Chapter 6
His face changed drastically as he shot to his feet: “Elara!”
Ilara turned and ran.
“Wan” Leander chased after her, grabbing her wrist in the hallway. “Let me explain-”
“Explain what?” Elara wrenched free, her voice breaking. “How you threw me a birthday party while celebrating your baby mama’s birthday next
door**
She rushed down the stairs, Leander in hot pursuit.
In the darkness, they both ran onto the street.
“Elara!” Leander caught her again. “It’s not what you think!”
Blinding headlights suddenly blazed!
An out–of–control car careened around the corner, heading straight for them!
In that split second, Leander shoved Elara aside.
*CRASH!*
The screech of brakes and the impact sounded simultaneously.
Elara hit the ground, watching helplessly as Leander was thrown several meters, landing heavily on the asphalt.
Blood instantly stained his white shirt.
Leander was rushed to the hospital. Elara stood in the corridor, covered in blood.
“You jinx!” Leander’s mother’s shrill voice cut through the air as she slapped Elara hard. “It’s bad enough you can’t have children–now you’re trying to kill my son?!”
His father was equally furious: “Get out! Don’t ever show your face to my son again!”
4
Elara closed her eyes and turned to leave.
Just then, a nurse rushed out: “The patient keeps calling for ‘Elara‘–he won’t consent to surgery until he sees her. Which one of you is she? Please go in quickly!”
Leander’s mother’s face was livid: “What a curse!”
Finally, they let Elara into the room.
On the hospital bed, Leander was deathly pale, his forehead wrapped in bandages, breathing weakly through an oxygen mask.
He struggled to open his eyes. The moment he saw Elara, his fingers moved, trying to reach for her.
Elara approached, and his cold hand grasped hers.
Elar.” his voice was weak but stubborn as he explained, “I threw Marla a birthday party… only because her baby is in the wrong position. The doctor sand. If she’s happier, the baby will be safer…”
He coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but still gripped her hand tightly.
Don’t leave me… please?” His eyes reddened like a child afraid of abandonment. “I really.. can’t live without
He passed out, the heart monitor immediately shrieking,
Doctors and nurses swarmed in: “Patient is in shock! Prepare the defibrillator!”
Elara stood in the corner, watching as Leander was shocked repeatedly, his body jumping and falling.
you..
She suddenly remembered years ago when she’d been hospitalized for acute appendicitis. Leander had kept vigil outside her room all night without sleeping.
Then, with red eyes, he’d told her: “Elara, if something happens to you, I won’t be able to go on.”
And now, he was saying he couldn’t live without her.
But why… did she feel like he no longer needed her?
After a day and night of emergency treatment, Leander was finally out of danger.
Over the next few days, he acted like a willful child, absolutely refusing to let Elara leave the room.
He weakly tugged at her sleeve, his gaze stubborn: “Elara, don’t go.”
Elara sat silently beside the bed, looking at his pale face, her heart barren.
She’d once thought Leander was her entire world.
But now, his world contained far more than just her.
The day Leander was discharged happened to coincide with the Everhart family’s monthly dinner.
The old mansion blazed with lights, servants bustling about. Elara sat at the dining table, quietly eating like an outsider.
Until Leander’s mother suddenly put down her knief and announced with a beaming smile-
“Next month, we’re planning to hold a wedding for Leander and Marla.”
Elara’s knief froze mid–air.
His mother continued: “Marla has loved Leander for years. Though she used extreme methods to get pregnant, she’s still carrying our family’s eldest grandson. At her birthday party, she wished to wear a wedding dress once. Of course we should fulfill that wish.”
Clara slowly looked up at Leander.
He sat right beside her, his fingers gripping her hand tightly, yet… he said nothing.
No objection, no refusal.
Elara’s heart went completely cold,
So he’d known all along.
So he’d already silently agreed to all of this.
She calmly withdrew her gaze, a faint smile playing at her lips.
