their worlds were so different. She was just an ordinary surgeon, while Lennon was an heir to a fortune. Yet, he had kneeled in the rain for a day just to marry her. The day they registered their marriage, he held her and cried like a child. "Mabel, I'll give you a grand wedding someday." Two years after getting married, Mabel's wedding plans ended in failure twice. The first time, Jessie tried to kill herself, and Mabel was left at the altar. Before leaving, Lennon said, "Mabel, I love you. I'll be back once I calm her down. Wait for me." She stood alone from noon to night, yet never saw him. The whole city laughed at her humiliation. During the second wedding, just as Lennon picked up the ring, his phone rang. Jessie's cries came through. He dropped the ring and left without looking back. Later, Mabel saw him gently holding Jessie at the hospital. Jessie's finger was bandaged. Mabel realized then that a small scratch was enough for Lennon to abandon her. He was the one who once begged for her hand in marriage, promising to cherish her for a lifetime. Yet now, he was the one who hurt her the most. A single tear rolled down Mabel's cheek. Slowly, she picked up the pen and signed her name. "I hate you, Lennon." After signing, she tossed the paper aside and forcefully pushed Lennon away, quickly inserting the oxygen tube for Gisselle. Lennon picked up the paper elegantly and replied calmly, "Love makes hate possible, Mabel. I know you love me. Don't worry. The position of Mrs. Shepard will always be yours. There's only one week until our wedding. This time, I'll make it spectacular." With that, he left. Mabel scoffed at the idea of a wedding. She pulled out her phone to call Alex Barrett, Gisselle's doctor and friend. "Alex, you said my mom could get treatment abroad. Can we arrange a transfer now?" "Of course. If you're sure about this, she can fly on my private jet when I return to Mythara in three days." Chapter 2 Alex continued, "You can join us once you've finished handling things in Cresvane." "Okay," Mabel replied. "I'll probably get there about four days after you do. See you in Mythara." After hanging up, she gazed at Gisselle's face. "Mom, let's never come back here again. We'll stay far away, and no one will hurt you." She kissed Gisselle's forehead gently, then left. Mabel drew up a divorce agreement and went straight to Jessie. Jessie worked at the same hospital but had risen to chief physician, while Mabel was only a deputy chief. Seeing her, Jessie smirked. "Dr. Judson, thank you. I guess you won't be practicing medicine anymore." Mabel ignored her and tossed the divorce agreement on the desk. "Have Lennon sign it. After that, whatever happens between you two is none of my business." Jessie's eyes caught the words on the document immediately. "Why should I help you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Mabel replied flatly, "If you don't, you'll always be the mistress." Jessie paused for a moment, then said, "You don't know, do you? Your marriage certificate with Lennon is fake." Mabel swayed, her pupils dilating in shock. "What?" Jessie fiddled with her freshly done nails. Her eyes were full of disdain as she said, "You really thought you married into a wealthy family? That registration was just a scam. Given the Shepard family's influence, faking a certificate at City Hall would be easy. Don't believe me? Go check for yourself." She watched Mabel's face turn pale and rubbed salt in the wound. "Lennon knows about it too." What Jessie didn't say was that Lennon had only found out last month. But did it matter? He still hadn't done anything. Mabel could still vividly recall the joy of registering their marriage back then. She remembered how Lennon had driven her up to the mountaintop to watch the stars, where they kissed under the romantic night sky and promised each other a lifetime together. And now, it was all a lie. She laughed until tears fell. Her body swayed like she might collapse. Mabel stumbled back to the villa while laughing through her sobs. This place was the home they had shared ever since they registered their marriage. Since she loved grapes, Lennon planted a grapevine in the yard and set up a swing so they could go on it together every summer. Now, she raised a shovel and struck the trellis. It collapsed with a crash, just like her love. Mabel tore down the massive wedding photo in the living room and burned it, along with the love letters