Chapter 3

Less than half an hour later, Ryan burst into the hospital room, breathless.

He slammed into me, sending me sprawling. My arm hit the nearby metal cabinet.

"You were supposed to have moved out. Why were you even here, near Serena?"

He took out the soup from the meal tray and carefully fed it to Serena. He then thoughtfully propped a pillow behind her back, before fixing me with a cold stare, his voice laced with accusation. "You knew Serena's situation was delicate. Why didn't you stay away from her?"

Serena gently wrapped her arms around his neck, whining softly, "Ryan, it hurts so much. I can't walk like a normal person anymore."

But her triumph was impossible to hide in her eyes.

Someone genuinely suffering from depression wouldn't have that look in their eyes.

Yet Ryan hugged her tenderly, gently rubbing her leg. "Serena will get better. Ryan's here for you."

His entire focus was on Serena, he didn't notice my bleeding arm, covered in cuts.

I comforted myself countless times, telling myself Ryan was only acting out of guilt.

Every time, I compromised. I knew exactly what he was thinking.

He knew Serena's illness wasn't severe to this extent.

But later, on a mountain drenched in a downpour, amidst a howling blizzard, on a deserted highway in the dead of night, even at our own wedding, Ryan abandoned me without a second thought and chose Serena.

This was his last chance. I ran after him. "Ryan, have you really thought this through?"

Ryan's footsteps faltered. From a distance, I saw guilt in his eyes.

"Summer, I'm sorry. I can't abandon Serena. Her leg is like this because of me."

The outcome was clear long ago. For the first time, I used a hidden ability and heard Ryan's inner thoughts: "Summer, I'll make it up to you properly when I get back."

I shook my head, my voice raw and strained. "Ryan, no need. We're breaking up."

Ryan finally turned and walked towards me, his brows furrowed, his tone filled with displeasure. "Stop being unreasonable! Our relationship and helping Serena recover aren't mutually exclusive. Why do you have to make it a competition?"

"Serena's by the ocean, it's dangerous. Her life is on the line, what are you even thinking about?"

The atmosphere between us instantly solidified.

People around us cast curious glances, eager for drama. A lump formed in my throat, choking back the words.

It was useless because Ryan's mind was completely consumed by Serena at the beach.

I managed a faint smile, opening my mouth to speak.

But before I could say anything, Ryan's phone rang.

It was our mutual friend, saying Serena's condition was very bad.

In just a few seconds, Ryan made his choice. He abandoned me again without a second thought.

Right then, I thought my decision to give up a prestigious university's exchange program for Ryan was absolutely terrible.

I dialed that number, hidden at the very end of my contacts for a long, long time.

"Caleb, I'm giving in. I accept your offer."