Chapter 2

Stella's POV

I looked up at the crimson countdown again. [Time Remaining Until Death: 47 hours, 15 minutes, 08 seconds.]

I was weak to the absolute limit; even walking from the bedroom to the living room made me gasp for air, and I began coughing up blood more and more. I still didn't want to meet my end filled with regret, though.

In the afternoon, I applied heavy makeup to conceal my pale complexion and took a cab to Samuel's production set. I had just reached the perimeter of the set when I witnessed a glaringly painful scene.

They had just wrapped up the scene under the artificial rain. Samuel didn't even bother to wipe the water off his own body; instead, he rushed over with a dry towel to wipe Xena's hair, his eyes brimming with tenderness.

He was worried that Xena would catch a cold, so he went as far as taking off his custom haute couture suit jacket to wrap it securely around her shoulders.

"Thank you, Samuel—you're so kind," Xena said, looking up and smiling delicately.

Those surrounding crew members were whispering among themselves, praising Xena and Samuel as the perfect couple, a match made in heaven.

I froze on the spot while the cold wind swept through my thin garments, recalling the time when his absolute gentleness belonged to no one but me. I then stepped forward, my complexion pale.

Samuel turned around, and a look of panic flashed in his eyes the second he saw me, though it quickly changed to deep annoyance and cold indifference. He gripped my wrist hard enough to break it and forced me into a quiet corner of the prop room.

He then lowered his voice and demanded aggressively, "What are you doing here? Do you think the paparazzi haven't taken enough photos yet?"

I noticed the faint lipstick stain on his collar, a stabbing pain going through my chest. I didn't quarrel with him this time, nor did I throw a tantrum like last time. I simply clutched the hem of his clothes submissively and said with bloodshot eyes, "Please have dinner with me, Samuel."

I raised my head and looked at the face I had once sacrificed my life to keep healthy. "How about tonight, Samuel? Why don't we go to the restaurant where we had our first date? I swear I won't bother you again after this meal is over, Samuel…"

Samuel paused, clearly caught off guard by how calm I was. He looked at my pale face and furrowed his brow deeply.

He probably found my passive approach today quite tactful, or maybe he feared I would make a scene on set and ruin things for him and Xena. Regardless, he finally nodded in assent.

"Got it. I'll head straight over at 7:00 pm. Get out of here quickly, and don't get photographed by the paparazzi here."

It was finally 7:00 pm. I made a reservation for a table by the window at the upscale Farocian restaurant where we had gone on our first date. I ordered a full spread of Samuel's favorite dishes from back then.

I could hear the melodious sound of a violin echoing through the restaurant, and outside the window lay a dazzling cityscape alive with traffic and lights.

I sat silently in my seat, watching the crimson ticking away in midair—a display only I could see. [Time Remaining Until Death: 41 hours, 30 minutes, 12 seconds.]

I could sense the time slowly ticking away as the dishes on the table gradually turned cold. I picked up the glass of water beside me, staring at the faintly flickering translucent outline of my fingers while silently waiting for the end of this relationship.