Lennon had written her. Just as the flames died down, Lennon returned. He frowned at the fire pit. "What's that for?" "It's an offering for the dead," Mabel replied. "Don't do it here," he muttered. At that moment, the maids carried in several boxes. Jessie followed right behind. "These are for Jessie. She got scared and needs comforting," Lennon said before glancing apologetically at Mabel. "I know you never cared for this stuff, so I didn't get anything for you." Then, he pulled a small paper rabbit from his pocket and placed it in front of Mabel like a magician. "For you. I love you." Chapter 3 Mabel stared at the paper rabbit, then at the pile of boxes across the room. A mocking smile tugged at her lips. Millions of dollars in gifts for Jessie and a paper rabbit for her. How generous. When she didn't take it, Lennon's expression darkened. "Mabel!" She finally reached out and took the paper rabbit, then casually tossed it onto the table. "Thanks." In the past, no matter what Lennon gave her, Mabel had always treasured it carefully. She had never thrown his gifts aside like this. A flicker of irritation crossed Lennon's eyes. Before he could speak, Jessie stepped forward and handed Mabel a document envelope. "Mabel, thanks for today. This is my gift to you." Lennon leaned in curiously, but she quickly grabbed his arm. "It's a ladies' secret. You're not allowed to look." "Alright, alright. You're the boss." Lennon stopped looking and let Jessie pull him away to open the gift boxes. Their lovey-dovey chatter drifted from across the room. Mabel felt a wave of nausea rise in her stomach. Standing there, she opened the envelope expressionlessly. Inside were two photos. In the first, a man and a woman stood in bathrobes before the hotel's huge floor-to-ceiling window, smiling boldly at the camera. In the second, they lay naked in bed, kissing each other. Even the small glimpse captured in the frame made the heat and intimacy unmistakable. Mabel's grip tightened around the photos, the veins rising along her temples. "Ugh…" She couldn't hold it in anymore. She ran outside and vomited against the wall in the yard. Through the glass door behind her, laughter drifted out. Inside, Lennon and Jessie stood shoulder to shoulder, leaning close as if they might kiss at any moment. … Since Mabel had decided to leave, the first thing she needed to do was resign. But after signing that confession, she didn't even need to. The hospital had already sent a notice that she was being fired. Early the next morning, she went to the hospital to pack her things. Even after years of working there, she had almost nothing at the office. The only thing that mattered was a medical notebook in which she had recorded important cases for future research. Just as Mabel walked out of the hospital with her things, something hit her. "You quack! You killed my dad! Pay with your life!" "Heartless doctor! Murderer! Pay with your life!" All kinds of trash flew toward her. One bottle struck her forehead before she could react, making her stumble. Up ahead, Lennon had his arm around Jessie as she arrived for work. His tall, commanding frame completely shielded her in his embrace. He stood at the edge of the crowd, watching everything coldly. "It wasn't me." Mabel tried to explain, but an enraged family member shoved a notice in her face. "The hospital already released the statement. Your mistake killed my dad!" The notice had been issued by the hospital itself. It explained the medical malpractice incident and placed Mabel's photo beneath it, declaring she was responsible. Jessie's name never once appeared in the statement. Mabel clenched her fists. Across the angry crowd, she locked eyes with Lennon. After a moment, he turned away and walked off with Jessie. As they passed by, someone slapped Mabel, sending her crashing onto the ground. Through the gaps between people, she saw Lennon stride past them, looking straight ahead. Chapter 4 Lennon didn't spare Mabel a single glance. "Lennon, what if Mabel gets hurt?" Jessie asked softly, her voice full of concern. "She's kind of pitiful too." Two seconds later, Mabel heard Lennon answer, his voice flat and emotionless, "She grew up like that. This is nothing for her. You're different. You're a rich heiress. Those rough people shouldn't even touch you." He pulled Jessie closer into his arms, making sure the crowd couldn't get near her. "As Mrs. Shepard, this is something she