Chapter 10

When I woke up again, I had been moved out of the ICU.

As I opened my eyes, I searched for Collin, but all I saw was Luca, pale and keeping watch by my bedside.

I hoarsely asked, "Where's Collin?"

Luca's expression darkened further. "Why are you asking about him?"

"I'm sorry. Lilly, I didn't know anything about the reagents in your lab. My good intentions ended up causing harm."

"I could have come to save you right away, but Lola climbed up to the overpass and threatened to jump. I couldn't break free from her."

"I knew you would escape, I-"

In the coldness of my gaze, Luca finally fell silent.

"Luca. I'm only asking you one thing."

Luca thought there might still be a chance for him, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Ask me anything; I'll tell you everything."

"Was it you who saved me ten years ago?"

Panic flashed across Luca's face, and he awkwardly forced a smile. "It's always been me. Lilly, why do you ask?"

"How did you save me?"

Sweat broke out on Luca's forehead. "Of course, I drove away the danger and saved your life."

"At that time, you called my name. What did you call me?"

I closed my eyes, unwilling to look at him again. After ten years of knowing and trusting him, I realized he was nothing but a liar.

"I-I called you Lilly!" Luca laughed dryly a couple of times. "What's wrong? You escaped death and are still reminiscing about the past?"

"You're lying." I opened my eyes, my gaze piercing through his face inch by inch.

"It wasn't you who saved me ten years ago, and over the years, you suppressed me! You left me when I was sick! You made me doubt my own abilities again and again."

"All the bad things you've done to me could be forgiven because you saved me back then."

"But not anymore, because you're not the one who saved me. Let's end this here."

Luca's false mask finally shattered.

His pupils trembled violently, his voice hoarse. "You're saying all this because of Collin."

"Collin undermined me in business, saying I was fickle, telling me to stay away from you! I refuse! Why should he, Collin Whitfield, get all the good things?"

"As long as I show affection to you, I can see Collin's frustrated expression, and that makes me happy!"

Luca's arrogance quickly crumbled in the face of my hatred-filled gaze.

I looked at him with disgust, as if he were a filthy maggot. "Luca, I don't want to say this a third time. You really make me feel sick. Stay away from me."

"Don't show up in front of me."

He gritted his teeth and, after a few moments of staring at each other, stormed out of the room.

Finally, I collapsed back onto the bed, feeling as if I had just fought a grueling battle.