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Chapter 6

Author: Bitter Egg
Stella's head snapped up, noticing Ethan was standing in the doorway. She had no idea when he arrived.

Her heart dropped.

"Did you drug my orange juice?" Her voice trembled with anger. "What the hell are you trying to do?"

Ethan gave a cold laugh and walked over, gripping her chin roughly. "I should be the one asking you that—why did you drug Rachel?

"You decided to humiliate her in public just because she broke your mother's piece by accident?

"She's just a kid! How could you be so vicious?"

Stella stared at him in shock. "What are you talking about? I never drugged Rachel!"

Ethan shoved her away. "Stop lying! The only thing she drank today was that glass of water you gave her. Who else could it have been?"

It hit Stella then—what it meant to be completely unloved. Ethan never questioned everything Rachel said, yet he sentenced Stella on the spot.

"Unbelievable," she laughed bitterly.

She struggled to grab her phone and call an ambulance, but Ethan stopped her.

"What are you doing?!" she yelled.

Ethan looked down at her, voice ice-cold as he said, "That drug is strong. An ambulance won't help. Your only way out is to beg me."

Stella froze. "For what?"

"To help you relieve the effects, of course," sneered Ethan. "But I don't come cheap. Get on your knees and apologize to Rachel if you need help."

Stella stared at him in disbelief, unable to comprehend how ridiculous Ethan's request was.

Ethan kept leaning closer, pinning her in place. "Stop acting, Stella. Isn't this what you've always wanted?" His voice dropped to a low hiss. "You used the same tricks to force me into marrying you. Now I'm just asking you to pay for your sins."

Stella snapped. She shoved him away, grabbed a pair of scissors, and stared him down with a deadly calm.

"You want me to kneel and apologize to Rachel? Keep dreaming."

With that, she drove the scissors straight into her own thigh.
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  • Before I Leave   Chapter 25

    Stella followed Ethan's mother to the hospital where she finally saw Ethan, lying in a hospital bed, barely hanging on.She was confused. Ethan had lived into his fifties in his previous life until a car accident took him then. At this moment, however, his body looked completely broken as if it had given out far too early."What happened?" she asked quietly.Ethan's mother choked on her words, wiping her tears, and replied, "After you left, he stopped caring about himself. He threw himself into work, never rested, and barely ate. We tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen."His body couldn't take it. He has end-stage cancer."Stella stood silently, watching the man she once loved fade into someone unrecognizable.When Ethan lost her, he had lost everything. His health had simply followed.On the bed, Ethan gave her a weak, tired smile."You came back," he whispered."I once told myself, after everything I did to you in the previous life… if I got another chance, I'd wait for

  • Before I Leave   Chapter 24

    Ethan froze where he stood.Stella, calm and steady, looked him in the eye and spoke clearly, "Ethan, imagine this: Someone breaks your heart for over twenty years, and you die in the end because of their selfishness."One day, you're given a second chance at life. Would you really waste even one more minute on that person?"Ethan's face went pale. He could not speak a word.Stella gave a quiet sigh and continued, voice soft but firm."Your expression tells everything. That's why I hope you can understand me."Ethan, please stop looking for me."Without another word, she turned and walked away.Ethan stood there, rooted to the spot, as if all life had drained from him.He had always thought that dream was unusually vivid. He finally knew why.Everything he saw in that dream—her pain, her heartbreak, her death—it was all real.Ethan crumpled to the ground as despair overtook him. His body shook as he buried his face in his hands.That dream was never a warning; it was a memo

  • Before I Leave   Chapter 23

    Stella finally understood what was happening.She frowned slightly and whispered, "Sir, I think I'd better head back to the lab. I still have some work to finish."Before she could walk away, Ethan reached out and grabbed her arm. "Why are you walking away the second you see me?"She calmly pulled her arm free. "I'm not avoiding you.""Yes, you are," Ethan said, his voice rising. "If you really don't care about me, why won't you even look at me?"Stella sighed, finally meeting his eyes directly—steady, quiet, and composed."I'm looking now, aren't I?" she said plainly. "I'm just done wasting time on you. That's all."Stella meant it.She had enough of all the waiting and disappointment.She wanted to spend the rest of her life on herself and her future, not chasing after a man who only realized her worth when she was gone.Ethan's expression shifted, hurt flashing in his eyes."I'm sorry, Stella," he said, his voice almost a whisper.The once-proud man stood before her, hea

  • Before I Leave   Chapter 22

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    Ethan's mother stood frozen, stunned by Ethan's declaration.He clenched his fist as he firmly said, "I will bring Stella back. I will find her as long as she's still alive—no matter where she is."As long as she was alive, he stood a chance to make things right.He believed Stella loved him too deeply and would not let go without a fight. She had not stopped loving him.She had only left because he had hurt her too much. He finally understood his feelings, and he could win her back if he tried hard enough.His mother stared at him in disbelief. "Ethan, do you hear yourself? She's gone to a top-secret national project. You can't just track her down!"Ethan remained unfazed. "There's always a way. Even if I can't find her, I'll wait. However long it takes.""What?!" His mother could hardly process it.As she saw the unwavering look in Ethan's eyes, she knew she could no longer sway him.Ethan was no longer the rebellious boy who used to defy them just for the sake of it; he had

  • Before I Leave   Chapter 20

    When Ethan first woke up, he felt relieved.Stella was still alive after all. She had not died tragically because of him like in that nightmare.However, the relief only lasted a second.Stella was alive, but she was so far away that he could not reach her. The thought crushed him, the pain in his chest making him feel conflicted.After all, in that dream, no matter how twisted it had been, he had spent over 20 years with her.Reality, however, reminded him how he would no longer have a chance with her.He gasped for air, like the pain was squeezing the life out of him.His mother panicked and rushed to his side, concerned. "What's wrong, Ethan? Are you feeling sick? Do you want me to call a doctor?"Ethan's eyes were red. He slowly looked up at her and raspily croaked, "Mom… I love Stella."It felt like a burden was lifted off of him when he said it. He finally faced his feelings for Stella.His mother froze for a second, then broke into tears."I knew it," she sobbed. "I'v

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