Click!
The bedroom door swung open. Elena clenched her jaw and, throwing all caution aside, rushed forward. She hurled herself into his arms, her voice trembling as she whispered, "Don't turn on the light…"
The faint scent of tobacco, mingled with his familiar clean cologne, instantly invaded her senses.
Just like back then.
She felt his body stiffen, and then his hand came up—pushing her away.
"Elena!"
His voice was a growl, low and furious, vibrating against her very bones. "Who gave you the key? Was it Ethan?"
Elena knew Lucian was angry, but she couldn't afford to care. "I begged him for it. Don't blame him."
She clung to him with all her strength, refusing to let go no matter how hard he tried to pull her off. Instead, she pressed her head against his chest, desperate. "Lucian, don't push me away…"
His hand slid against her bare thigh. A sharp laugh escaped him.
"Well, well… you dressed like this just to seduce me?"
In the darkness, his mocking voice cut her like a knife.
But she ignored it, shamelessly clinging tighter, fingers tugging at his collar. "Lucian, hold me. Please…"
"Elena, the last time you crawled into my bed, it was for money. This time—what is it for?" His voice was colder than ice. "For my bone marrow?"
Her eyes burned red as she rose on her tiptoes, trying to kiss him.
He turned his face aside. Her lips brushed only his cheek, followed by another cruel laugh.
"So, because of my bone marrow, you'd throw yourself in front of my car, kneel to beg, and now… come crawling into my bed, offering yourself up?"
"Elena." He spat her name like poison, contempt dripping from every syllable. "You really are shameless. But tell me, doesn't your fiancé know what kind of cheap woman you are?"
He was humiliating her on purpose.
And yet—so what?
If enduring humiliation could ease his anger, if it could convince him to donate bone marrow for Sean, then none of this mattered.
Her heart ached, yes. But she could bear it.
She tried again to kiss him, again and again, while he kept turning away.
Finally, his patience snapped.
"Enough!" His roar shook her to her core. She trembled all over.
"Lucian…"
"Don't you dare call my name. You don't deserve it."
He drew a deep breath, as if struggling to restrain his rage. "Elena, before I truly lose control—get the hell out!"
"I won't leave. Unless—"
"Unless what? Unless I donate bone marrow to your brother?"
His hand clamped around her wrist. With brutal force, he slammed her against the wall.
Pain shot through her ribs, cold sweat breaking across her skin. "Lucian…"
"Elena!"
He seized her chin, his grip cruel and merciless, like an enraged lion ready to tear her apart. His entire body radiated a violent fury.
"You think too highly of yourself! Do you really believe that just because you climbed into my bed five years ago and got what you wanted, you can do the same now?"
"Elena, let me be clear—if I hadn't been drunk that night, do you think I would have touched you? If I hadn't wanted to shut you up, do you think I would have thrown you money?"
"A cheap, filthy woman like you disgusts me. The one thing I regret most in this life—was sleeping with you!"
Elena froze.
The one thing I regret most in this life… was sleeping with you.
Of course. If not for that night, Lydia would never have left him.
If not for that night, he and Lydia would already be married. They might even have a child by now.
That night had been nothing but a colossal mistake.
Do you know what heartbreak feels like?
It's like someone carving out a piece of your heart with a jagged blade, twisting it again and again, never stopping.
Bloody. Agonizing. Unbearable.
"Lucian…"
Her dazed eyes lifted to his. Her voice broke. "You can curse me, insult me, demand anything from me. I won't even frown. Even if you want me dead."
"But my brother—ah!"
She never finished. Lucian snapped, dragging her by the wrist, yanking her toward the door.
Her body stumbled, crashing into walls and furniture as he hauled her mercilessly. She clung to the doorframe, but he pried her fingers loose one by one.
Her desperate resistance was no match for his strength.
The next moment—she was thrown out.
The hallway lights flickered on, stabbing her eyes. She pounded on the door, her voice raw. "Lucian! Lucian!"
The door opened briefly. Her clothes and phone were hurled out.
"Lucian!" She tried to rush back in—
But the door slammed shut with a vicious kick.
Just before it closed, she saw his eyes.
Murderous.
The same eyes he'd used years ago, on the day Lydia walked away from him.
Lucian pocketed the key. Elena no longer dared to knock. She crouched, gathering her scattered things from the floor.
She'd planned to wait outside all night, until his anger cooled. But then—
Her phone rang.
"Sis…" Sean's voice was deepening, rough with adolescence, yet unbearably gentle. "I miss you."
Elena's nose stung. "You're too old to act spoiled."
A soft laugh drifted from the other end. "You haven't come to the hospital in three days."
Her heart melted at his words. "All right. Lie down and be good. I'll come right now."
She hung up and glanced at the tightly shut apartment door one last time—then left.
On her way to the hospital, her eyes caught on a porcelain doll in a shop window.
It looked just like Sean.
She bought it, clutching it as she walked into the hospital.
Then her phone rang again.
The doctor's voice was urgent, out of breath. "Miss Sung, come quickly—your brother's condition is critical!"
Crash!
The porcelain doll slipped from her hands, shattering on the ground.
Sean.
Elena broke into a run, sprinting toward the inpatient wing.
A nurse rushed past with an IV bag, pushing a bed down the hallway at breakneck speed.
The doctor followed, his face grim.
Elena saw the blood—soaking through the sheets. She saw blood gushing from her brother's nose and mouth, his frail body convulsing violently.
And then she saw his hand.
Reaching out for her.
"Sean!"
Her cry tore from the depths of her soul, raw and piercing, drenched in despair.