Chapter 48

Ethan's POV

"Ethan, don't speak to your father like that," Mum chides gently.

I turn to face her. "I'm disappointed, Mum. I want what you both have-genuine love, a real marriage. Why won't you let me have that?"

"It's not as simple as you think. Our circumstance was different," Dad interjects firmly.

"How so? Just because Mum was from a wealthy background and so were you too? But 'cause Spitfire's an orphan and not wealthy, our love isn't genuine? Do you think she's after my money? That's absurd!"

Dad clears his throat uncomfortably while Mum avoids eye contact.

As I expect.

Shaking my head, I exit my office, ignoring Mum's plea for me to return.

So, it turns out my parents are the ones behind Spitfire leaving me. They've been the ones causing me this unbearable heartache all along, while I've been wrongly blaming Spitfire and resenting her.

Strangely though, the more I resent her, the deeper I find myself falling in love with her.

"Arthur, find out everything about the day Spitfire left my house," I instruct as I march past him. "Immediately."

I ride in the elevator down to the ground floor. Upon reaching the entrance of the company, I glance at Carl. "Key," I request, and he swiftly hands it over.

Looking back at my convoy, I add, "Tell them not to follow. I have a personal business to attend to." With that, I speed off, pressing hard on the accelerator.

Spitfire… Fuck. I ache for her-her touch, her warmth, her laughter, even her frown-her absence leaves a void in my life. Without her, I'm just an empty shell.

All these days…

Fucking hell!

A deafening honk jerks me back to reality, making me realize I'm still on the wheel.

"Damn it." I look ahead, only to see an oncoming truck inching closer to me.

I've drifted off course without realizing it.

I quickly swerve my car, but it's too late.

Crash.

The last image I see before losing consciousness is the truck crashing into my car. And as darkness closes in, Spitfire is the only thought on my mind.

I love you, Spitfire.

_____

Darkness. It surrounds me.

Where am I? And what's with the tears I'm hearing?

Am I awake, or is this some twisted dream? I can't tell. It's pitch black, and I can't see a thing. I don't see anything or anyone. But I hear the sound of tears. Raw, unmistakable, heartfelt tears. I hear it every time. Since I've been staying in this darkness, that's all I hear. Incessant tears that make my chest knot. Constantly.

Whose tears are they? And why won't they stop? I need to know who the sound belongs to.

I strain to see, but there's nothing to see, only the oppressive darkness. The tears continue to echo, relentless in their sorrow.

I need to find the source of those tears, to understand, to offer comfort.

With a slow, deliberate effort, I force my eyelids to open, welcoming the faintest hints of light. And there, before me, are emerald green eyes.

For a moment, I can't help but be lost in their depths. Beautiful eyes. However, as beautiful as they are, I notice they're red, puffy, and burdened by grief and exhaustion.

"Ethan, you awake-can you see me?" The voice, laced with concern, breaks through the silence.

I shift my focus to the person's face and manage a single nod.

"Oh, my!" As soon as she starts crying again, a sense of familiarity hits me.

She's the one. The one that's been crying. The one whose tears pulled me out of darkness just now.

Blinking against the foreign brightness of the room, I observe her rising and reaching for the bedside bell. Returning swiftly to my side, her tears still flow freely.

Why's she crying so much? And why do I feel like I'm the one who's causing her misery? Is she crying because of me?

Her face draws near, and she plants a kiss on my lips. I taste the salt of her tears in my mouth.

It doesn't take long at all before the doctor enters the ward with a couple of nurses.

"Do you remember who you are?" Doctor Smith inquires, and I nod.

"And do you know who I am?" His question earns an eye roll from me, and he chuckles.

"It's good to have you back."

"Don't be melodramatic." My first words emerge hoarsely. "Just because I was in an accident yesterday and woke up today doesn't mean I've lost my faculties. Not everyone suffers from amnesia when they..." As I struggle to sit up, the tearful woman assists and steadies me.

Frowning, I fix my gaze on her.

"Mr. Ethan, you've been unconscious for several weeks, not just a few hours." Dr. Smith announces.

What? I tear my gaze away from the woman, directing it at him. "Wow."

Right at this moment, Mum and Dad rush into the ward.

"My precious baby," Mum drapes her arms around my neck at once.

Smiling, I pat her on her back, "I'm okay, Mum."

"Are you sure? You don't feel pain anywhere?" Her teary eyes run all over my body, concern written all over her face.

I shake my head.

"In fact, I'm ready to be discharged. Doctor Smith says I've been unconscious for quite sometime which means I have a heavy workload waiting for me at the office."

"Don't worry about that and get some rest." Dad's deep voice cuts through the ward.

Sigh.

"I'm fine. I want to go home. I don't want to stay here any longer. Doctor Smith can always come check up on me at home. I've been resting for a couple of weeks, I'm tired of resting. I need to work." As I say these, I help myself up from the hospital bed and begin dressing up.

Everyone simply watches me helplessly.

When I'm done, I smile and shake Doctor Smith's hand, "thank you very much."

And with that, I take Mum's hand and head out of the ward. However, when we reach the doorway, I freeze in my tracks and turn to look back at the crying lady.

"Who's she?" I inquire, locking gaze with her.

"Who?" Doctor Smith sounds perplexed.

I nudge my head in the woman's direction, "her." then tear my gaze away from her and fix it on the doctor.

Doctor Smith looks from the lady to me. And just as he opens his mouth to respond…