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Chapter 17
The scorching heat blistered the skin, and a sudden gust of wind fanned the flames in the memorial hall, making the fire burn even more fiercely.
Ethan stood motionless in the center of the chaos. While everyone else around him panicked, he turned his gaze toward the portrait of Olivia at the memorial hall.
He didn’t try to escape. Instead, he calmly leaned against the table and sat down.
Maybe this was fate.
After all the terrible things he’d done, maybe this was heaven’s punishment.
Or perhaps… Olivia wanted him to join her.
When Ethan opened his eyes again, he felt disoriented. Wasn’t he just burning in that fire in the memorial hall? Why wasn’t he waking up in a hospital but in the Carrington estate?
“Sir, today is Miss Sinclair’s discharge day. Weren’t you planning to pick her up yourself? Why are you still in bed? Are you feeling unwell, or do you have other plans?” the butler’s voice echoed near
his ear.
Ethan stared around him in disbelief.
The room was filled with balloons and fresh flowers, and on the table sat an engagement ring box.
He was back to the day before the proposal?
The day he had planned to propose to Olivia after picking her up from the hospital.
He glanced at his phone: June 3rd, 2015, 5:00 PM.
Completely stunned, he sat frozen for a moment.
Then, as if remembering something critical, he grabbed his phone, dashed toward the door, and
demanded the driver while dialing Olivia’s number.
There’s still time. Olivia, wait for me.
“Take me to Central City Hospital. Hurry. I’m running out of time!”
Sitting in the backseat of the cab, Ethan finally began processing what had happened since waking
- up.
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Today was the day he had planned to propose to Olivia. In his past life, the plan had been to pick her up from the hospital and bring her home, where he’d confess how much he missed her during her coma, leading to a heartfelt proposal.
Things had gone terribly wrong because in that past timeline, he had brought Lillian along to the
hospital.
When Olivia saw Lillian acting all cozy with him, laughing and chatting easily with his parents, she couldn’t take it. A huge fight broke out, and Olivia stormed off alone in anger.
The proposal never happened.
In fact, in that life, Lillian had constantly stirred the pot, driving wedges between Olivia and
everyone around her.
Ethan stared out the window at the rapidly passing scenery.
If he could just get there first, get to her before anyone else, and protect her in front of everyone,
maybe this time, everything would be different.
Maybe this time, Olivia wouldn’t die. Maybe this time, they could actually live happily together.
There was still time.
Ethan rushed to the hospital room, heart pounding. The moment he saw there was no one else
inside, he let out a sigh of relief.
The second he laid eyes on Olivia, all the guilt and longing came crashing down. He hurried over
and pulled her into his arms.
“Olivia…”
His voice cracked, thick with emotion.
Startled, Olivia hugged him back, confused but gentle. “What’s wrong? Didn’t we just see each other yesterday? Why are you crying now that you’re here to pick me up?”
“I just missed you too much. I was so afraid of losing you.”
He held her tighter as if he’d never let go again.
He was afraid it was all just a dream, the one he’d wake from the moment he let go. And if that happened, Olivia would vanish, and he’d never be able to find her again.
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Olivia assumed he was still shaken by her coma.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she whispered. “Didn’t the doctors say I’m fully recovered? From now
on, I’ll be with you, safe and sound. I won’t ever worry you like that again.”
Her shirt slowly soaked through from his silent tears.
“Come help me pack, will you?” Olivia smiled. “Dad, Mom, and Sebastian are on their way. They
said they’ve got some kind of surprise for me. They’ve been so mysterious–I have no clue what
they’re planning.”
At her mention of family, a flicker of cold fury flashed through Ethan’s eyes, but it disappeared
almost instantly, replaced by soft affection.
“Olivia, I’ll love you, always,” he whispered.
Olivia looked up and pressed a lingering kiss to his lips.
“You’re acting a little strange today,” she said teasingly. “Something happen?”
Instead of answering directly, he whispered, “Just trust me, Olivia. No matter how much others may change… I will always stay by your side.”
Though she didn’t fully understand, his words filled her with warmth.
“Okay. I’ll always love you, too.”
Just then, the hospital room door creaked open.
But instead of her parents or her brother Sebastian, a girl with a striking resemblance to Olivia stepped inside.
Olivia frowned in confusion. “Who are you looking for?”
The girl, Lillian, didn’t even look at her. Her eyes went straight to Ethan behind her.
“Ethan,” she said sweetly, “didn’t you say we’d pick Olivia up together? I went to your place, but
you weren’t there…”
As she spoke, she reached out to take his arm, only for Ethan to shove her hand away without
hesitation.
“I’m Olivia’s fiancé. That makes me your future brother–in–law. Watch yourself, and keep your
distance.”
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Lillian froze. Her smile collapsed, and her eyes reddened instantly.
Olivia, confused and uneasy, instinctively leaned against Ethan’s side.
