The Burning Love

A robotic voice rose in my mind. “Return procedure activated. 72 hours remaining…”

I just needed to endure this for another three days, then I could leave this world.

With a hand against the wall to support me, I shifted back to my ward.

When I opened the door, a few caregivers were sweeping my belongings into a box. They were also moving my pacemaker outside.

Seth Jones was giving orders to the caregivers, and Julius Shane remained silently by his side. I gasped for breath as I leaned against the door frame. “What… are you doing?”

At the sight of my pale face, Julius curled his fingers before turning to Seth.

Panic flashed in Seth’s eyes, but he still said stubbornly, “Elena, Jody just got her surgery, and she’s in a critical observation period right now. She needs this special care unit and the pacemaker.”

I endured the pain as my heart spasmed. I teared up and said, “I’ve failed four matches, and my heart is already badly damaged. If I don’t have that pacemaker, I’ll die.”

Seth’s face turned pale, but he gritted his teeth. “You’ve managed to make it through till now. I’m sure that you can do the same this time. Jody is different. She’s frail. I’m begging you, Elena. Be reasonable for once.”

I stared at the two men I once loved with my whole heart.

One was my brother who had doted on me for more than a decade, and the other was my fiance whom I grew up with.

They had steeled their hearts and demanded that I make way for someone else to survive when I myself was dying.

Suddenly, I felt exhausted. In any case, after dozens of hours, I could leave this world.

I nodded weakly. “Alright, fine.”

All the words Seth had prepared in protest died down in his throat as he stared at me in bewilderment.

At that moment, my heart squeezed in pain, and my legs gave up. Just as I was about to collapse, Julius rushed over and grabbed me by the waist. “Elena!”

When he saw that I was fine, he sighed in relief and said gently, “Be good, Elena. You’ve always been strong. Even without the pacemaker, you should be able to hold on for a while. Once Jody is over this critical period, I promise you that I’ll give you back the SCU and the pacemaker. When you get better, I’ll take you to Snowland to see the aurora.”

If he had said this three months ago, I would have been touched.

Back then, even if I scratched my finger, Julius would put aside everything and dress my wound with tears in his eyes.

Even when he knew I was afraid of pain, he tricked me into going through surgery four times just to take revenge for Jody. “Stop this act, Julius.”

Julius’ hand froze midair. Since I had exposed his lie, he felt frustrated and pulled his hand back. “Since you won’t listen, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

In the next second, he ordered the caregivers to shift my things to a normal ward. Sarah Miller, the servant who had taken care of me all this while, rushed in crying and shoved at the caregivers putting my things away. “Don’t throw that away!”