Chapter 4
Vaughn caught a strange scent as he stepped closer. When he saw the pile of gray ash on the floor, his face hardened. “Are you crazy? You’re going to hit someone over a few worthless paintings?”
My eyes widened. My clenched fists wouldn’t stop shaking. I lunged forward and slapped Vaughn across the face. “Worthless? I poured my heart and soul into those works, and now they’re nothing but ash. Do I not even have the right to be angry at the person who did it?”
Vaughn’s head snapped to the side from the force of the blow.
Hit me instead! Elara, just hit me…” Corliss Mercer threw herself in front of Vaughn, tears streaming down her face. “It’s all my ault. I accidentally destroyed your work. I’m so sorry. If you want to hit or scream at someone, let it be me.”
Corliss, you didn’t do it on purpose. There’s no need to beg for her forgiveness,” Vaughn snapped, glaring at me. “Those paintings dready won awards, didn’t they? They’re gone, but it’s not like you suffered any real loss. Can you stop acting like a psycho just because you think you’re in the right?”
So now I was the one in the wrong?
grit my teeth, my voice trembling. “If I burned all your trophies, would that be okay? After all, you already have the honors. What lo you need the physical trophies for anyway?”
Vaughn choked on his words, silenced for a long moment. “Do you have to be this unreasonable?”
He took a deep breath as if making a painful sacrifice. “If burning my trophies will make you forgive Corliss for what she did, then urn them. All of them. I’ll apologize on her behalf.”
No!” Corliss shook her head frantically, grabbing Vaughn’s sleeve. “Vaughn, what are you saying? I won’t let you!”
watched their touching little performance in silence. I remembered going to Vaughn’s house and seeing those trophies in a glass lisplay case. Every single one was spotless. He had even warned me never to touch them with my bare hands.
The Vaughn Sterling who cherished those trophies so much was willing to let them burn for Corliss.
He really did love her to his core, didn’t he?
I wave of regret washed over me. Why did it take me three years to finally see his true colors? What was the point of all the love I ad given him?
t didn’t matter anymore.
curled my lips into a cold smile. “Fine. Make sure you send those trophies to me. I’ll mail them back to you after I’m done burning
hem.”
Vaughn stared at me, stunned that I was actually taking him seriously. “Fine. I agree. Will that finally make you calm down?”
de didn’t believe I’d actually do it. He thought I still worshipped him, that I loved watching him compete and seeing the focus in his yes when he played Go. He thought I was just lashing out.
silently began replacing the empty frames with new paintings. Looking at the ash on the floor, I felt a lump in my throat. I wanted
o cry.
As I hung the last frame, I was about to tell Vaughn to get out when a sharp, agonizing pain shot through my
A terrifying sensation of impending death began to swallow me.
Thump-thump. Thump-thump. My heart felt like it was going to leap out of my throat.
chest.
clutched my chest, remembering the bottle of emergency heart medicine in my pocket. Because my brother, Rowan, had a heart condition, my parents always insisted I carry them just in case.
What’s wrong with you?” Vaughn frowned, noticing the cold sweat breaking out on my forehead.
16:25
< Chapter 4
Suddenly, a dull thud sounded behind him.
Corliss had collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air. “Vaughn… I… I feel so sick…”
gripped my chest, the pain so intense I couldn’t even form words.
Medicine… give me the medicine…” Corliss’s eyes were fixed on me.
Claim 50 Coms By Check in
Vaughn turned and saw me fumbling with the bottle of nitroglycerin pills, trying to get one into my mouth.
Without a second thought, he snatched the bottle from my hand. He shook out a few pills and fed them to Corliss. “Hold them inder your tongue. It’s okay, don’t be scared. I’m taking you to the hospital.”
Vaughn scooped Corliss up in his arms and sprinted toward the door.
Vaughn… Vaughn Sterling…” I felt like I was suffocating. I watched him prepare to leave with my only lifeline. “Give them back… Give me the medicine…”
Vaughn paused for a split second. He tossed the small bottle toward me without looking back and vanished down the hallway.
The porcelain bottle hit the floor and shattered. The tiny pills rolled in every direction.
crawled across the floor like a broken doll, desperate to reach them. But before I could get a single pill into my mouth, the world
vent black.
When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed.
Elara, you’re finally awake.” My mother let out a massive sigh of relief. “The doctor said your emotions were too volatile. You hyperventilated, which led to oxygen deprivation. Your heart is fine for now, but you have to take your medicine during
mergencies.”
Recalling how Vaughn had forcibly taken my pills, I gave a pale, weak smile. “Mom, don’t worry. I’m okay. You look exhausted-go home and get some rest.”
How can I not worry?” She looked at me with deep concern. “You’re only eighteen, and you’re about to study abroad. Are you sure you can take care of yourself?”
I can do it, Mom.” I squeezed her hand. “Once I get to Paris, I’ll video call you every day. I’ll give you a full report on everything.”
ust then, the ward door swung open.
Vaughn marched in, his brows furrowed. “Elara Vance, where did you just say you were going?”
My mother looked at him in confusion. “Elara, who is this?”
A classmate,” I said tonelessly. I turned to Vaughn. “The semester is starting soon. I’m going to Metropolis, obviously.”
My mother sensed the tension between us. She stood up and headed for the door. “I’ll go settle the billing. You two talk.”
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Vaughn looked at my pale face and sighed. “Corliss had a heart transplant years ago. When she suddenly collapsed, I panicked. I didn’t have time to think, I just gave her the pills. Besides, you never told me you had a heart condition. I…”
‘Get out,” I interrupted. “I want to rest alone.”
Vaughn looked like he wanted to say more, but seeing my closed eyes, he gave in. “Fine. Get some rest. I’ve already booked our flight for the start of the term. We’re leaving for Metropolis in six days.”
“Okay.”
I gave a faint response and listened as his footsteps faded into the distance.
16.26
< Chapter 4
Claim 50 Coins By Check in
Menu
I stayed in the hospital for three days. Once the tests cleared me, I was discharged.
As I walked toward the elevator with my paperwork, I heard familiar voices coming from around the corner of the stairwell.
“Yeah, we haven’t seen each other much in the last three years, but he still cares about me that much. The second I pretended I was going to faint, he snatched the medicine right out of that girl’s hand to give it to me.”
‘I burned those oil paintings on purpose. I wanted to see where Vaughn stood. Ha! Just like when we were kids, he’ll always choose me over anyone else.”
“That match in Asia against the AI? Please… my international ranking is all thanks to my dad paying off my opponents. I’ve been match-fixing for years. If I actually play a robot, my real level will be exposed in seconds. A pro like Vaughn would see through me instantly.”
In the shadow of the corner, I looked down at the recording timer on my phone and pressed save.
