Chapter 6

The wail of the ambulance siren pierced the night. Lila sat stiffly on a bench in the hospital corridor, hands clenched into tight fists. The doctor had just informed her that Richard and Margaret were only shaken, with no serious physical injuries. She exhaled in relief and gently closed the door to their room. "Evan! Please stay with me! It's all my fault." A gut-wrenching cry echoed from the end of the hallway. Lila looked up and saw a team of medics rushing by with a stretcher. Evan lay on it, his white shirt soaked in blood, face pale as paper. Chloe clung to his hand, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry… it's my fault… You stopped the plane to come after me, and I fought you for the steering wheel…" Evan weakly reached up and wiped her tears. "As long as you don't leave, I'll do anything." Lila's heart clenched. She turned and walked away quickly. She didn't want to watch anymore. She couldn't. … In the days that followed, Lila remained at the hospital to care for Richard and Margaret. Every morning, she made nourishing broth and watched them drink each spoonful. From the hallway, she often heard the nurses gossiping. "Mr. Carter's really devoted to Ms. Carrington. He's seriously injured, but he still tries to cheer her up every day." "Yeah, I heard she mentioned a craving for that bakery across town in the middle of the night, and he drove there himself despite his injuries." Richard and Margaret looked at Lila with concern, but she calmly peeled apples by their bedside, as if she hadn't heard a thing. "Lila," Margaret said gently, hesitating. "I'm fine, Mom." Lila sliced the apple into neat pieces. "I don't love him anymore." She meant it. The moment Evan had strapped Margaret onto an operating table, her love for him had died completely. Now, all she wanted was to get her parents out of there safely. A week later, when Richard and Margaret had fully stabilized, Richard gently patted her shoulder. "Lila, we're alright now. Go home and pack. We're leaving soon, and we're not coming back. Better get everything in order before we go." Lila nodded. She returned to the house and had only packed halfway when the door swung open. Evan stood in the doorway, his expression dark. "Chloe's been through a lot. Go pick up something to help her feel better—maybe a charm or something calming." His tone was commanding, like he was speaking to the help. In the past, Lila would've refused without hesitation. But now, she simply nodded. "Alright." She didn't dare to refuse anymore. The last time she did, Richard and Margaret nearly died. She couldn't afford to risk anything again. … The early morning was thick with mist as she arrived at the chapel on the hill. Step by step, she climbed the long stone path on her knees, praying the entire way. By the time she reached the entrance, her jeans were soaked through, her knees scraped and raw—but she couldn't feel the pain anymore. As she stood up, something caught her eye. An ancient oak stood nearby, its branches covered in red ribbons. They swayed softly in the wind, scrawled with handwritten blessings. Curious, she walked over. When she read the names on them, her breath caught in her throat. "May Lila be safe and happy. – Evan" "Wishing Lila good health. – Evan" "I hope Lila will fall in love with me. – Evan" Each ribbon held a piece of Evan's past love for her. The earliest date back to their high school years. The most recent—just before their wedding. Lila let out a bitter laugh and stepped into the chapel. Not only did she retrieve the blessing charm Chloe requested, but she also asked for a matching pair of love tokens—for romantic harmony. Before leaving, she borrowed a pair of scissors from the caretaker and returned to the ancient oak tree. One by one, she snipped down the red ribbons bearing Evan's prayers. She tossed them into the chapel's furnace and watched them burn to ash. "What are you doing?" a young volunteer asked, confused. "Cutting ties," Lila said softly. After coming down from the hill, she handed both the blessing charm and the love tokens to Evan. "What's this?" he asked, frowning as he held up the pairs of love tokens. "Love tokens," Lila replied calmly. "For you and Chloe. I hope you two grow old together." Evan stared at her. "You really mean that?" She nodded. "Of course." Evan frowned and stared at her for a long time, as if searching for something in her eyes. But in the end, he said nothing. He just turned and walked away.