Chapter 17 You Got It All Wrong +5 Free Coins After a long , heavy silence , Hunter slowly sank to the floor like a balloon deflating . With his head bowed , he finally said , his voice low and rough , " Yeah ... I admit it . I was selfish . Every time I thought about how close I came to dying and how you were off living your best life overseas without even checking in to see if I was still breathing ... I couldn't help it - I felt angry . Bitter . Resentful . " I just didn't get it , " he said quietly . " I treated you well . We always said we loved each other . But when everything fell apart - when I needed you the most - you weren't there . And I couldn't stop wondering ... Was any of it ever real ? " That's why , after I was discharged , I chose to stay with Celine . Every time I saw that look in your eyes - how much it hurt you to see me with her - it felt like proof . Proof that you still loved me . And for a while , that was the only thing that made me feel like I mattered . " So when Celine suggested messing with you to help trigger her memory , I agreed . Because deep down , I saw it as an excuse - a chance to get revenge . To test your love one more time . To convince myself that I still mattered to you . " But Dana , I swear - I really did love you . Every time you got hurt , it tore me apart . But I couldn't stop myself . I got obsessed with making you prove your love , over and over again . I was spiraling , and by the time I realized how far I'd fallen , it was too late . " My eyes were red as I stared at him in silence . Those words he just uttered were three years of her suffering . Jamie had heard enough . He couldn't hold back any longer . With a furious punch , he knocked Hunter to the ground , climbed on top of him , and threw punch after punch . " You call this taking care of Dana ? " Jamie shouted , his voice shaking with fury . " What is she to you - a toy ? How dare you build your twisted happiness on her suffering ! " You talk about love like it actually means something ? What kind of person hurts the one they claim to love ? You think that makes you some kind of devoted partner ? No - you're pathetic . It's disgusting . " Hunter didn't fight back . He let every blow land on his face and body . Bloodied and bruised , he looked up at Dana , his voice barely more than a whisper . " I was wrong . I hurt you . If you want to scream at me , hit me , or hate me - I won't stop you . I deserve it . His voice cracked as he went on , desperation leaking through every word . " But Dana , please . I'm begging you . Don't walk away . Don't be so cruel . Just give me one more chance . " Dana scoffed . " Cruel ? You called me cruel ? For three years , you lied to me and hurt me , but I still stayed by your side . You had so many chances to stop , and you never did . " Even that day at the hospital - when I found out it was the medication that made me deaf - I still wanted to give you another chance . I begged you , I asked if I could stop taking it and pleaded with you to let it go . And how did you respond ? " I gave you way too many chances , Hunter . And every time , you chose wrong . " Hunter's thoughts drifted back to that day in the hospital . Dana had looked at him with desperate hope , pleading over and over for him not to take the pill . 1/3 2:59 pm G ppp . Chapter 17 You Got It All Wrong But he kept pushing , kept coaxing , and even grew impatient with her begging . What a jerk he had been . Was that the moment she finally gave up on him ? Every word Dana spoke , he could feel the distance between them growing wider - irreversible . +5 Free Coins Hunter shoved Jamie off , crawled toward Dana , grabbed her arm , and sobbed . " I'm sorry . I'm so sorry . Everything was my fault , but I can't live without you . I really can't . " You have no idea what it's been like for me , " he said , voice raw . " I called Adrian every single day , asking if there was any news about you . And every time he said no , it felt like something inside me broke all over again . He drew a shaky breath . " I drank myself into oblivion every night , just hoping I'd pass out and see you in my dreams . Because that was the only place I could still find you . Dana , I finally understood how much you meant to me . And I swear - I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it right . Just come back with me . Please . " Dana smiled and gently helped him up . Hunter's heart leapt - he thought she was forgiving him . Overjoyed , Hunter attempted to embrace Dana . But the very next second , what greeted him was a sharp slap across the face . Dana had thrown all her strength into that slap , and Hunter's head snapped to the side from the force . She shook out her stinging hand and said coldly , " When I was there , you did everything you could to push me away . Now that I'm gone , you're crying and begging me to come back ? Hunter , you're the perfect example of someone who only realizes what they had after it's already gone . " Hunter lowered his eyes . " It's my fault . I admit it . But I meant every word I just said . Dana , I really can't live without you . " Dana let out a cold , bitter laugh . " Your love is dirt cheap . The world doesn't stop turning just because someone walks away . No one is truly irreplaceable . " And besides , " Dana added with a trace of sarcasm , " don't you still have Celine ? " Hunter shook his head , his voice low with regret . " How could she ever compare to you ? That woman - she's manipulative , cruel . Nothing like you . I just wish I'd seen through her sooner . I can't believe I let her fool me for so long . " " Oh ? " Dana tilted her head . " So you know all the good deeds she's done now ? " " I do . I know everything . " Dana narrowed her eyes , giving him a once - over . " That's rich . If you really know what she did , then why is she still walking free ? Since when did you grow a conscience , Hunter ? " She tilted her head slightly , her voice sharp with bitterness . " Or is your cruelty only meant for me ? " Hunter panicked . " No , that's not it ! I know what she did is unforgivable . I want to kill her too , but she saved my life once . I can't just kill her ." Dana laughed . So Hunter didn't know everything after all . That explained it . He still seemed wild and desperate - but not truly broken . 2/3 2:59 pm G ppp . Chapter 17 You Got It All Wrong +5 Free Coins Well then , it was time she gave him the whole truth . She wanted to watch him fall deeper and deeper into the abyss , never to climb out again . Dana wanted to make sure he spent the rest of his life drowning in regret and pain . Dana's smile faded . She locked eyes with Hunter and said quietly , " Hunter , the one who saved your life back then ... was me . I gave 1,200 cc of blood and passed out because of it . I told everyone not to say anything - because I didn't want you to worry . " Her voice tightened . " You always said a life - saving grace should be repaid with your life . But you thanked the wrong person , and you hated the wrong one too . " 3/3