?Chapter 2356


    Justin steadied his breath as he pushed open the door to the hospital ward. He inexplicably tensed up at that


    moment.


    Few things ever made him nervous because only a few people ever had the power to. Besides his grandfather, Be was the only one who had that power.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    The room was silent, save for the rhythmic hum of medical equipment.


    Be was awake, leaning against the headboard. Her face was turned toward the pitch-ck window. There was neither the moon nor stars, just an endless expanse of void. Whatever held her gaze was a mystery.


    Justin froze mid-step, his eyes darkening as he caught sight of her.


    For a moment, he felt as though even breathing required permission. The girl who had once radiated optimism, so dazzling and full of life, now seemedpletely drained.


    Be looked so fragile and forlorn that the slightest breeze could scatter her into nothingness.


    After a while, Be became aware of his presence. She turned her head slowly, her dazed expression meeting his deep, ocean-like eyes.


    "What are you doing here?"


    Dressed in an oversized hospital gown, her frail body trembled slightly. The corner of her eyes was tinged red, and her whole body bristled with rejection.


    Justin carried a thermos in hand, stepping toward her one deliberate step at a time. His gaze was dark, almost imprable. "Feeling any better?"


    Be let out a coldugh. The veins on the back of her hand, pierced by an IV needle, stood out in bluish relief." Thanks to you, Mr. Salvador, I haven''t frozen to death yet."


    The image of her curled up in the snow, pitiful and broken, shed in his mind. His chest surged with an unexinable anger that threatened to consume him.


    "Be, is it worth it? To harm yourself for my sake? To abuse your own body like this? Does it amuse you?" Her heart tightened. The already pallid color of her face seemed to drain further, leaving her deathly white.


    "I told you. I will keep my promise to you. But that day... It wasn''t possible." Justin''s tone was harsh, but it betrayed a flicker of frustration.


    Be seemed unusually stubborn. "Why not that day?"


    "I was in a hurry to find someone."


    "Who?" Her voice cracked.


    His gaze deepened, and his thin lips parted slightly. The words circled in his throat, but when they emerged, they sounded distant and indifferent. "Someone important to me."


    Hearing this, Be''s lips twisted into a bitter smile. It was a smile steeped in anguish, an almost unbearable sight. She regretted asking. Why had she asked? Wasn''t the humiliation already enough?


    Once, she had been the most important person in his world. Now, anyone could rece her. That person could upy his mind and lead him to cast her aside, breaking promises without a second thought.


    "Don''t do this again." Justin ced the thermos on the bedside table, hisshes lowered. "It isn''t worth it to hurt yourself for me."


    Be dropped her gaze. "You''re right. It''s not worth it. So I won''t be foolish for you ever again."


    That night, her despair had reached its peak.


    But to Justin, her actions amounted to nothing more than a hollow, meaningless plea for attention.


    Justin opened the thermos, his voice low and steady. "Good."


    Be bit down on the soft flesh of her lip. Her eyes reddened as she forced herself to smile brightly. "I already told you there is no ''next time.'' Surely you haven''t forgotten that?"


    "Drink this. It''s good for your health." Avoiding her barbs, Justin poured a bowl of steaming soup and offered it to her, its aroma filling the air.


    "Take it away! I don''t need your charity!" Overwhelmed by a flood of emotions, Be suddenly swung her hand, still attached to the IV tube.


    The bowl of soup spilled entirely, soaking Justin''s impably tailored suit. The fabric darkened with dampness, leaving him visibly disheveled.


    Be''s smooth forehead broke out in a cold sweat. She curled up against the headboard, straining to put as much distance between them as she could.


    His sudden kindness only provoked a defensive, reflexive response in her.


    Justin''s pupils contracted sharply. For the first time, he noticed the pathetic state of her hands hidden beneath the nket, wrapped tightly as if mutted.


    "Get out... Get out!" Be scrambled to hide her injured hands again, her voice breaking into a sob.


    She would never learn how to show vulnerability, nor did she ever feel the need to.