Chapter 6

The apartment was eerily quiet.

Only the comments kept scrolling past in the air, line after line.

[Ethan's hiding in the stairwell crying right now. He's about to fall apart.]

[Deep down, he's only angry at himself because he can't save the woman he loves.]

[Too bad she's not the heroine. So what if he loves her this much now? Ethan's true redemption arc won't begin until she dies.]

I looked down and gripped the hem of my shirt.

Picturing him falling apart alone somewhere I couldn't see made my chest ache so badly I could barely breathe.

About half an hour later, the lock finally clicked.

Ethan pushed the door open.

His expression changed the moment he saw me.

I was still curled up on the cold floor.

He didn't even stop to take off his shoes. He dropped the paper bag on the table, crossed the room in a few strides, and scooped me up off the floor.

"Lena, why are you sitting on the floor?"

His voice was still filled with worry.

"Did I scare you just now?"

He set me on the bed and carefully checked me for injuries. Only after he was sure I wasn't hurt did he let out a breath.

"I just went out to get you something to eat.

"I didn't mean to leave you here alone."

Then, as if afraid I wouldn't believe him, he lowered his voice.

"Don't overthink it, okay?"

He sat down on the edge of the bed and opened the soup he'd brought back.

Steam curled up from it.

Ethan scooped up a spoonful and touched it to his lips to test the temperature. Once he was sure it wasn't too hot, he held it out to me.

"Have some."

I searched his face.

He was exhausted himself, yet he was still doing everything he could to comfort me.

"I was out of line just now."

He lowered his gaze, his voice much quieter.

"I won't do that again.

"Whatever you want to do, I'll be right there with you."

My eyes stung.

"Okay."

Finally, I opened my mouth and took the spoonful of soup.

The truth was, my stomach already hurt so badly that even breathing was difficult, let alone eating.

But when I looked at Ethan, I fought back wave after wave of nausea and took a second sip.

Then I gently took hold of his wrist.

"That's enough."

Ethan thought I was feeling sick again and set the bowl down right away.

"Does your stomach hurt?"

I shook my head.

Then I reached out and hugged him.

He stiffened for a moment.

"Ethan.

"Let's... not fight anymore, okay?"

I buried my face in his shoulder, surrounded by his familiar scent, and let my tears fall silently.

"Let's make the most of the time we have left."

After that, Ethan didn't say anything for a long time.

Then, slowly, I felt his arms tighten around me.

As if he couldn't hold back any longer, he held me tighter.

"Okay."

His voice was raw.

"Whatever you want."

...

That night, it started to rain.

A fine rain tapped against the glass, and the whole city sank into darkness.

Ethan lay beside me.

Even after he fell asleep, he didn't let go of my hand.

Our fingers remained tightly laced, as if even in sleep, he feared I would disappear.

I lay there wide awake.

Then the comments in the air began scrolling again.

[Girls! Ethan was just secretly looking up private lenders and high-interest loans in the bathroom!]

[If he can't pay those back, his whole life could be ruined.]

[Please, Lena, I'm begging you. Don't let him keep going like this.]

[If you die, at least he can start over. But if he ruins his life too, even the heroine might not be able to save him later.]

My fingers slowly went cold.

To keep me alive, he'd already sold the house we'd lived in.

Pawned his wedding ring.

Used the car as collateral.

He'd even risked his health in a clinical trial.

And now he was looking into high-interest loans.

I slowly turned my head.

Moonlight filtered through the curtains onto Ethan's face.

He was only 26. He should have had his whole life ahead of him.

Instead, dark circles shadowed his eyes, his cheeks were hollow, and he frowned even in his sleep.

I suddenly realized how cruel I was being.

As long as I stayed alive, he would keep sacrificing more and more for me.

Money.

His health.

His career.

Maybe even his whole life.

And I already knew how this ended.

I was going to die no matter what.

So why not make it happen sooner?

All I had to do was leave a little early.

Then the story would get back on track sooner.

Ethan would meet Chloe.

She would slowly lead him out of this long nightmare.

And he'd get a full, healthy life back.

My death was all it would take.

Then everyone would get the best possible ending.

I closed my eyes as tears slid slowly down my cheeks.

Ethan...

I said his name in my head.

This time, it's my turn to save you.