should endure." His voice faded along with his departing figure. Mabel lay on the ground like a criminal, getting cursed and beaten by the crowd. Tears slid from the corners of her eyes. "Hahaha! This is what I should endure? Lennon, you really never disappoint." She had never been good at cooking. Once, when Lennon had gastric pain, she cooked for him and accidentally nicked her finger. Lennon grabbed her hand in panic, looking as if he might call a doctor immediately. She laughed at him then, saying she was a doctor herself and that it was just a tiny cut. Lennon replied, "Mabel, you're the person I love the most. Forget a cut—I worry even when you clip your nails." The man who once claimed she was the one he loved the most had now pushed her into the storm himself. She laughed and cried at the same time, looking almost unhinged. Seeing her like that, the patient's family members were afraid something might happen, so they left while muttering curses. Just after they were gone, security arrived. Mabel refused their help and dragged her injured body to the inpatient ward to see Gisselle. She needed to pack everything and complete the discharge paperwork. Once everything was ready, Mabel sent Alex a message. She leaned down and kissed Gisselle's forehead gently. "Mom, wait for me. I'll meet you in Mythara soon." "What are you going to Mythara for?" Lennon's voice rang out behind her like a nightmare, making her freeze. Mabel stood up calmly. "A friend's getting married and invited me to the wedding." Lennon looked at her suspiciously. She simply held out her phone for him to see. Luckily, she had already prepared a set of fake chat messages. After reading them, Lennon snorted and tossed the phone onto the bed. If Mabel hadn't caught it in time, it would have landed right on Gisselle's stomach. The movement pulled at the wound on her arm, making her suck in a sharp breath from the pain. Lennon acted like he didn't notice. He grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward the door. "Come with me to Jessie's office." "I'm not going," Mabel said. "Lennon, let go of me. You wanted me to sign the agreement, and I did it. What more do you want?" Lennon replied, "Jessie needs to publish a paper. Give her yours." Mabel had become a surgeon through years of hard work, publishing paper after paper from her own research and experiments. Why should she hand it over? She lowered her head and bit down hard on Lennon's arm. "I'm not going." She had barely taken a step away before he grabbed the back of her neck. He looked at her with a cold smile. "Mabel, when will you learn to listen? Jessie couldn't become my wife because of you. This is the least you can do to make it up to her." Chapter 5 It was that line again. A deep sense of exhaustion washed over Mabel. "Lennon, let's break up. Then you can make her your wife." Lennon froze at her words. Then he let out a mocking laugh. "Break up? We're married. Mabel, you know someone with my status can't get divorced. And besides…" He tightened his grip around her neck and pulled her closer, forcing her to look up at him. A faint smile spread across his lips. "Mabel, could you really leave me? You're the one who gave up your chance to study abroad for me. You said it yourself that becoming my wife was an honor." The day they registered their marriage, Mabel thought she was the happiest woman alive. Now she realized she had simply been the most foolish. She didn't say a word. In a great mood, Lennon hummed to himself as he dragged her to Jessie's office. The Sterling family was in the medical equipment business. After graduation, Jessie had gone overseas to get a medical license, then was placed directly at a top hospital as chief physician. Mabel, on the other hand, had climbed her way up step by step. "Mabel, I'm really sorry about this. But Lennon said what's yours is mine now, so I shouldn't feel bad about it." Standing in front of the desk, Jessie waved at Mabel. "Come on, upload your paper to the computer. There's also a case that needs to be handled." Lennon sat there with his legs crossed and his arms resting on his knees, watching her like a superior. Meanwhile, Jessie stood beside him, leaning slightly against him as she whispered from time to time. Mabel sat in Jessie's chair. On the computer screen was a photo of Jessie and Lennon kissing. The date showed it had been taken a year ago. "Ugh!" A wave of disgust rose in her chest. Her