Chapter 148

"It's not up to you to decide whether it's worth it—it's up to me," Ethan said, his face stone-cold but eyes firm with conviction. Clara didn't respond. Her gaze drifted back out the window. The sun outside blazed like fire, but it couldn't melt the chill inside her. Her face was paper-white, and sorrow was written all over it. Lilah had just wrapped up a meeting with some doctors. When she stepped out, she spotted Gabriel waiting quietly nearby. She blinked, surprised. "You're still here, Gabe?" That meeting easily ran for over an hour. He'd actually waited all that time? She had told him to go take care of his own stuff first. "I didn't really have anything pressing today," he replied as he came over, gently brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear and cupping her face with care. Just then, Damien walked out and caught the scene, his expression stiffening for a split second. Even a few passing doctors gave them a quick glance. Lilah, a little embarrassed, quickly moved Gabriel'