Chapter 5 — Cracks in the Heart
Chloe woke up on a quiet morning.
At first—
there was nothing.
Just light.
Soft, blinding light.
Then—
sound.
A faint, steady rhythm.
Beep… beep… beep…
Her fingers twitched.
Barely noticeable.
But real.
"…Chloe?"
A voice.
Close.
Familiar.
Millar.
Her eyelids felt heavy.
Too heavy.
But she forced them open.
Blurred vision slowly cleared.
And the first thing she saw—
was him.
Millar sat beside her bed, eyes slightly widened, as if he didn't expect this moment to come so suddenly.
"…You're awake."
His voice was calm.
But his hand—
tightened around hers.
Chloe stared at him.
Silent.
Then—
"…Millar…"
Her voice was weak.
Soft.
Almost fragile.
But her grip—
tightened.
"You're here…"
Millar exhaled quietly.
"…Yeah."
Something in his chest loosened.
"You took your time," he added lightly.
Chloe didn't smile.
Instead—
she kept looking at him.
As if confirming something.
As if making sure—
he was real.
"…You didn't leave," she whispered.
Millar paused.
"…No."
That answer—
was enough.
Chloe's eyes softened.
But only for a moment.
Because the next second—
her gaze shifted.
Around the room.
Empty.
No one else.
Good.
Her fingers tightened again.
"…Don't go."
It came out naturally.
Without hesitation.
Millar blinked slightly.
"…I'm not going anywhere right now."
"Not later either."
Her voice was still weak.
But the meaning—
wasn't.
Millar didn't respond immediately.
Something about the way she said it…
felt heavy.
Too heavy.
"…We'll talk about that later," he said calmly.
Chloe didn't like that answer.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"…No."
Her grip tightened further.
"I don't want to talk later."
"I want it now."
The room felt smaller.
Millar frowned slightly.
"…You just woke up. Don't push yourself."
"I'm not pushing myself."
Her eyes locked onto his.
Clear.
Focused.
Too clear.
"I just don't want you to leave."
Silence.
Something was off.
Millar knew it.
This wasn't how it was supposed to be.
In the original story—
she would be shy.
Confused.
Grateful.
Not this.
Not… intense.
"…Chloe—"
"Did you ever think about leaving me?"
The question cut in suddenly.
Millar stopped.
"…What?"
"When I was asleep."
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Did you ever think…"
"…of leaving me behind?"
Millar's expression hardened slightly.
"…No."
That wasn't entirely a lie.
Because now—
he really hadn't.
Chloe watched him closely.
As if searching for something deeper.
Then—
slowly—
she relaxed.
"…Good."
Her grip loosened just a little.
But her hand didn't let go.
Not even slightly.
"…Because I wouldn't let you."
The words were soft.
But they stayed in the air.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Millar felt it.
That strange feeling again.
Not fear.
But something close.
"…You need rest," he said quietly.
Chloe didn't argue this time.
Her eyes slowly closed.
But her hand—
remained in his.
As if even in sleep—
she refused to lose him.
Outside the room—
Andru stood still.
He had arrived earlier.
He had heard everything.
Every word.
"…I see."
His voice was quiet.
Calm as ever.
But for the first time—
His expression changed.
Slightly.
Almost unnoticeable.
But real.
Because something had become clear.
The story…
had already gone too far off course.
And this time—
No one knew how it would end.