Chapter 1220

Annie was momentarily stunned by Steven’s words. It felt as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown over her, instantly extinguishing the passionate heat in her heart. She stared blankly at him, then reached out, grabbing his hand and holding on tightly. Tears shimmered in her eyes as she looked at him, her voice filled with poignant vulnerability. “Steven, have you decided you don’t want me anymore? Have you truly forgotten the beautiful moments we shared?”

She thought of their past, memories she replayed almost daily. Yet, Steven had seemingly forgotten it all, moving on to a new relationship with such ease. The nickname "stupid girl," used so casually, was jarring. He'd never spoken to her that way before; their affection had run deep, warming her to her core. Now, consumed by jealousy, she felt Mona had stolen everything that should have been hers.

Steven yanked his hand away, stepping back to create more distance. Annie stood frozen, staring at him. The absence of any trace of her in his eyes hit her like a wave of cold reality. Dazed, she blinked, watching him. “I get it now,” she said. “You’re really heartless, Steven. When you say you’ve moved on, you mean it. All these years, it’s just me who’s still stuck in the past.”

Her face paled as she recalled years of dedicated work, each step leading her to this moment. She’d thought she’d figured everything out, but she’d been foolish, refusing to face reality. It was tragic. Coming to Steven had only led to humiliation; she’d placed herself at a profound disadvantage.

Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile. “You really love Mona, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do. I love her very much.” Steven’s eyes lit up at the mention of Mona’s name.

A pang of pain shot through Annie’s heart as she gazed at him, more mature and charming than before. With a strained smile, she asked, “Do you love her as much as you once loved me?” She wasn’t ready to give up until she received an answer. Perhaps this was self-torture, but until she heard his response, she couldn’t let go.

Steven replied softly, “In my heart, Mona is one of a kind. My feelings for her are equally unique. She is my greatest love in this life.”

Annie’s face paled further. She opened her mouth to speak, but words failed her. She understood: he loved Mona more than he’d ever loved her. Their past was just that—past. Mona was his future, his only future.

“Alright… I understand. Just pretend I was never here today.” She clumsily pressed the elevator button. Until the doors closed, she didn’t look at him, fearing the callousness in his eyes and the potential for tears.

After the elevator doors closed, Steven frowned. He hadn’t expected Annie to still be clinging to the past.

The next day, Skylar accompanied Janine to the hospital for her annual check-up. Since Janine hadn't had it yet this year, they went together while fasting. The hospital was quiet in the morning, and the check-up was quick, finishing all necessary tests around 9:00 a.m. After eating, they rested in the waiting area, waiting for test results. After chatting for a while, they both turned to their phones. Janine handled some work matters while Skylar chatted with Gloria.