hand tightened around the mouse. "Ah!" Jessie exclaimed, rushing over when she saw what Mabel had done. "Mabel, you deleted the files on my desktop!" Her expression fell as she turned toward Lennon pitifully. "Lennon, what do I do? The data for the hospital is gone. Am I going to get punished?" "Mabel, I know you're jealous, but you shouldn't mess with data." Jessie sniffed, framing Mabel with every word. Mabel almost laughed. "Ms. Sterling, have you ever even stepped inside a lab? Do you really have any data?" The moment the words left her mouth, Lennon's hand struck her. He glared at her, his voice as cold as ice. "Mabel Judson! Apologize." Mabel stared back stubbornly. "Lennon, are you dumb? If I deleted the files, you could just restore them from the recycle bin. You didn't even check before slapping me. You're just that protective of her." Before Lennon could respond, Jessie spoke first. "The recycle bin can be emptied too. Mabel, I know you're jealous. Don't worry. I'll keep my distance from Lennon in the future." "No need," Lennon said, pressing a hand on Jessie's shoulder. His sharp eyes locked onto Mabel as he parted his lips. "She needs to learn her lesson." After saying that, he patted Jessie's shoulder, then strode over to Mabel. He grabbed her wrist roughly and dragged her toward the door. Chapter 6 Mabel was locked in a lab. Lennon said that since she had deleted Jessie's data, she'd better recreate it there. "Recreate it before 8:00 pm tomorrow. Don't disappoint me, Mabel." With that, he closed the lab door and strode out with Jessie. Mabel spent the whole day in the lab. The equipment was familiar, but she had no idea which experiment Jessie meant or what data was needed. This was clearly just an excuse to make her suffer. And of course, Lennon trusted Jessie. Mabel let out a bitter laugh. What a failure she was. With only a few days left before her escape, she couldn't afford more trouble. She pushed down her nausea and prepared to put together a makeshift experiment just to satisfy them. Her hand hovered over a test tube when something at the bottom caught her eye. Her pupils dilated. She tried to pull back, but it was too late. Her scream and an explosion rang out at the same time. The lab door blew open. Mabel managed to dodge, but shards of glass tore across her face, arms, and thighs. She fell into a gap between cabinets. Smoke spread rapidly around her. Mabel couldn't stop coughing. Her leg had been hit, and it hurt badly, so she had to use both her hands and feet to crawl out while coughing. Every few steps drained all her strength. By the time she reached the door, she couldn't go any further. Desperately, she reached out her hand for help. "Help… me…" She raised her head weakly and saw Lennon's cold expression. He held Jessie gently in his arms. When he felt a tug at his pant leg, he cast an indifferent glance at Mabel, who lay bleeding on the floor. Jessie whimpered, and Lennon quickly patted her back. "It's okay," he said softly, then kicked Mabel away with brutal force. His eyes burned with anger. "Look at what you've done! Mabel, I'm beyond disappointed in you." With that, he carried Jessie away, striding toward the emergency room. Mabel already didn't have any strength left. The kick knocked her unconscious. Through a blur, she watched Lennon's figure vanish. When she woke, she was in a ward with bandages on her face. Lennon sat across the room with his arms crossed. As she stirred, he glanced up lazily. "You're awake? Come on. Time to apologize." A string of question marks flashed through Mabel's mind. But Lennon had no intention of explaining. He yanked the IV from her hand and, ignoring the bleeding puncture, roughly pulled her off the bed. "Ah!" Mabel cried out. "Lennon, what are you doing? I'm a patient!" He dragged her out of the ward without even letting her put on her shoes. "A patient? Mabel, you intentionally caused that accident just to hurt Jessie. Any injuries you have now, you brought them on yourself." Mabel stumbled along behind him. Her bare feet ached against the floor, but nothing hurt as much as what Lennon had done to her. He actually believed she had set off an explosion just because she was jealous. Chapter 7 Mabel couldn't stop laughing. In the end, she looked at Lennon with an unfamiliar gaze and said, "Lennon, I feel sorry for ever having loved you. You really are a piece of trash." Maybe her mixture of laughter and