Faded love 23

Chapter 23 

“What did he say?” 

“He said, 

‘If she really has to go, then I’ll go down first with her.” 

Tears flooded my vision. 

I gripped the sheet, forcing out words. 

“Where is he?” 

Yuanzi lowered her head. 

“Unconscious. They’re still trying to save him.” 

Late that night, the room was only me. 

Wind slipped through the window seam 

and lifted the corner of the blanket. 

I stared at the ceiling; 

tears slid, one by one. 

Three years ago, he signed my “death” outside the OR. 

Three years later, he signed away his own life at the cliff’s edge. 

I whispered, 

“You win. 

You wanted me to fall with you. 

This time, I won’t run.” 

The room was so quiet I could hear the monitors beep- 

each tone a reminder he was still alive. 

I sat by his bed and looked at him. 

His face was bloodless; his lips had no color. 

An IV pierced the back of his hand; an oxygen mask veiled his face. 

Wind stirred his hair. 

I reached out and smoothed it gently. 

The motion felt like a dream. 

A nurse murmured, “The patient is stable but unresponsive. 

It’s best if someone talks to him. He might hear.” 

I nodded. 

Faded love, I don’t want it anymore 

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11:40 Sat, Oct 18 

The door clicked shut behind her. 

Silence returned. 

I leaned close to his ear and whispered, almost soundless, 

“You really know how to pick your moment. 

Three years ago you signed me off. 

Three years 

Tears spilled. 

later you sign yourself.” 

“You’re the one who said you weren’t afraid to go mad. 

So wake up.” 

I laughed until laughter broke into sobs. 

“Rory, if you really die… 

I’ll call us even. 

But if you live, then I’ll- 

never forgive you again.” 

I squeezed his hand. 

It was cold, without a trace of warmth. 

At noon, Yuanzi brought food. 

“You need to eat.” 

I shook my head. 

“How’s the company?” 

She looked grim. “Z Group dropped thirty percent. 

85 

Sybil cried to the media, saying your fake death deceived the public and caused his crash.” 

I let out a cold laugh. 

“She’s quite the performer.” 

“Worse,” Yuanzi lowered her voice, “I’m acting president for now. 

The board appointed me interim head of PR.” 

I stared. 

“What does that mean?” 

“They think he’ll die.” 

The air froze. 

“I also publicly hinted,” she went on, “that your fake death back then was to force a 

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11:41 Sat, Oct 18 

marriage and get shares.” 

I laughed until my throat hurt. 

“So now I’m the greedy, deceitful, cold-blooded lunatic- 

and she is the devoted stand-in wife?” 

“That’s how the outlets are writing it.” 

I closed my eyes. 

“Perfect melodrama.” 

That night the rain returned. 

I sat by his bed, still holding his hand. 

The light was dim and warm. 

“I’m taking your company,” I said quietly. 

He couldn’t hear- 

but I wanted him to. 

“You trusted reason more than anything. 

Look what it got you. 

You lost the company. You lost me.” 

I gave a crooked smile. 

“Rory, if you ever wake up, 

remember this: 

the mad live; the rational die.” 

Sleep dragged at my eyelids. 

Just as I was drifting off, 

something brushed my fingertips. 

I jerked up. 

His eyes were still closed- 

but his fingers moved. 

I held my breath. 

“Rory?” 

No answer- 

but the monitor’s rhythm jumped. 

A 

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11:41 Sat, Oct 18