Chapter 17
Having been caught in the rain the day before, Violet woke up with a fever and didn’t go to Charlotte’s shop.
She took medicine, thinking rest would help, but her head got worse.
Hearing a knock at the door, she forced herself up to answer it, but the moment she saw Ethan outside, she collapsed.
When she woke up, she was in the hospital.
“Don’t move–you’re still on an IV.”
Ethan’s voice reached her ears as Violet turned to look at him.
“Thanks for saving me yesterday. The doctor said you got a fever from being in the rain too long.”
Violet took the water he offered: “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me–I should be thanking you. I had sudden chest pains going down the mountain yesterday. If you hadn’t shown up, I’d have been dead before my bodyguards found me. I owe you my life.”
Violet heard him and couldn’t help smiling, but Ethan’s expression turned serious after checking his phone, looking at Violet with hesitation in his eyes.
“Got something to tell me? Just say it.”
After a long pause, Ethan slowly said: “The doctor says there’s something in your stomach that needs further testing.”
Violet could tell from his expression what that “something” was.
Actually, she wasn’t that surprised. During her last checkup, the doctor had warned her to pay attention to her stomach, but she’d never taken it
seriously.
Stomach pain had been routine for Violet during those ten years.
“Okay.”
This calm reaction made Ethan think she couldn’t accept the diagnosis: “It’s alright–I’ll help you get treatment.”
“No need. I can handle my own stuff.”
Ethan shook his head firmly: “You saved my life last time–now it’s my turn to help you get better.”
Seeming afraid Violet wouldn’t agree, he added: “I don’t like owing people.”
After so many years, this was the first time Violet felt such direct care.
She’d given Adrian so much, but never gotten an ounce of genuine concern from him.
But she’d just casually helped Ethan once.
Violet smiled bitterly–now she finally understood what Charlotte meant years ago about her sacrifices not being worth it.
Someone like Adrian didn’t deserve anyone’s genuine feelings.
The next day, Ethan brought Violet back to New Haven.
“The medical resources are better here. I can get specialists, but the equipment in that small town isn’t great.”
17.7
Dalel
Chapter 17
Violet looked out at the passing scenery.
“Yeah, I just didn’t expect to be back so soon.”
Ethan had gathered all the hospital’s top specialists for consultation. The stomach issue was caught early–surgery would fix it.
Ethan stayed by Violet’s side the whole time. Violet tried talking him out of it twice, but he’d just look a little hurt, then show up the next day
with flowers.
When Violet returned to New Haven, Adrian went to the small town.
Charlotte’s door was being pounded loudly, her voice coming from inside, distant then closer, sounding annoyed:
“Coming, coming! Stop banging!”
As the door opened, Charlotte peeked out, saw Adrian, and froze. But she quickly recovered.
“What can I do for you, Professor Montgomery?”
Charlotte had guessed he was here to ask about Violet.
In the small town, Violet only had her as a friend.
All these years, she’d felt bad for Violet’s sacrifices and tried many times to talk sense into her–suffering so much for Adrian just wasn’t worth it.
But no matter how she tried, Violet wouldn’t budge.
Last time when Violet came back and told her everything, Charlotte had been disgusted. So seeing Adrian at her door, she felt annoyed. even repulsed.
“Charlotte, I know you and Violet are close. I went to her place but nobody’s there. Do you know where she went?”
This was Charlotte’s first time seeing Adrian like this. The usually confident young professor from news reports now looked haggard, his hair
disheveled.
“No idea.”
With that, Charlotte started to close the door, but Adrian stopped her.
“What’re you trying to pull now? Violet and I are best friends, but I honestly don’t know where she went. You don’t need to do this.”
“Besides, what’s with this devoted act? Who’re you performing for?”
“When Violet loved you, you didn’t know how to appreciate it–all obsessed with that Seraphina chick, helping her bully Violet. Now that Violet’s gone, shouldn’t you be with Seraphina, getting what you wanted?”
“With Seraphina helping you, Professor Montgomery’s future should be bright as hell. Why’re you coming to our crappy little town looking for Violet?”
Charlotte got angrier as she spoke: “Adrian, don’t come looking for me anymore. I don’t know where Violet went. If she left you, that means she doesn’t want to see you again. Stop harassing her.”
Charlotte had made herself clear, but Adrian wouldn’t accept it.
“I had my reasons for doing those things, and I’ve realized now…”
“ENOUGH!”
Charlotte cut him off: “Adrian, reasons? You’ve got some nerve saying that–I’m embarrassed to even listen.”
“Keep that BS for yourself. Don’t waste it on me–it’s pointless and unnecessary.”
17.008
Chapter 17
With that, Charlotte slammed the door shut, ignoring Adrian outside.
