CHAPTER 303: CHAPTER 303: THE MOON IS BEAUTIFUL TONIGHT

Tanya Sinclair almost forgot the last time she felt her heart race like this.

Before this, she had only loved Vincent Hawthorne, relying solely on a brave and lonely heart, loving with great hardship.

She remembers when she confessed to Vincent Hawthorne, feeling more fear and unease than excitement, like a prisoner awaiting his release.

In front of Vincent, she was always cautious, avoiding anything he didn’t like. When loving Vincent, Tanya Sinclair ceased to exist. She stripped away her own flesh and blood to become what he liked.

Once she couldn’t meet Vincent’s needs, he would discard her like trash.

But Declan Pierce was different.

He has loved her for so many years, always allowing her to be herself.

"Tanya Sinclair," Declan Pierce looked earnestly into her eyes, his hands cupping her face trembling slightly, and said, "I love you."

He confessed to her sincerely, with roses and the moon as witnesses.

Tanya felt a little nose sour, "Declan, I don’t know how to love someone well. I’ve loved before, and you saw how that ended. But I will try..."

"Love is not something you need to try hard at," Declan gently brushed aside a lock of hair on her forehead, his eyes softer than the moonlight, and said, "Pretending not to love, that’s what requires effort. You just need to respect your heart. If one day, you truly fall in love with me, you’ll naturally know what to do. Until then, just accept that I love you."

All these years, he had given his love to her unreservedly.

Tanya dove into Declan’s embrace, and he bent down, slowly tightening his arms until he held her deep within his embrace.

He closed his eyes, as if a missing piece had finally been returned to him.

Everything was complete.

Tanya suddenly remembered, "Does your wound still need dressing? I’ll help you rebandage it, then I have to leave."

But Declan had no intention of letting go, "Not staying the night?"

Tanya, thinking of unspeakable scenes, blushed, "Declan, you’re injured. Ahem, stop thinking nonsense."

Declan: "?"

He was momentarily stunned, seeing her flushed ears, and chuckled softly, "Princess, I have more than one room and bed here. Of course, if you insist on sharing a bed with me, I can oblige."

Tanya, both shy and annoyed, gave him a light punch.

Declan took her hand, leading her to the room.

He did need his wound re-dressed. Previously, a doctor would have been arranged, but not tonight.

Tanya was the best doctor.

Following Declan’s indications, Tanya took out the medical kit and turned to see him sitting at the bed’s edge, his outer garments removed, revealing his bare chest, bandages wrapped from his right shoulder to his left.

The wound was from shielding her from a gunshot, just centimeters away from his heart.

As Tanya unraveled the bandage around Declan, perhaps due to the earlier embrace, the well-healed wound seemed to tear slightly again, blood seeping through and staining the innermost bandage layer.

Tanya removed the bandage, cleaned the wound, applied fresh medication, and rebandaged it.

"Can I take one of your paintings with me?" Tanya asked.

Declan naturally had no reason to refuse; after all, all his paintings were of her.

"Which one do you like?"

Tanya had already chosen in her heart and pointed to the one high on the opposite wall.

"I want that one."

It was a silhouette of her picking fallen leaves under the shade of a tree.

"Alright."

Declan walked over, took it down, and handed it to Tanya.

"Thank you." Tanya said softly as she held the painting, "Well... I’m going home now."

"I’ll walk you out." Declan accompanied her to the elevator, and in it, Tanya admired the painting, only to have her hand suddenly held. She looked up at the man beside her.

Declan didn’t look at her, his expression steady, leading her out of the elevator.

Right then, Janne Hayes happened to come in from outside, spotting Declan and Tanya holding hands, her eyes widened before quickly returning to normal.

Yet the corners of Special Assistant Hayes’ lips couldn’t help but curl up.

"President Pierce, Ms. Sinclair~" The way he addressed Ms. Sinclair was particularly meaningful.

Tanya felt a little embarrassed, silently withdrawing her hand.

