Chapter 3

3. I smiled bitterly at the thought. Why should I care?

I was the one who broke up with him anyway.

I had no right to question his life anymore.

I fought to stay conscious and called an Uber to the hospital.

When Dr. Grant saw me, he immediately began to scold me.

"Why did you leave? Do you have any idea how serious your condition is?"

He looked at me with confusion, as if he could not understand why someone would be so careless with their life.

I took the lecture quietly and climbed back into the hospital bed.

"Lyra, your body is failing. I can numb the final transition, but the pain of terminal cancer is inevitable."

I whispered back: "How much longer?"

"One day."

I laughed, and tears began to stream down my face.

That afternoon, someone came to my room.

When I realized who it was, my surprise turned into pure rage.

Malia Reed walked in, her high heels clicking on the floor.

She was dressed in a designer suit, looking radiant.

"Hey, Lyra."

She rushed over, her expensive perfume filling the small room.

"I heard you were sick. Why didn't you say anything?"

She put on a performance of regret and sorrow.

"I felt so bad about that argument you and Kellan had because of me. I was so immature back then."

She stuck out her tongue playfully.

I watched her act silently. I knew she was still in contact with him.

She knew I was dying, and she was here to play the saint.

But beneath her tone, there was a hidden spark of joy.

"I need to use the bathroom."

I could not stand her voice anymore.

As soon as I entered the bathroom, I heard her chirpy voice through the door.

"Kellan! I am at the hospital with Lyra. She is fine! The doctor said it is just a stomach bug."

"Yes, don't worry! I will take care of her. Bye-bye!"

A metallic taste filled my mouth.

I coughed into the sink. It was all blood.

It was almost over.

That night, I felt my life slipping away bit by bit.

The System took control. Even when my heart stopped, the monitors showed a steady pulse.

Then, the phone rang.

I answered it without looking.

"Why aren't you home? Lyra, are you really serious about this breakup?"

Kellan's deep, familiar voice filled my ear.

I whispered weakly: "Kellan... I am dying."

"Click."

He hung up. I closed my eyes as the final tears fell.

My soul pulled away from my body. I watched myself lying alone on that bed.

My face was pale, still stained with tears.

I reached out to wipe them away and gave my body a final hug.

"You worked so hard. It is okay... you can rest now."

Minutes later, the alarms started screaming.

The monitor turned into a flat line.

Nurses and doctors rushed in, but they were too late.

Nobody could bring me back.

"System, will I just disappear?"

I did not hate anyone anymore. Even if the System said I would vanish into nothing, I would smile.

"Host, when Kellan reaches his peak of suffering, you will move on. It is a new beginning. You will not remember any of this."

I nodded and curled up in the corner of the room.

The doctor found my phone.

My contact list was almost empty.

They dialed the last number I had called.

"Hello, Mr. Hayes. Please come to the City Hospital. Your partner has passed away."

Kellan's voice came through the speaker, full of contempt.

"Scammers are getting creative these days. Do you even know what I do for a living? Stop calling."

He hung up again.

The doctors shook their heads in pity.

I hugged my knees and waited.