Chapter 15
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Vaughn’s grip on his phone tightened. He looked at me standing in the doorway, his eyes wide with panic. For a long moment, he couldn’t find his words.
Did you think staging a heroic rescue would make me soft-hearted enough to forgive you?” I walked toward him, one step at a time, a mocking smile playing on my lips. “Vaughn Sterling, is your entire world built on nothing but lies?”
‘No, I didn’t want to lie to you again…” Vaughn’s voice was weak, his defense crumbling. “Elara, I was desperate. I didn’t know what else to do to get you back. Please, just tell me what do I have to do to make things go back to how they were?”
‘But I don’t love you anymore. How can things go back?” I looked at him with complete indifference. “I don’t love you, Vaughn. From the moment I heard you say you were only dating me for ‘practice,’ every ounce of affection I had for you vanished. And now… now there’s a layer of hatred on top of that. How do you expect me to make peace with you?”
… Vaughn’s heart turned cold, piece by piece.
By the time he realized his true feelings for me, it was already too late.
The disgust and hatred in my eyes were so vivid that it felt as if everything he did was in vain.
‘Elara, I’m not giving up.” Vaughn looked me straight in the eye. “Whether it takes one year, two years, ten, or even twenty… as long as I have a single breath left in my body, I will never stop trying to be with you.”
I dug my nails into my palms. “Fine. You’re more than welcome to be a rat in the sewer, watching from the corners as I finish my studies, fall in love, get married, and have children.”
Vaughn’s face twisted at my words. “I won’t allow any man to get near you.”
Just the thought of me being intimate with another man felt like a dagger being driven into his heart, leaving him bleeding and
ɔroken.
I didn’t want to waste another breath on him. I turned and walked out.
The hospital room fell into a heavy silence.
Ten minutes later, Vaughn’s mother pushed the door open, her bag clutched in her hand. She walked to the side of the bed. “I’ve booked your flight to the United States. I’ve already handled the arrangements for your school there.”
Vaughn answered without expression, “I told you, I’m not going.”
Vaughn, do you really have to push me?” Mrs. Sterling’s tone was calm, but her eyes flashed with a warning that brooked no argument. “You’re my son. I can’t bring myself to hurt you, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be merciful to her.”
Vaughn’s head snapped up in shock. He stared at his mother in disbelief. “Mom, have you lost your mind? I already owe her so nuch. What more do you want to do to her?”
Mrs. Sterling’s face grew stern. “You’ve always been smart and sensible. You were the pride of your father and me. I never expected o raise a fool for love. If you continue to waste your energy on her, your life will be ruined! My only choice is to eliminate the person influencing you.”
Vaughn grit his teeth, fury surging in his eyes. “Don’t you dare touch her.”
‘Don’t test me to see if I’m brave enough to hurt her.” Mrs. Sterling’s voice didn’t waver. “Hiring people to harass her, using a knife to scar her face, or locking her away in a place where you’ll never find her… do you want to guess if I’m capable of that? If you don’t want to see those things happen, you will go to the United States and study. If you graduate successfully in four years, I will never interfere in your business again.”
Vaughn’s throat moved as he swallowed hard.
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He wasn’t a machine; he couldn’t watch my every move twenty-four hours a day. He didn’t dare gamble my safety on whether his mother was bluffing.
He didn’t want to bring any more misfortune into my life.
…Fine. I promise.”
Vaughn closed his eyes, the image of a man defeated.
Seeing this, Mrs. Sterling felt a pang of guilt. “Vaughn, you’re just not used to life without her yet. Given enough time, you’ll realize hat no one is irreplaceable. You’ll meet better girls. Your life won’t be trapped by her forever.”
Vaughn didn’t say a word.
Inside his head, he whispered: No. I’ll never meet a girl better than her.”
No one compares to her.*
Two weeks later, Vaughn was discharged from the hospital. Before heading to the airport, he went to the entrance of my training
:enter one last time.
He saw me walking with a tall, well-built man. I was holding an ice cream cone, my eyes curved into a bright, happy smile.
t was that same man from before.
Vaughn dug his nails into his palms until the skin broke, struggling to keep himself from rushing forward.
He would come back for me. And when he did, he would clear away every eyesore standing by my side.
Vaughn got into the car and headed for the airport to catch his flight to the United States.
t was after 9:00 PM when I got home. I received an anonymous text message-it was a flight confirmation.
Vaughn has left for the United States. I hope that over these next four years, you will not respond to any messages he sends you.]
wasn’t surprised that Mrs. Sterling had followed through on her word and made Vaughn leave France.”
didn’t reply. I simply deleted the message.
At that moment, as I looked out the window, a genuine smile finally touched my lips.
A month later, the Lumière Academy of Fine Arts held its Freshman Orientation. I officially became a first-year student in the Oil
‘ainting Department.
My days were busy with classes, and I found a part-time job at a local Art Studio.
Leander came to see me at school often. As time passed, we grew more familiar with one another. We went to movies, went skiing, and attended galas together.
Because Leander’s grandmother was a retired oil painting instructor, I often went with him to visit her. Little by little, our elationship deepened.
On Christmas Day at the end of the year, we officially became boyfriend and girlfriend.
The streets were filled with a festive Christmas atmosphere. Leander took off his scarf and wrapped it around my neck.
looped my arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss.
We had no idea that in a dark corner not far away, a pair of sinister eyes was watching us.
Vaughn Sterling slumped, burying his head in his hands, unable to watch any longer.
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He was just about to turn away when he heard my voice, thick with tears.
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“What’s the situation with Mom now? Is a kidney transplant absolutely necessary as soon as possible?” I gripped my phone, tears welling in my eyes. “…I’m booking a flight home right now.”
