Love Him, Die For Him

Over the past month, Benjamin Zoller frequently used the excuse of being busy with work to avoid seeing me. Even his replies to my texts were taking longer than usual.

An uneasy feeling brewed in my heart. I was itching to find out directly from him. As I was about to head out, however, I received a call from an unfamiliar number.

"Is this Ms. Sloane? I am a doctor from Jadeview Hospital."

The voice on the other end continued, "Are you Benjamin Zoller's girlfriend? He was diagnosed with stomach cancer about a month ago but is refusing to undergo treatment. Could you try to persuade him to come to the hospital? If we take action now, there's still a chance for a cure..."

As the doctor's words floated into my ear, my head started to spin. I almost collapsed.

This must be why Benjamin had been avoiding me. He must have been trying to conceal the heartbreaking news.

Overcome with grief, I choked back tears while promising the doctor I would talk to him. Immediately after, I rushed to Benjamin's office.

I wanted to look him in the eyes and tell him that I would stand by him, just as he had cared for me tirelessly for the past three years. We were not to give up any hope in life, ever.

The office door was ajar. Before I could enter, I heard Benjamin's complaints coming from the inside.

"It's been so long. Yet, Cherilyn won't let me touch her.

"She must still be hung up on that dead guy. Say, do you think she's staying chaste for him, or is she just that innocent?

"My initial plan was just to have some fun. But I never thought it would drag on for so long. I'm not willing to let it end like this."

My heart sank. Instead of barging in, I peeked through the gap.

Benjamin was seated on the sofa with his legs crossed. He held a glass of wine in one hand, which he downed in one gulp. He looked nothing like someone suffering from stomach cancer.

His friends exchanged knowing looks with each other.

"Since when did you turn into a hopeless romantic? Playing the 'true love conquers all' game now?"

"Somehow, the unattainable is always the most desirable. I reckon you shouldn't compete with a corpse, man—you're just seeking trouble for yourself. Don't forget that she was willing to die with that man at that time. Imagine how deeply she must have felt for him."

Benjamin's face turned gloomy. He said nothing.

The guy next to him quickly pitched in, "What do you guys know? Benjamin has been by her side for three whole years. He has rejected countless beautiful women and even stopped attending parties. He's put in so much effort for her. If Cherilyn ultimately only sees him as a stand-in, wouldn't that make him the biggest joke?"

With that, everyone realized that they had touched a nerve. One by one, they fell silent.

The air in the room turned icy. Benjamin poured himself another drink and let out a cold snicker.

"Well, to prevent that from happening, I've decided to put her love for me to the test."

"How are you going to do that?" someone asked.

Benjamin's lips curled into an appalling smile.

"I plan to stage my death. We'll see whether, at the brink of my death, Cherilyn is willing to take her own life for me."

At that moment, chills ran down my spine.

I opened my mouth, yet not a single word rolled off my tongue.

So, this was how Benjamin had always viewed my love—with so much malice.

In order to obtain his twisted answer, he was even willing to open up a healing wound and inflict more pain on me.

I struggled to breathe. Despite my efforts, the suffocating despair swallowed me whole.