Broken Memories, Intertwined Hearts

Chapter 138

Just as he steadied himself, Aaron's punch came flying. His eyes were bloodshot, and he roared loudly, "Ethan, you told me to let go, but is this how you take care of her? Where were you when she needed you the most?"

Ethan was completely stunned, oblivious to Aaron's words, just staring blankly at the operating room door.

The waiting was excruciating. After what felt like an eternity, the operating room door opened, and two doctors came out. The words they spoke broke everyone's hearts: "We're sorry; we did our best, but the patient's lungs were severely infected with dust. You came too late. If she had been brought in 10 minutes earlier, she might have survived. She doesn't have much time left. If you have anything to say to her, say it now."

Ethan stood there like a statue.

"Leila!" Silvia's heart-wrenching cry completely snapped him out of it.

He rushed in to see Leila, her body full of tubes, smiling at him as if she had been waiting for him all along.

He moved forward, pushing aside Aaron and Silvia, and held her in his arms. She was cold to the touch, and he croaked out, "Leila, I'm here."

She whispered, her smile weak and pale, "Mr. Meyer, you...you're here." Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"Leila." Ethan brushed aside the hair on her face. There was so much he wanted to say, but words failed him.

Leila looked at the man in front of her, her eyes full of longing and reluctance. She knew she wasn't going to make it this time, but she managed a weak smile.

"Mr. Meyer, I'm sorry, I can't be your bride. You'll have to find someone else to be Mrs. Meyer; don't be sad."

With that, her head tilted to the side, and the beeping of the machine next to her, indicating the loss of life signs, filled the room.

He closed his eyes in despair, unable to imagine that the person who was laughing and chatting with him on the phone not too long ago was now lying lifelessly in his arms.

"Ethan, it's all your fault! You knew very well how demanding a secretary's job is, having to deal with all sorts of emergencies. You knew she was in poor health; why did you selfishly keep her by your side? I knew about her health condition, which is why I tried to get her to quit her job at the firm and come work for me as a simple financial worker. It's all because of you. All of this is because of you. If it wasn't for dealing with your emergencies, she wouldn't have died!"

Aaron had completely lost control. He remembered Leila saying, "Aaron, I know you mean well, but I've been living a repressed life since I was young; I long for a love that belongs to me."

It was those words that completely made him let go.

He shouldn't have let go. If he had known that letting go would cost her her life, even if she hated him, he would have held on to her hand.

Ines listened to him recount that long-buried past. Although he deliberately simplified the descriptions and glossed over some details, she could still feel the sadness. The couple who were about to get married, but then this happened, is really a shame.

Losing both his lover and brother on the same day—two very important people to him—he must be heartbroken.

No wonder he never wanted to bring up this matter.

Because lying in his arms, Ines could feel his body's stiffness. She felt sorry for him and gently touched his face, whispering, "Ethan, don't blame yourself; none of this is your fault; you couldn't have predicted any of this." " No, Aaron was right. Leila had actually had a few episodes in front of me, which were triggered by attending events with me. I had considered having her stop working as a secretary, but in the end, I selfishly kept her by my side.

"If I had transferred her away from the secretary position earlier, maybe none of this would have happened. I'm the one who killed her." Ethan spoke in a low voice.

"Ethan, you mustn't think like that. She never blamed you until her death; she wanted you to live a good life."

Ethan nodded. There was a look of relief in his eyes. "I know; that's why I came out. I will try to make myself happy."

"Don't worry, I'm here; I'll make you happy." Ines confidently patted her chest.

After making this gesture, she realized she had exaggerated a bit. Her cheeks turned red, realizing that she actually couldn't do anything for Ethan. The only thing she could do was to be by his side.

After a long silence, Ethan suddenly said softly, "Izzy."

"Hmm?"

"My Mrs. Meyer, it's so good to have you."

Ines smiled. At this point, all of Ines's questions had been answered. She thought that when she heard about Ethan's love story with another woman, she would feel a bit lost, but in reality, she didn't at all. All she felt was sympathy for Ethan and relief—relief that she was the key that opened his heart.

"So, is that why Aaron left for B City?"

Ethan nodded. "Aaron's love for Leila was no less than mine. After Leila's death, he quit his job at the Meyer Group and went to B City by himself."

Ines suddenly thought of something and asked nervously, "I feel like Leila's personality is similar to mine; did you choose me based on her as a model?" "Izzy, you're thinking too much. I only met you once and decided to marry you. How would I know you're similar to her? Your love for playing pranks is not like Leilas; she was always very serious. It took more than two years of dating for her to loosen up a bit. But she's still cold to outsiders.

What Aaron said was all nonsense; don't be fooled by him. I think he's been so good to you because he feels you're similar to Leila after spending time with you."

Ines couldn't help but laugh. "You really hold a grudge; even when you're defending yourself, you don't forget to step on others."

"As a guy who can't give up on my wife, I have to be on guard all the time."

"Ethan, you can rest easy. If I could be with Aaron, we would have been together years ago; what does it have to do with you?" Ines also candidly expressed her inner thoughts. Hearing this, Ethan laughed, saying, "It does seem to be the case."