All Chapters of A Love That Fades: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

At some point, Selena lost consciousness. In her dazed state, she had a dream.She dreamed of the time in middle school when an article she had written was published in a medical journal.Excited, she brought the journal home, but no one in her family could understand it. They glanced at it briefly before tossing it aside.Only her mother read it for a long time. In the end, she stroked Selena's head, eyes filled with love, and praised her.Curious, Selena asked, "Mom, can you understand medical journals?"Her mother shook her head and said in a gentle voice, "I don't understand what you wrote, but I recognize the spot where your name is printed."Even after many years, she still remembered that afternoon.Now, her articles were published in one journal after another. But the person who used to stroke her head and praise her was no longer there."Mom–"When Selena woke up, there were still tears at the corners of her eyes.The first thing she saw was a young man looking at he

Selena's gaze was filled with mockery.Now that she was thoroughly disappointed, she no longer had any expectations for Ian. She calmly uttered two words."Got it."Ryan, however, looked at her in disbelief. "Ian took such good care of you all these years, and that's all you have to say? Selena, ever since Mom passed away, you've been acting so strange."Vanessa nearly lost her life because of you, and you haven't even shown any concern for her. I get it now. You blame Vanessa for stealing our family's love from you, and deep down, you're hoping she dies, aren't you?"She's already suffered so much, yet you're still jealous of her? When did you become so evil?"Hearing this, Selena suddenly found it laughable.If Vanessa had truly intended to take her own life by overdosing, then why was the dosage so precisely controlled? Why was it just enough for her to be found by the Carter family in time?For years, Vanessa had been using such despicable tactics to slowly steal the affect

Selena wasn't planning to tell him the truth just yet."I'm a little tired. I'm taking time off from school for a few days to travel nearby. I won't go far."She turned her phone around and showed him the travel guide she had been reading.Seeing that she wasn't lying, Ian finally relaxed a little and let go of her arm. "That's more like it. I knew you wouldn't be so petty. It's just a patent. You can always come up with another one."Just then, his phone rang. It was Ryan from the hospital."Ian, where did you go? Vanessa woke up and freaked out when she didn't see you. Her condition got worse, and now she's throwing herself against the walls. She's bleeding a lot. Get back here now!"Ian rushed to leave, but before stepping out, he turned back to remind Selena, "Go ahead and travel if you want, just don't go too far from home."Selena smiled without saying a word.'Don't worry. I won't go too far. Just far enough that you'll never find me.'As he passed by the pile of burned

Selena ignored everyone and returned to the attic—her own small space—where she tended to her wounds alone.After finishing everything, she lay on the bed and stared blankly at the night sky that was soaked in darkness.She wanted time to pass faster.She wanted to leave this cold-blooded family as soon as possible.-Over the next three days, the Carter family busied themselves with preparations for Vanessa's college admission banquet.Zachary truly adored her. He even announced his plans to formally adopt her, saying she was a hundred times better than his own daughter.On the day of the banquet, even Zachary, who had never once attended a parent-teacher meeting for Selena, dressed up in an expensive custom-made suit.No one came to invite Selena.It was as if everyone had forgotten she even existed in this house.Right before they left, Vanessa knocked on the attic door. Gone was the usual timid, obedient look on her face."Selena, get on your knees and beg me. I can make

"Don't go, Ian!" Vanessa's sudden scream cut through the banquet hall.Desperate to stop Ian, she staggered and crashed into the carved table corner. Blood gushed from the wound on her forehead. Shards of porcelain dug into her palms, yet she stubbornly reached toward Ian..The crowd instinctively stepped back. The only sound that could be heard was that of blood dripping onto the floor.When Ian turned around, his gaze locked onto Vanessa's bloodshot eyes.Those ever cheerful-looking eyes were now brimming with tears. Her eyelashes were clumped together with sticky blood, and her pale lips kept whispering broken pleas."Ian, don't leave me. You're all I have. I'll do anything if you just come back."Seeing Vanessa in this state, Ryan couldn't help but shed tears. "Her medicine is still in my bag. The doctor said if she gets agitated again–""Sorry." Ian hesitated for a moment. But in the end, he turned away and left the banquet hall.A suffocating sense of dread gnawed at him,