Remember That Hurt

Chapter 13 Already dead

　　Anna was dead. The second Jasmine heard it, her eyes lit up with a strange spark.

　　But Ethan? The doctor's words hit him like a bullet—something in his brain just snapped. He froze, completely blank.

　　Then all of a sudden, Ethan shoved the doctor aside and made a run for the ER.

　　"No, no way… she can't be dead!"

　　"Mr. Donovan, the nurses are still cleaning her up," the doctor blocked him, not wanting to let a grieving husband see that mess.

　　"I don't buy it!" Ethan's head shook violently, his voice hoarse from shouting.

　　He barged in anyway. But after a few rushed steps, his feet stopped like they were glued to the floor.

　　There she was—Anna, lying on the table, soaked in blood, cold as ice. No breath, no heartbeat. Nothing.

　　The sight hit him hard—way too hard.

　　Ethan's whole body started shaking uncontrollably. He grabbed the doctor who'd followed him in, lost and desperate. "Please, doctor, I'm begging you… save her!"

　　He knew. Deep down, he knew this was all on him. He'd pushed her too far. He'd let everything spiral out of control.

　　He loved her, and yet only now—only with her gone—did he truly get it.

　　That kind of regret? It was suffocating.

　　The doctor looked at him, quietly sighing. Ethan—always the golden boy, always in control—had never been knocked down like this before.

　　He patted Ethan's shoulder gently and said, "Mr. Donovan... the dead are gone. The living need to keep going."

　　"I don't want her gone!" Ethan's voice cracked, raw and broken, and somehow tears were just pouring out. For someone who barely even cried as a kid, this felt like all the grief of a lifetime coming out at once.

　　Two nurses approached, exchanged a silent glance. One quietly pulled out a sedative and gently jabbed it into Ethan's neck.

　　Only then did the madness fade. His tall frame started to collapse, slowly crumpling to the floor. His eyes never left the woman on that bed.

　　If only this was just a nightmare.

　　When he woke up again, he was in the bedroom of their villa.

　　Still dazed, his glassy eyes scanned the room.

　　This time of day… she'd be in the kitchen, making breakfast, right?

　　He smacked the side of his head like he was trying to knock something loose and ran barefoot out the door, downstairs in a rush.

　　"Where is she? Where is she? Where is she?!" He searched every corner, his panic growing more intense with each empty room.

　　"Mr. Donovan? Are… are you okay?" Brandon, his assistant, had just dropped by with some paperwork. Seeing Ethan in this state, he stepped forward, confused and worried.

　　"Where is she?!" Ethan grabbed Brandon's shoulders like he was clinging to the edge of a cliff.

　　"She??" Brandon blinked, then gave a hesitant smile, "You mean… Miss Jasmine?"

　　Jasmine? Who the hell is Jasmine?

　　He wanted Anna. Just Anna.

　　"Brandon, help me find Anna. Please. Help me bring her back…"

　　Anna?

　　Anna?

　　Brandon stared at him, mouth hanging open.

　　Should he be booking an appointment with an ENT doctor here? Was something wrong with his hearing?

　　Ethan dropped his hands, eyes dulled. No answer. He wandered off, still stumbling through the villa like a ghost.

　　"I can't find her… I can't find her…"