Chapter 24
Ethan had been searching for Claire for ages, even abandoning his normal work in the process.
He’d even hired expensive international private investigators to track her down, getting scammed multiple times before finally finding this place.
He’d come to surprise her and bring her home, but this reunion was nothing but shocking disappointment.
Claire looked at him with less warmth than she’d show a stranger, her tone ice–cold as she steadied Dr. Mitchell, who was still shielding her: “Apologize to him right now, or I’m calling the police!”
Ethan’s eyes reddened as his voice trembled: “The police? After everything we meant to each other, you’d call the police on
me?”
“Yeah, after everything you meant to each other, you still cheated constantly and even drugged her so you could screw around without worry! Frankly, a man like you doesn’t deserve her–you don’t even deserve to be in her presence!”
Dr. Mitchell had always despised what Ethan had done, and seeing him dare to show his face here, he finally had the chance to say what he’d been thinking.
Ethan, humiliated by having his dirty laundry aired in front of Claire, flew into a rage and swung his fist at Dr. Mitchell.
This time Dr. Mitchell was ready. He ducked under Ethan’s punch and threw one of his own, landing it square on Ethan’s face.
The two men fought fiercely until Claire actually called the police, at which point they were separated. Both ended up in the hospital in adjoining rooms.
During their stay, Claire visited Dr. Mitchell religiously after work every day. She made him soup, helped him call nurses to change his bandages, and when she learned he might have a mild concussion, showed genuine concern.
Ethan’s treatment was a stark contrast.
He’d twisted his ankle during the fight–not as serious as a potential concussion, but it significantly impacted his daily life. Even trying to catch a glimpse of Claire required him to struggle to his feet and lean against the wall.
“Claire, can we just talk for a minute?” He refused to enter Dr. Mitchell’s room, standing in the doorway and waiting for her pathetically. Seeing she had no intention of visiting him, he finally couldn’t help but ask.
Claire didn’t even turn around. While she was playfully scolding Dr. Mitchell for fighting, her attitude toward Ethan was ice–cold–as if all those years they’d spent together were so awful she couldn’t bear to remember them.
“We have nothing to talk about.” Her heart was like stone. A few cheap words weren’t going to make her soften, and certainly wouldn’t make her jump back into the cage she’d worked so hard to escape.
But Ethan wasn’t about to give up. He pleaded: “Then let me talk and you listen, and then decide whether to forgive me, okay? I’ve gotten rid of Tiffany already. I promise, anyone or anything you don’t like, I won’t let them appear in front of you ever again.”
“You’re out of line-” Dr. Mitchell tried to get up to throw Ethan out, but Claire gently tugged his sleeve and, maintaining her defiant posture, quietly suggested: “Actually, you should tell him to stop harassing us. That would be better for everyone.”
That suggestion wasn’t just good–it would basically turn him into a living demon haunting the hospital.
22:05
Two Chances, One Bullet: How His “Next Life” Promise Failed
98.3%
Chapter 24
Ethan felt like he was being slowly tortured to death. Seeing that Claire’s mind was made up and she wasn’t planning to turn back, he decided to make his presence known by coming to beg for forgiveness every single day. When Dr. Mitchell was discharged and could leave. Ethan was right there ready to continue his campaign.
Claire now lived in a house with its own yard. Every morning she used to open the curtains and immediately bask in the warm sunlight, but ever since Ethan began his twisted form of penance, she’d changed that habit.
Because Ethan, to demonstrate his remorse and suffering, had taken to kneeling on the walkway outside her house every morning at dawn.
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22:09
Two Chances One Bullet How His “Next Life” Promiso Failed
18 NG