tears unsettled him. When they reached the elevator, Lennon finally let go. Mabel stumbled against the wall, her back slamming into it painfully. She gasped in pain. Lennon didn't seem to notice. He said coldly, "Mabel, I know you're just jealous. I'll let this one slide. Now, just wait for the wedding." With that, he strode away, never mentioning the apology again. … With the wedding only three days away, Mabel was dragged to a Shepard family banquet. Before entering the hall, she saw the supposedly "injured" Jessie. Jessie wore a mermaid dress like hers, but Jessie's was clearly high-quality, while Mabel's looked like a cheap knockoff bought online. A small Band-Aid sat on Jessie's forehead. She gave Mabel a bashful smile. "Mabel, did Lennon yell at you? He really overreacted. I already said I'm fine and told him not to go after you, but he insisted it was your fault I got hurt." Jessie took Mabel's hand with a faint smile. "Mabel, you're so forgiving. I'm sure you're not angry with me, right?" Mabel didn't miss the challenge in Jessie's eyes. She shook her head and replied, "No." Jessie's smile deepened. "That's good to hear." With that, she linked arms with Lennon and walked ahead into the hall, while Mabel followed behind like a tagalong. It was almost laughable. Mabel had known Lennon for so long and had never attended a single one of his social gatherings. One reason was her busy schedule; the other was that Lennon said it wasn't convenient. Around him were the wealthiest, most influential people, while she was just an ordinary person. Before, Mabel had thought not having her attend was his way of protecting her from discomfort. Now, she realized it was probably because he thought she was embarrassing. She listened as Jessie introduced people to her incessantly. Lennon and Jessie looked like a perfect couple, drifting through the elite crowd with radiant smiles, while Mabel was met with looks of utter disdain wherever she turned. Mabel had worked hard to become an excellent surgeon. She had always believed that life didn't need to revolve around wealth. She was content as long as she could be with the one she loved most. But now, feeling those eyes on her, she fully realized the gap between herself and these so-called rich people. Their gazes were harsh, as if they were looking at a plaything. And Lennon did nothing. He let them inspect her as if she were merchandise. "Mr. Shepard, is this your secretary? She's quite pretty." "Mr. Shepard, you already have a lovely lady with you. Why not introduce this one to us?" Several men circled around, joking with Lennon. Mabel fixed her gaze on him, but his expression was as dark as ink. He said nothing, only warning her with his eyes. She didn't speak, acting perfectly obedient, like she'd follow Lennon's every word. "Oh, come on, don't joke around. Ms. Judson isn't Lennon's secretary. She's my friend." Jessie stepped in and pulled Mabel closer. "Mabel, these are our friends. It's good to know them." Chapter 8 Mabel smiled faintly and started greeting the guests. Every time she spoke to someone, Lennon's expression darkened a little more, until it was downright terrifying. "Ms. Judson, would you like to dance?" A man offered her his hand. Mabel placed hers in his with a smile. "Sure," she replied, following him. Before leaving, she flashed Lennon a broad, beaming smile. "Damn it!" Lennon swore under his breath. Just as he was about to say something, Jessie linked her hand with his. "Lennon, let's dance too. Mabel seems well-adjusted to these events. She's probably been to gatherings like this before. Looks like we don't need to worry about her." After saying that, Jessie tugged Lennon toward the dance floor. But he was distracted the entire time. After the song ended, he let go of her hand. "Jessie, you said she's attended these events before?" Jessie gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. "I just mentioned it casually. She seemed perfectly comfortable dancing with strangers. It looks like she's used to these kinds of gatherings. "Wait, she can't really be attending these places all the time, right? Lennon, do you want to…" Jessie looked at him with concern, letting the rest of her sentence trail off. In their circles, some women would fabricate all kinds of identities just to climb higher. Lennon's expression darkened further. A few moments later, he strode over to Mabel, who was still dancing. To everyone's shock, he