Chapter 17
The phone dropped from Ethan’s hand.
His eyes widened in shock.
“What the hell? Is this some kind of sick joke? Did Scarlett put you up to this? Where is she?
Take me to her now!”
“I want to see how much she paid you to tell such a ridiculous lie for her!”
His assistant didn’t move. Instead, he handed Ethan a file.
“Boss… these are Scarlett’s medical records. She had liver cancer. It was diagnosed over a month ago.”
Ethan staggered, nearly falling over.
Over a month ago?
That was exactly when he’d cheated on her for the ninety–ninth time right in front of her.
That day he’d watched her humiliation with amusement.
He even had his date wear Scarlett’s pajamas to mock her.
“Check it out! Looks better on her than on you, right?”
a
“Hey Scarlett! Ninety–ninth times, huh? You still hanging around after all this shit?”
Memories rushed back like pages caught in the wind.
No wonder she looked só awful that day!
No wonder she got thinner and more jaundiced every day.
And he’d laughed at her, humiliated her.
Ethan’s chest tightened so much he could barely breathe.
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Chapter 17
He never imagined hearing about Scarlett’s death would hurt this much!
How could this be? Shouldn’t he be happy?
His fists clenched tighter and tighter.
Just as his assistant started to speak again, Ethan shoved him aside and bolted out the door.
He rushed to Tania’s apartment.
His gut told him Tania must know something!
How could Scarlett be dead? It wasn’t possible!
That had to be it – Tania was a nurse. She must have helped Scarlett fake the medical
records!
Scarlett just wanted to humiliate him, to make him look foolish!
He pounded frantically on Tania’s door.
Soon, the door slowly opened.
Compared to his frantic anger, Tania seemed eerily calm.
He lunged forward, grabbing her collar.
“Tell me! Where’s Scarlett? Where the fuck is she? Are you hiding her? What game are you two playing? How could Scarlett be dead?”
“She can’t be dead! She just can’t!”
Tania remained calm.
She calmly pushed Ethan’s hands away.
Then she turned to get the third letter.
Seeing this, Ethan snatched the letter and tore it to pieces, throwing them to the floor.
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Chapter 17
“Enough! Just tell me one thing! Scarlett… is she really sick?”
Tania noticed he couldn’t even say the word “dead.”
She found it darkly amusing.
“No.”
Ethan’s eyes darted to her, filled with hope.
But Tania’s next words felt like being pushed into an endless abyss.
“Not sick. Dead.”
“Dead. Do you understand? Scarlett is DEAD!”
Her slender finger pointed to the pieces on the floor.
She looked at Ethan with contempt.
“Don’t you want to read it? That’s her final message to you.”
Ethan’s eyes followed her finger.
The scattered paper fragments, stirred by a light breeze, still showed traces of writing.
Ethan stepped back.
“No way… this can’t be real…”
“Someone like Scarlett is tougher than weeds. How could she possibly die?”
Tania’s eyes were red as if bleeding. Her fists clenched.
She bent down to pick up the pieces Ethan had torn.
Without a word, she walked up to Ethan.
She stuffed them all into his hands.
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Chapter 17
“Take a good look. This time it’s real.”
With that, she turned and left.
In his dazed state, Ethan stared at the scraps in his hands.
He hadn’t really listened to Tania’s words.
This time it’s real?
Had there been times when it wasn’t?
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