Luis was right. Mitchel understood he had underestimated how far a woman could go for love. If he did not love her, she might have lost it.

Lauren panicked when she saw the icy look on his face.

"It was Jocelyn's fault, not mine. I had no idea what she did...."

Lauren tried to defend herself.

Mitchel narrowed his eyes and said in a chilly tone, "Just because I dealt with Jocelyn today doesn't mean I believe you, Lauren. I'm leaving you some wiggle room."

Lauren had ruined every ounce of trust he placed in her. The once innocent and pure girl he knew was now gone.

Mitchel looked down at her and queried, "Do you want me to keep digging?"

The warmth once present in his eyes was replaced by an arctic chill.

Flustered, Lauren clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

"Mitchel, you're misunderstanding. I..."

“Enough,” Mitchel interjected, his patience wearing thin.

"Your surgery is set for next week. You'll be flying out in three days.”

“Mitchel, how can you be so cruel to me? Is it all because of Raegan?

She's fine, and Jocelyn's already paid the price." Lauren dropped to the floor, clung to Mitchel's trousers, and weakly implored, “You can't do this to me, Mitchel..."

With a flick of his leg, Mitchel shook her off and warned, "Raegan is my bottom line."

His words crashed over Lauren like a tidal wave. For a moment, she was stunned. Bottom line? These two serious words... Did Raegan really mean this much to Mitchel? Raegan was just a bitch! Why her?

Not wanting to linger another second, Mitchel advised, "You should start packing."

Without waiting for her response, he turned to leave.

"Mitchel..." Lauren, in a last-ditch effort, charged forward to grab his hand and, with her face awash in tears, asked, “Are you punishing me for Jocelyn's mistakes? I know I was wrong. Please don't leave me... Without you, I would rather die than live on."

Before she could touch his hand, Mitchel recoiled in disgust and strode away.