Chapter 3

The moment Lila stepped out of the hospital, the biting cold wind cut through her like a knife. She didn't have time to think—she flagged down a cab and headed straight to Ethan's place. As soon as she got out of the car, she spotted Ethan standing there with Ava. Ethan's expression shifted the second he saw her. That disgust in his eyes? Couldn't hide it if he tried. "What are you doing here?" "Ethan, how could you be so heartless? You know pulling the funding is basically sentencing the White family!" He let out a cold laugh, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Wow, Lila. I didn’t realize you'd stoop this low. You betrayed me, and now you’ve got the nerve to flip the blame on me?" "I already told you—I didn't! Why won't you believe me?" Lila was shaking from head to toe, half from the cold, half from pure rage. Tears kept spilling down without pause. Not a single person stood on her side. Not her own mom, not the man she loved most, not her best friend… No one believed her. Lila, you’re such a failure. But she couldn’t give up—not now. She still had to save her family. Taking a shaky breath, she closed her eyes and dropped to her knees with a heavy thud. Grabbing onto Ethan’s pant leg, she cried out, desperate, “Please, I’m begging you—save the White family!” Ethan stared down at her like she was nothing. Then he crouched down, lifted her chin with ice-cold fingers, and said, "Do you really have no self-respect left?" Those words hit harder than a slap. Lila felt like she’d been thrown into some endless pit. Her knees were throbbing from the pavement, her whole body trembling, but all she could think about was her dad still fighting for his life in the hospital. Compared to that, her pride didn’t matter. Ethan stood again, his face void of emotion, and kicked her aside like she was trash. He didn’t even spare her a glance before walking off. Heart aching, Lila clung to his leg, her voice cracked and broken. "Please! I’m begging you!" But all she got was another cold, merciless kick. She lay there on her knees, every inch of her numb and drained. But her heart—that part of her still felt like someone was slicing it open, digging into the wound over and over while she silently bled out. Thud. Thud. Thud. Lila slammed her head on the ground again and again. The sound got louder each time. Her vision blurred, her forehead was bleeding, but she didn’t wipe it, didn’t move. Tears streamed as she locked eyes with Ethan. “Ethan, please… save my family,” she sobbed, voice cracking under the weight of everything. Back then, even a frown from her would have had Ethan rushing to her side. Back then, whatever she wanted, he’d make sure she got it. He once told her the thing he hated most was seeing her cry. Said that as long as he was around, he’d never let her shed a single tear. And now? Even her crying and kneeling weren’t worth a look. "If you wanna cry or kneel, go right ahead." That was all he said before walking off with Ava. Lila froze where she was. Her forehead burned with pain, but it was nothing compared to what was tearing her up inside. It was as if the heavens felt her pain too—because out of nowhere, the sky broke and rain started pouring. The cold rain hit her face and soaked her thin clothes. She didn’t try to dodge it. She couldn’t even if she wanted to. Her tiny frame shook under the weight of it all. Still, she stayed on her knees. Back at home, Ethan pulled open the curtains. Rain pelted the window, washing the world outside. Including the girl still kneeling out there. If only the rain could wash everything clean. His eyes flickered with something—something he buried quickly. After a long moment, he closed the curtains again, but his trembling hand gave him away.