grabbed her and dragged her out. Once they were gone, Jessie quickly took control of the room, smoothly becoming the center of attention and playing the role of the hostess with ease. … Lennon took Mabel to a medical checkup center. She was forced to undergo a full medical examination, especially the gynecological part, in a humiliating position. When the results came back, Lennon's expression turned grim. "Mabel Judson! You lied to me. You said it was your first time. Then what's with this report?" The report Lennon tossed over read, "The patient has extensive coital experience." Mabel had just survived an explosion and a collision, and now with Lennon gripping her neck, her body swayed. A tear rolled down her cheek. "Lennon, why would you doubt me? Don't you know how much experience I had?" During the first two years of their marriage, they were intimate almost every day. Lennon's demands were high; he kept her up every night, even making her dress in costumes for roleplay. Now, that was being turned into a weapon against her. Lennon said with disdain, "No wonder you wore lingerie whenever I asked. Who knows how many people have seen you in it?" He released Mabel and tossed her onto the ground as casually as one would throw away trash. Standing over her like a king, he said, "I'm not divorcing you. I'll give you a grand wedding. But after that, you'll quit your job. From then on, stay home and play the part of Mrs. Shepard. Don't show yourself in public again." He left without sparing her a glance, as if marrying her was a gift and she had no reason to refuse. No sooner had he left than two men in black arrived. Chapter 9 Despite Mabel's struggles, the two men forced her back into Lennon's villa and locked her in. Before leaving, they took all the food from the house and ordered that no meals be delivered. "This is Mr. Shepard's decision," they said. For two straight days, Mabel remained trapped in the villa. By the wedding day, she was so starved and ghostly pale that she looked like a wraith, yet not a single soul spared a thought for her well-being. Lennon had held his wedding ceremony twice, but both times had turned into jokes. The third one was even grander than the first two, but this time, the bride was different. Sara Murray, Lennon's mother, and Jessie arrived with the makeup artist. Seeing Mabel, Sara looked away and muttered, "How disgusting! Don't think you're marrying my son. Jessie is the bride today. You're just a bridesmaid here to walk through the ceremony like a shadow." She looked at Mabel in disdain. "I promised Lennon that you could join the ceremony as a bridesmaid, and he agreed to it. I really don't get what's so great about you that keeps him away from home and makes him constantly say he loves you." Mabel's body swayed. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug in. She almost laughed out loud. Lennon really never failed to disappoint. He suspected her of cheating and made her undergo that humiliating checkup. Even this wedding was fake. A bridesmaid? He had really outdone himself. Luckily, Mabel had no intention of going on stage. She smiled at Sara. "Don't worry, Mrs. Shepard. I'll behave today." Sara snorted and turned to attend to Jessie. Jessie changed into her custom wedding gown, put on expensive jewelry, and finally stepped out to the wedding car with her mother's support. After they left, a maid pointed to the last, ordinary black car. "Ms. Judson, that's your car." The lead car was a million-dollar limited-edition limousine, while Mabel's was a car worth less than five thousand dollars. Mabel didn't get in. She returned to the villa, changed out of her bridesmaid dress into a T-shirt and jeans, and grabbed her pre-packed suitcase. Ignoring everyone's attempts to stop her, she climbed into the Uber she had booked in advance and left. The moment she left, the maid tried calling Lennon, but the call wouldn't go through. She called Sara, who simply said she got it and hung up. After hanging up, Sara patted Jessie's hand. "Jessie, you're officially my daughter-in-law now. I really like you." Blushing, Jessie leaned shyly on Sara's shoulder. Meanwhile, Mabel's car sped toward the airport. She went through security and boarding swiftly. When the plane's door shut, it was the exact moment the wedding ceremony began. Mabel timed it perfectly and sent a message to a hacker she'd contacted. "It's time to move. I want them utterly ruined."