at the hospital

“Ha.”

Elara felt like she had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.

“You must take responsibility for her? Then what about me? Victor, what am I to you?”

Victor pressed his lips together. He looked down at Lydia in his arms—her face pale from fear, her body still trembling. He held her tighter, as if shielding her from everything.

Lydia clung to him as well, her weak voice soft and dependent. “Victor…”

Victor gently patted her head before looking back at Elara. After a long silence, his voice came out hoarse.

“Elara… I’m sorry. The one I love is Lydia. I can’t deceive myself anymore, and I don’t want to deceive you either.”

Hearing those words, Elara’s heart, already frozen, sank even deeper.

And then—she laughed.

Not because it was funny. But because it was absurd.

So this was it.

Everything he once said… what was it then?

Promises of a future. Promises of marriage. Promises that she was the only one he would ever love.

And now?

Now he stood there, calmly telling her he loved someone else.

Elara’s lips curved into a faint, mocking smile. Her voice was soft, almost distant.

“You’re saying… you love Lydia?”

Victor’s eyes flickered with guilt. He couldn’t look at her.

“Yes.”

In his arms, Lydia turned slightly. A slow, victorious smile appeared on her lips.

She mouthed the words silently.

But Elara understood perfectly.

Sister… I won again.

Elara looked at the two of them quietly.

The anger, the pain, the disbelief—slowly faded away.

Until nothing remained.

Only emptiness.

A moment later, she nodded slowly.

“Alright, Victor.”

She looked at him—at the face she had once loved for years—with no emotion left in her eyes.

“Then let’s end it.”

Victor suddenly looked up. “Elara…”

“Shut up.”

Her voice turned ice-cold. There was no warmth left in it.

“From this moment on, we go our separate ways. If we ever meet again, we’ll be strangers.”

Victor froze.

For a brief second, something unfamiliar flashed through his chest.

Panic.

As if he had just lost something he could never get back.

Elara didn’t wait for him to speak again.

She turned and walked out of the private room.

Her steps were steady. Without hesitation. Without looking back.

Victor took a step forward instinctively.

“Elara…”

“Victor!”

Lydia suddenly groaned beside him, her voice weak and painful.

“My stomach… it hurts…”

Victor’s expression changed instantly. He turned back immediately.

“Lydia, what’s wrong?”

She clutched her stomach, her brows tightly furrowed. “It hurts so much… Victor, is something wrong with the baby?”

At the mention of the baby, Victor’s entire focus shifted.

“Elara, I’ll take you to the hospital right away.”

Elara reached the door.

She heard it all.

But she didn’t stop.

She walked out.

Without hesitation.

Without looking back.

Outside the hotel, the city was noisy, alive, indifferent.

Elara stood by the roadside, staring at the passing traffic, her mind blank.

Just a week ago, Victor had brought her to the family home. They were already discussing marriage arrangements.

Back then… everything seemed certain.

Now, it all felt like a cruel illusion.

Her childhood love.

Her engagement.

Her future.

All taken away in a single night.

And the one he chose… was her stepsister.

Elara let out a quiet, bitter laugh.

Life really did have a twisted sense of humor.

Her phone suddenly rang.

Hospital.

She answered immediately.

“Hello.”

Only one word.

Her face turned pale instantly.

Without another second of hesitation, she hailed a taxi and rushed to the hospital.

Outside the emergency room, Elara arrived breathless.

Inside, Jeremy was still being treated.

She waited outside for over an hour, every second stretching endlessly.

Finally—

The doors opened.

Doctors walked out.

Elara rushed forward immediately.

“Doctor… how is my brother?”

The doctor removed his mask.

“The patient’s condition has stabilized. He is out of immediate danger.”

Elara’s knees nearly gave out.

Tears fell instantly.

“So… he’s safe?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you… thank you so much…”

She broke down in relief, tears streaming down her face.

At the same time, in a high-rise office at Sinovision International.

Adrian Vale sat behind a black desk, reading a file.

His assistant placed another document in front of him respectfully.

“Sir, this is the information on the woman who came out of your room last night.”

Adrian flipped through it slowly.

His expression was calm, detached.

A man walked in at that moment.

“Adrian, you were looking for me.”