Chapter 184 Lila's Death Back Then

My head was pounding as I said coldly, "There's no point making me wait. You'd be better off finding Yvette." Without waiting for a response, I slammed the car door shut. "Head to the airport, please." My mind was as clear as glass, completely unshaken. Whatever was going on with Yvette wasn't enough to rattle me. On the plane, the cabin was freezing. Even though I had a blanket, I couldn't stop shivering. At some point, I fell asleep and found myself dreaming about my past life. In the dream, Lila dove into the sea to save me, while I passed out on the bridge. When I woke up, Yvette was sitting beside my bed, holding my hand tightly. The smell of smoke on her was overwhelming. She had clearly been smoking. As soon as I opened my eyes, her eyes lit up. "You're finally awake. Are you hungry? Are you in pain anywhere? Should I call the doctor?" Panic flooded through me, and my face turned pale. I stared at her with wide eyes and asked, "Yvette, where's Lila? How is she?" Yvette's grip on my hand tightened, and her face drained of color. She pressed her lips together and said, "They're still searching. There are no leads yet. Are you thirsty? How do you feel?" Something about her expression didn't sit right with me. My heart sank as I stared at her, tears welling up instantly. My chest felt like it was being torn apart. The last images before I passed out replayed in my mind like a broken film reel. Lila shoved me away and fell right before me. I saw everything crystal clear. I wasn't stupid. That bridge was so high. The crash was horrific and the impact was brutal. The chances of Lila surviving were slim. Nonetheless, I clung to denial, refusing to acknowledge the worst. "Really? Let me help look for her then. We can't waste any time as every second counts. The more people there are, the higher the chances of her being found. I have to find her." I tried to sit up, but my body gave out. "That's enough, Owen!" Yvette's voice trembled as she fought to keep her composure. Her eyes were wide and veins were bulging on her forehead. By the second, her face grew darker. "You've been unconscious for three days and nights. Yet, the first thing you say when you wake up is about Lila. Why do you want to find her in a hurry? I know how much she means to you, but can you think about yourself for once? "I don't want the doctors to save you only for you to march straight into the morgue. And I definitely don't want to plan a funeral for you!" I could see the storm of questions brewing in her eyes, such as how I had ended up with Lila and why the accident happened. But she didn't ask. Instead, her eyes reddened, and she looked at me silently before closing them. Calmly, she said, "You're still too weak to move. I don't want to upset you, but if I don't explain this now, you'll just push yourself to find her. The police said the crash was severe. Even Zachary didn't make it on the spot. As for Lila, the chances are even slimmer. She likely didn't survive the fall. "The police searched for three days without finding a trace. It doesn't look good. You should prepare yourself for the worst. For now, focus on recovering and wait for the news. If Lila were still around, she would want you to get better. After all, she always wanted you to be alright." Yvette's words sounded like Lila was already gone. The pain in my chest was unbearable. I pounded my fist against it, unable to utter a word. When Lila got hit by a car and fell off the bridge, she pushed me toward the crowd with everything she had just to protect me. "We're best friends. If Yvette bullies you again, call me. I'll fly back to deal with her. At most, I'll just end up in the hospital again. It doesn't matter how badly I get hurt as long as she knows you have someone to back you up." That was the last thing Lila ever said to me. Her words were filled with hope for the future. She was determined to protect me. Who could have guessed that in the next moment, we would part forever? She had nothing to do with the situation, yet she chose to save me. I was the one who killed her. I couldn't hold it in anymore. Staring at Yvette in utter despair, I finally managed to speak again. They were my last words before blacking out again. I stuttered, "Yvette, if Lila is gone too, I really can't go on living." I jolted awake from the nightmare, gasping for air. I was drenched in cold sweat. It took a while before I calmed down and slumped against the airplane seat. Why did I dream about my tragic past life again? I was freezing as guilt and regret consumed me. With a bitter smile, I said, "Owen, it's all in the past." In this life, Lila didn't die for me. I still had a chance to make it right. The plane landed at 5:00 pm. I guessed I had caught a chill onboard as I sneezed uncontrollably. I wanted to rest, but time was tight. Dragging my suitcase, I rushed to Lila's company. I arrived just in time and sat in the meeting room, but the production team didn't show up for nearly an hour, which made me frown. My patience was wearing thin when someone finally walked in. The woman's eye lit up when she saw me, scanning me with a look of approval. With a warm smile, she said, "Sorry about the wait. Our meetings tend to run long. Are you hungry? Do you want to chat over a meal?" I smiled back. "No, I'm not hungry. Let's just get started." "Alright then. We'll start first. You may call me Natasha or Nat. I handle all of Lila's arrangements, so whatever you need to discuss, I'm your go-to." Looking her in the eye, I got straight to the point. "Natasha, I'm Owen. Let's not beat around the bush. My friend, Kenny, has probably already told you about everything. I just want to make sure Lila can finish this competition without a hitch. What's the best way to make that happen?"