Chapter 5

On the way home, Ava pulled the car over in a quiet, secluded area.

“You barely ate anything earlier,” she said. “I made this chicken soup beforehand. Have some to fill your stomach. Once you feel a little better, I’ll make you your favorite roast chicken.”

My eyes watered as I said, “Let’s not wait for later. Let’s do it today. I’m fine.”

I was about to die. I wouldn’t be able to have it later on.

Ava paused for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. Have some soup first, and I’ll make it for you when we get back tonight.”

I downed the still-warm soup in one gulp. Even though it was just chicken soup, it warmed my heart.

Once I was done, I looked at Ava, intending to say my final goodbyes. However, a sudden bout of dizziness hit me. It felt like the ground was crashing down on me, and I lost consciousness once more.

In a daze, the strong stench of disinfectant filled my nostrils again.

Was I in the hospital again? Had my health deteriorated to such a dire state?

Just as the thought crossed my mind, I suddenly heard Henry’s voice nearby.

“Ava, your idea was great,” Henry said. “If we asked Finn for it, he might not have agreed. But by pretending to side with him and slipping him that drug, you managed to get him onto the operating table without a hitch.”

Ava sounded a bit anxious. “This hospital you found doesn’t look very legitimate. Nothing bad will happen, right?”

Henry sighed. “It really isn’t legitimate, but because Finn refused to sign the consent form, a regular hospital wouldn’t perform the procedure. Ava, you don’t want me to die either, do you? But don’t worry. The doctors in this hospital are very skilled. They will definitely cure me and make sure Finn is okay.”

Only then did Ava let out a sigh of relief. Then, I felt a kiss fall softly upon my forehead.

Ava offered a guilty promise. “I’m sorry, Finn. I hate making you suffer like this, but there was no other choice. Once you’re out of surgery, I swear I’ll spend all the years ahead making it up to you.”

So her sudden change of heart had all been an illusion. She had only done this to drag me onto the operating table to save Henry’s life.

A single tear slipped from the corner of my eye, and as I was wheeled into the operating room, the drug’s effects gradually began to fade.

In the operating room, only Henry and the corrupt doctor were there, so Henry didn’t bother keeping up his act anymore.

He gloated triumphantly, “Finn, I faked having a terminal illness. Not only am I not sick, but I’m perfectly healthy. I just wanted to teach you a lesson this time. Remember, stay away from Ava. Otherwise, next time you won’t just be tormented—you’ll lose your life.”

Henry traced the scalpel along my body, ensuring I would suffer maximum pain without taking my life. Little did they know I only had ten seconds left to live.

Ten, nine, eight… As the countdown ticked away, I could feel my life slipping away.

At the final moment before I ceased to exist, a final System notification popped up.

[Dear Host, your life has reached its end. We will find an opportunity to inform your lover of your noble sacrifice of giving up fifty years of your life to save her.]

Once, I was terrified that she would be heartbroken if she found out. But now, as death took me, I cared for nothing. I simply let everything fade into nothingness.

Three, two, one!

The countdown before my eyes hit zero.

At the same moment, a beeping sound came from the operating room, and the ECG flatlined instantly.