Janne: "Ms. Sinclair, I’ll take you home. Your car has been sent for repairs and will be in your spot by the morning."

"Thank you, Assistant Hayes."

Janne’s smile was radiant, "It’s no trouble at all; it’s my duty."

Declan saw Tanya to the doorway, "Let me know when you’re home."

"Okay, I’m off then."

Tanya waved to Declan, turned to leave, while Declan watched her back, suddenly stepping forward, catching up in two strides, and pulled her back into his embrace.

Janne, knowingly, said, "Ms. Sinclair, I’ll wait in the car for you."

The light bulb left, and Declan whispered, "Are you really leaving?"

His tone carried a hint of grievance.

Tanya chuckled, couldn’t help but pinch his face, "President Pierce, I didn’t know you were so clingy before?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Want to return me? Too late now."

Tanya’s smile deepened, she checked to ensure Janne had indeed gotten into the car, then quickly stood on tiptoes to give Declan a peck on the cheek.

"I really have to go, but I’ll come see you when I’m done."

Saying this, Tanya gently broke free from Declan’s arms and quickly got into the car.

In the rear-view mirror, Declan remained in place, until the car drove far enough that his figure became a tiny point.

Janne was in great spirits all the way.

The couple he shipped, they were together!

The car drove all the way to the roadside outside the neighborhood entrance.

Janne: "Ms. Sinclair, shall I register and see you in?"

"No need, it’s just a few steps. Turning around would have you going in circles."

Tanya got out, waved to Janne, and only when Janne’s car drove away did she turn toward her building.

As she walked, she pulled out her phone to message Declan.

Tanya Sinclair: [I’m home, get some rest early. Sweet dreams.]

Declan replied immediately: [Okay, goodnight.]

Tanya looked up at the serene moon in the sky, a slight smile on her lips, she couldn’t resist taking a picture with her phone.

She posted on her Moments: [The moonlight tonight is beautiful.]

Then put away her phone.

Just as she reached the building entrance and was about to use face recognition to open the door, suddenly someone rushed at her from the shadows, grabbing her fiercely.

Tanya was startled, instinctively swinging her bag to strike, only to recognize the familiar face of the assailant.

"Tanya!"

The fear in Tanya’s eyes was replaced by disgust.

"Vincent! How did you find me here?! You’re haunting me like a ghost, let go!" She shook him off in distaste, retreating step by step, and said coldly, "What do you want now?"

"Tanya, actually when Aunt Tawny came before, I arranged for someone to follow her. But I never intended to disturb you; I just wanted to see if there was any way I could help. Today, however, I found out about some things, and I wanted to talk to you face to face."

Vincent walked towards her, his face revealed under the moonlight - the once handsome and gentle man now haggard, with a shadow of stubble along his jaw.

"I always thought it was Cindy Lynn who donated blood to save me during university. Today I found out I was wrong!" He looked at Tanya, full of remorse and pain, "All along, it was you!"

He had lied to Tanya back then, saying it was his cousin who needed blood due to a serious illness, coaxing Tanya into brewing medicine for Cindy Lynn for a year!

Vincent buried his face deep in his hands, took a deep breath, and then looked at Tanya once again.

"Tanya, why didn’t you explain earlier? Tell me it was you who saved me! If you’d said that earlier, I wouldn’t have felt indebted to Cindy Lynn and brought her into the company... then we might still be husband and wife now."

Even now, he was blaming his mistakes on others. He was always innocent, always the victim, always had excuses!

Tanya looked at Vincent coldly, and suddenly found it all incredibly ironic.

She used to hate him, but now, she realized she didn’t even have that left for Vincent.

She just saw him as a laughable clown.

"Vincent, you’re hopeless! Even without Cindy Lynn, there would have been a Cindy Sterling, a Cindy Langdon... You are the root of the problem! You’re selfish, only ever loving yourself. Someone like you is doomed to end up alone."