Chapter0440


    Even the ring fluorescent lights above couldn''t illuminate a person


    heart.


    As the relevant authorities would investigate the incident, the truth would eventually be revealed. It mightete, but it wouldn''t be twisted by those with ill Intentions.


    udia had gone mad just like Frances said. So, why would I believe a single word from her?


    Noticing myck of response, udia fell to the ground on her knees and cried out, "Ariana, I''m telling the truth! I want to live not for my own sake, but it''s for Nick! He''ll die without me!"


    Nichs would die without her... I took a few seconds to process her words, but I couldn''t help butugh. This statement was truly too absurd.


    If she had said something like this in the past, I would have thought that she was bragging to me. But now that I was no longer acquainted with Nichs, his will to live or die for someorie else was no longer my


    concern.


    I did what I could before leaving. I left the rest to fate instead as I wasn''t so attached anymore.


    Even if Nichs bailed udia out in the end, so what? It would be a torment for him to be in the same space with the murderer of his father, anyway


    With things ending on this note, I thought it''d be a pretty good ending no matter how things developed.


    Nichs'' name had been a curse deeply imprinted in my past. Now, atst, I was truly separated from him, free to leave and live my own life.


    I sighed. "udia, you''re still young, so you might not understand how I feel for your brother. My feelings for him areplicated, and they''ve be so intricate that even letting go of him doesn''t make me regret it. "What you said can no longer hurt me, so there''s no need for you to y these little tricks. You need to ept the consequences after making a mistake. No matter how you argue, you cannot escape thew''s punishment." Perhaps because I was bidding farewell to my past, I felt like giving udia some advice before we parted ways. I hoped she would still have the chance to understand this.


    "No!" udia wailed. "Ariana, you''ve misunderstood me! It doesn''t matter if I die, but do you really want


    Nick to die?Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    "He''s sick! He tends to harm himself really badly and has suicidal thoughts! Now that I''m not around him, he must''ve been hurting himself again!"


    "W-What did you say?"


    It took me some time toprehend her words. I should''ve ignored them, but everything that happenedst night happened to corroborate what she said.


    No wonder he smelled odd. No


    wonder I vomited so violently after


    meeting himst night. It wasn''t


    some odd smell-it was the unmistakable scent of hospital disinfectant mixed with blood that even perfume couldn''t mask!


    But...


    1 recalled the medicine Nichs used to hide and the way Ms. Gardner would only shake her head whenever I inquired about his health condition...


    But he said he was fine when he was on the phone with Daniel. He said those things were merely to make me worry about him, and that was why there was no chance for us to reconcile. How could he genuinely be sick?


    "Ariana! You must be wondering why Nick suddenly left and why I''m always with him when he calls, right?


    "It''s because his condition is really severe now he must be constantly monitored. He doesn''t want you to see how abnormal he is now, nor does he want you to witness how gruesome his wounds are. Do you understand the pride of a man like him?


    "If you want him to die, just pretend I never said any of this."


    4


    udia''s words chained me down like heavy iron shackles. I tried to leave and block this information out, but my legs wouldn''t obey.


    Turning around, I red at her and hissed, "I won''t believe a word you say. Where is Nichs now? I''m going to find him and let hime pick you up!"


    "I can tell you where Nick is now.


    He''s at a private hospital in the suburbs of Radiant City, but I advise you not to go see him right away He''s only sick because of you. Every time he sees you or gets a caft from you new wounds appear on his body.


    "Right now, I''m the only one who can stop him from harming himself. I can take you to him if you don''t believe me!"