He Died So She Could Live

Chapter 4 He Denied Everything

"Ryan?" Selene's voice was hoarse, barely recognizable. She could feel something strange lingering in her body.

She tried desperately to recall what had happened, but her mind was a blur. Her memory stopped at Adrian's hate-filled eyes and his retreating figure. Perhaps the sensation of those hands had only been an illusion.

Selene tightened her grip on the bedsheet, her voice carrying both doubt and a faint, hidden hope. "Was it really you who saved me?"

The man in front of her stiffened for a split second before quickly weaving his explanation.

"Of course. When I got there, you were lying on the floor in pain. Luckily, I had the medication with me. After giving it to you, I brought you straight to the hospital. This is your heart report. You must have surgery in five days. You can't delay it any longer."

Selene took the report from Ryan, lowering her gaze as she responded softly. The faint light in her eyes dimmed. She got out of bed, put on her shoes, and left the room.

Just as she was about to take the elevator, a familiar voice called out from behind. "Selene?"

Her body froze. Panic flickered across her eyes as she tried to pretend she had not heard, moving quickly to blend into the crowd.

But the person behind her gave her no chance. A hand grabbed her wrist tightly.

"Selene, why are you at the hospital?" Adrian's brows were tightly furrowed, a trace of unease hidden beneath his tone.

When she did not respond, he snatched the report from her hand. The bold words on the page made his frown deepen.

"Artificial heart?"

Before Selene could scramble for an excuse, Adrian let out a cold laugh.

"Selene, don't tell me you're planning to make up some story about how you were the one who gave me a heart transplant just to get money from me. Back then, I dragged myself up, covered in blood, and called you thirty-five times. Not once did you answer."

His low, hoarse voice pierced straight into her chest. It hurt. Selene forced a smile, nodding as if it meant nothing. "Yeah. I'll do anything for money. Adrian, lend me another five hundred thousand."

As the words fell, Adrian's face darkened, his gaze filling with confusion, unfamiliarity, and resentment. After a brief pause, the storm of emotion receded, leaving only cold indifference behind.

"Heh. Selene, you really are nothing more than a shallow, money-obsessed woman. I must've been blind back then."

He pulled out a black card and flicked it toward her. "In three days, Vivian and I are getting married. You'll be the photographer for the entire event."

'A wedding? So soon…'

Selene's gaze fell on the black card, bitterness rising in her chest. Her fingers tightened around the hem of her clothes, then slowly loosened as she told herself she only needed to confirm it one last time.

"That night… was it you who saved me?"

Silence fell. Just as she thought he wouldn't answer, a low, furious laugh sounded beside her. His dark gaze locked onto hers, as if trying to see straight through her.

"Selene, who do you think you are? Why would I save you? Do you still think I'm some pet you can call and dismiss whenever you want?"

His anger burned away the last of her hope, and her clumsy test and fragile provocation collapsed in an instant.

Selene loosened her grip on her clothes, a trace of self-mockery flickering in her eyes.

"Right. You shouldn't have saved me anyway. I wouldn't exactly enjoy being with a man I don't love."

Clatter. The black card was flung down from above, grazing her cheek and leaving a thin cut. All that remained was the disappointment in Adrian's eyes as he turned and left.

Selene slowly crouched down, picking up the card from the floor. It still carried a trace of his warmth. She pressed it gently against her chest. Tears spilled over as a violent cough tore through her. The strain sent sharp pain through her heart, and the taste of blood flooded her throat.

'Selene, stop hoping. You were the one who pushed him away. This is what you deserve. That night was nothing but a hallucination born from pain. Adrian hates you. He would never be your cure.'

She stayed crouched on the ground, watching his retreating figure, a deep sorrow filling her heart.

'Let him hate you. Let him keep hating you. That way, when the time comes to leave, there will be nothing left to hold on to.'