Before I Leave

Stella sneered and forced herself to move, crawling despite her injured leg, with everything she had.

She no longer trusted a word Ethan said; she had to save herself.

When she finally made it downstairs, the flames had devoured most of the first floor.

Ethan was clearing a path to the exit. When he saw Stella, his expression changed.

"I told you to wait for me!"

Of course, this was not the time to argue. He turned to help Rachel out when she suddenly screamed.

"Watch out!"

A burning beam snapped and came crashing down.

The first one fell straight toward Stella.

"Stella!" Ethan's expression twisted, and he rushed toward her.

However, in the next second—

Crack!

Another beam dropped right above Rachel.

At the very last moment, Ethan shielded Rachel with his body.

The flaming wood slammed into his back. He let out a muffled grunt.

At the same time, the other beam struck Stella across her shoulder and back.

Blinding pain exploded through her. As her vision blurred, she saw firefighters finally breaking through the flames.

Ethan was still holding Rachel tightly, his whole body bent to protect her.

Stella laughed, even as the pain threatened to swallow her.

Ethan made the same choice in this life.

…

Stella woke up in a hospital bed.

Ethan sat nearby, his wounds already bandaged.

He stiffened when he saw her eyes open.

"I spoke to the doctor. Our injuries aren't serious. The wounds are treated. It won't affect the wedding today."

Stella could hardly believe that Ethan still thought she wanted to marry him.

She silently got up and out of bed. "I'm getting out of here."

This day was the launch of the Artemis Project. She could not miss it.

Ethan, on the other hand, misunderstood. He thought she was in a hurry to get to the wedding.

Relieved, he quietly exhaled. He quickly buried the feeling and masked it behind a stoic expression.

"I'll head to the venue first. Come once you're ready."

As soon as Ethan left, Stella called for her driver.

"To the wedding venue, Ms. Walker?"

Stella answered without hesitation, "No. Take me to the airport."

She grabbed her luggage and headed to meet the professor.

While she was waiting at the airport, her phone exploded with messages from Ethan.

[Where are you? Why aren't you at the wedding venue?]

[Start your makeup or it'll be too late! Do you still want to get married or not?!]

[This is your last warning. Show up in ten minutes!]

Ethan called… but Stella did not even look at the phone.

She turned off her phone, pulled out the SIM card, and tossed it into the trash.

Then, she boarded the plane.

'Goodbye, Ethan. From now on, I will live only for myself,' she thought to herself.