Chapter 4

Carter shook his head. "I don't want to lie to you, Sophie. To tell you the truth, Ruby had a high fever that day, and I was worried about her, so I came over from North City to see her here."

"When I was suffering from gastritis last New Year’s and was hospitalized for three days, I called you because I wanted you by my side. You told me that your lecturers had arranged a project for you, and you couldn't make it…"

Carter hesitated before replying, "Ruby had entered a singing competition that day, and she told me she really wanted to see me."

Sophie bit hard on her lip to stop her tears from falling. "Last semester during the winter holidays, I wanted you to come to Streamston to pick me up so we could go home together, but you told me you were already back in our hometown."

"I was on a trip to Harton with Ruby because she told me she wanted to see the snow and ice skate…"

Carter could no longer continue. He hugged Sophie tightly in his arms and said with a sob, "I'm so sorry, Sophie. I never meant to lie to you! It’s just that I promised Ruby that we'd only be together for four years, and after that, we'd pretend nothing ever happened.

"There are still three months. Just wait for me until they’re over, Sophie. We'll get married right after graduation, and I promise I'll stay only by your side and do whatever you want me to."

"You don't need to wait three months," Ruby interrupted him with a sob. "We'll end things between us right now. I'll no longer be your girlfriend from now on, Carter. You belong to Sophie. I don't want to ruin your relationship anymore!"

After that, she looked at Sophie, teary-eyed. "We're still best friends, right, Sophie?"

Sophie could feel Carter's chest burning and the strong beating of his heart, but her heart was cold. Suddenly, Anya started to speak up on Ruby's behalf.

"Listen to Ruby and let this go, Sophie. You know how pitiful Ruby's life has been. She's an orphan, and she's always been alone since she was young. She fell for Carter a long time ago, but she never dared to tell you because she felt guilty about it.

“All of us tried to hide it from you. We didn't expect you to find out about it."

"That's enough! You should all shut up!"

Sophie pushed Carter away and watched as he fell toward the road. Ruby ran over to him to push him out of the way of oncoming traffic. "Look out, Carter!"

Bam!

A speeding car came down the road, and Ruby crashed into the windshield like a broken doll. She fell heavily to the ground. Everyone looked in shock as a pool of blood started growing under her body.

Everyone stood stunned for a long time before Carter lunged toward her. He knelt by her side, looking at her helplessly. "Where are you hurt, Ruby? Are you in pain?"

"Oh no, Ruby! What should we do? What should we do, Carter? Is Ruby going to die?" Anya kneeled on the ground and could not stop crying.

Ruby tried her best to open her eyes, and she pointed in the direction of Sophie. "Sophie… Please forgive me… We'll always… be best friends…"

"Stop talking, Ruby! Don't say any more!" Carter carried her in his arms frantically and roared at Sophie. "What are you standing there for?! Call an ambulance! Sophie, I need you to call an ambulance right now! If anything happens to Ruby, it's over between us!"

Sophie trembled as she pulled her phone from her pocket to call 911.

When Ruby started coughing blood, Sophie stepped forward right away to try and save her. "I'm a medical student. I can save—"

Before she could get nearer, Carter pushed her away. "Get away from her, Sophie! Don't you dare get anywhere near Ruby, or I'll kill you!"

Carter pushed Sophie so hard that she fell onto the road, and her waist hit the side of the pavement hard, hurting her tremendously. She bit her lip, trying to get up, but could not move.

Sophie could only watch with heartache as Carter's tears fell over Ruby. All she wanted to do was to save Ruby.

The speeding car had been far away from Carter and would never have hit him. Sophie could not understand why Ruby had suddenly rushed out onto the road.

The ambulance arrived very soon, and the paramedics put Ruby, who was covered in blood, into the ambulance. Anya and Carter followed her into the ambulance and left Sophie behind, all alone.

Sophie stared at the pool of blood, and her mind went blank until her phone started buzzing. It was a text from her lecturer.

Mr. Kingsley: [Aren't you going to consider continuing your studies overseas, Sophie? Placement is limited, and if you reject the offer, we'll consider someone else.]

Sophie typed replied with trembling fingers.

Sophie: [I'd like to accept the offer to go overseas.]

Mr. Kingsley: [Great. You’ll leave after the semester holidays. Come back to the university as soon as possible.]