Chapter 3

3

After a long time, Elias stood up and walked to the balcony.

He lit a cigarette.

Out of habit, I reached out to take it from him. "Stop smoking. It's bad for you," I whispered.

My fingers passed through his hand.

I froze.

Then I laughed at myself. I was dead.

The habits of a lifetime were still there. I was still instinctively worrying about him.

Elias's expression was cold. He took a deep drag and called his assistant. His voice had a hidden edge of anxiety.

"If Seren Hayes comes here to make a scene, block her. Don't let her disturb Lila's recovery."

The assistant was silent for a moment. "Miss Hayes hasn't contacted us, sir. She..."

Elias hung up before he could finish.

He took one last look at our chat, his thumb pressing down hard. In a fit of pique, he blocked me.

Then he turned his phone off completely.

In the past, I would have panicked. I would have done anything to find him and beg for forgiveness.

But now...

I stood in front of him and spoke softly. "Elias, I won't come looking for you. Not because I'm angry, but because I'm gone."

"I don't love you anymore. I hate you... I hate you for taking my life."

"I curse you―"

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky. The thunder woke Lila with a scream. "Elias!"

Elias hurriedly dropped his cigarette and ran back to the room. He pulled the shaking Lila into his arms. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

I was shaking too.

I've always been terrified of thunder.

But Elias was never there for me. Every stormy night, he would leave me to go to Lila.

When I complained, he would look at me with pure annoyance. "Why are you competing with a sick woman?"

After a long time, Lila calmed down. She clung to him, crying beautifully.

"Elias, I keep thinking about how I lost control the other day. I really just wanted to explain things to Seren. Maybe I should apologize. She hasn't shown up. She must be so mad."

Elias looked distracted. "It's fine. I saw her. It was just a little blood on her forehead."

"She won't stay mad at a sick person."

Lila bit her lip. "What if she calls the police? I don't want to go to jail. I'd rather die."

Seeing her getting worked up again, Elias held her tighter. "Don't be scared. I'm here."

"Seren has always been soft-hearted. She won't stay mad. Besides, I made her sign that waiver. She can't touch you."

Lila smiled and snuggled into his chest like a spoiled child.

Elias looked down, but then he gently pushed her away.

"Lila, after I marry Seren, we can't... act like this anymore. It wouldn't look good. She'd be upset."

Lila froze. For a split second, her face twisted with pure resentment.

Elias didn't see it, but I saw it clearly.

After a moment, she whispered, "It's my fault. I'm just so used to you... I'm sorry."

Elias sighed. "It's okay. I'll talk to her."

I listened, my heart a mess of emotions.

Elias always put Lila first. Always.

I followed him as he walked out of the suite.

Two nurses were gossiping nearby. "That Mr. Thorne is so devoted to his girlfriend. She didn't even have a scratch on her, just a little scare, and he called every doctor in the hospital."

"I heard he set up a huge rose garden for her. They'll probably be married soon. Imagine how grand that wedding will be."

"Speaking of that rose garden... it blocked an ambulance with a crash victim. By the time the helicopter got her here, she had stopped breathing. Ten more minutes and she might have lived..."

Elias's face darkened as he overheard them.

The nurses looked at him nervously. "Mr. Thorne..."

Elias looked indifferent. Just as the nurses thought they were going to be fired, he spoke calmly. "She isn't my fiancée."

He paused, a small smile playing on his lips. "My fiancée is Seren Hayes. She's a brilliant lawyer."