“I heard Louis is still in the observation room, isolated because he’s carrying the virus. You can’t even touch him. Do you still want to stay by his side?” Hamish’s eyes were bloodshot.
The Burns family is cold-hearted. He grew up in the Burns family and no one understands them better than him. Their coldness is passed down from generation to generation. It runs in his veins, his aunt has it, and Louis, being born as her son, naturally possesses it too.
He doesn’t believe Louis can make Elisa happy, and he certainly doesn’t believe that if something were to happen to Louis, the White family would spare Elisa. The White family is not a group of good people; how else would they have reached their current position?
Elisa knows Hamish too well. They’ve been entangled for so many years, and with just a casual glance, she knows exactly what he’s thinking.
Indeed, it’s impossible for ingrained flaws to change so easily. She foolishly thought he had come to his senses and decided to let her go completely.
Elisa, with a serious tone, asked, “Hamish, do you know who Louis is?”
Hamish pursed his pale lips, waiting for Elisa to finish her words.
Elisa smiled gently. Her eyes were as beautiful as they used to be, with pupils shining like sunlight melting winter ice, warm and inviting.
“Louis is the man who carried me home all those years ago. I mistook you for him, and I poured my heart and soul into loving you for four years. I forgot about him, and when he finally returned as Autumn, I lost him again. I’ve stumbled through these years, dying once and returning, yet he has never left my side, never abandoned me.”
Mentioning Louis, she thought of him still lying in the observation room, not out of danger yet, and her eyes welled up.
“You always say that our meeting was fate, but for me, it’s a debt of love and a catastrophe. If I could… I never wanted to meet you in the first place.”
She had experienced all sorts of hardships in her short life, feeling like she had lived through multiple lifetimes. But in these “multiple lifetimes,” the person in her heart has always been the same.
Never wanted to meet him? Yes, they started off on the wrong foot. He took advantage, enjoying all the good things about Elisa under Louis’s name. Even when he found out that he was a substitute, he kept it from Elisa, deceiving her, not telling her.
Hamish closed his eyes, thinking of Elisa being engulfed in flames. “I don’t believe Louis can bring you happiness.”
“Whether you believe it or not is irrelevant to me.”
Hamish choked up, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as he said, “Elisa, I will prove in my own way that this time, you’ve once again misjudged. Louis is in critical condition now, even if he survives, I dare guarantee that I am the one who is right for you.”
“Elisa, we’ve been together for so many years, experiencing all the ups and downs of love and hate. No one understands and loves you more than I do. For you, I can give up my life.”
Hamish had weak lungs. After his string of words, he was panting, causing a sharp pain in his chest. “Even if I took a bullet for you this time, you would still hate me. You hate that I took the Powell family’s property, indirectly causing your father’s death. You hate that I imprisoned you with chains, killing our child, and leaving you disabled to save Lila. Finally, causing your legs to be burned in the fire… You’re right, there’s a lot between us, several lives. This intense hatred won’t just disappear with a simple ‘let it go.’ You should continue to hate me, hate me until you’ve killed me.”
Rather than being a stranger with a simple “let it go,” he would prefer Elisa to continue hating him. At least then, she would still have him in her heart, instead of leaving no room for any extra emotion for him like she does now.
At times like this, he would remember how good Elisa had been to him in the past. She would get nervous even with a slight furrow of his brow, and now, lying on his deathbed, she wouldn’t spare him a word of concern.
Listening to Hamish’s words, Elisa’s face showed little emotion.
Because of these words, she had to remind herself every day. After reminding herself so often, she became emotionally numb.
Elisa shook her head. “I won’t kill you. When Mimi died, I did consider it, but someone told me that killing someone would dirty myown hands. If you want to die, I won’t stop you, but please die far away from me.”
A drawer under the cabinet was slightly open, revealing a fruit knife. Elisa glanced at it, then pushed the drawer closed.
“Put away your confidence. You’ve never been right for me. The person who decides who to be with is me, not you. You say you have a way to prove that Louis and I won’t work out, then I will also use my own way to show everyone that the love between him and me is not something that can be changed by anything.”
She had seen what she needed to see and said what she needed to say. Elisa originally didn’t want to say so much to Hamish, but some of his words were too harsh and too presumptuous.
People always bring trouble upon themselves due to their own presumption. In light of Hamish’s illness, Elisa didn’t want to argue with him further. “This should be my last visit. Your health is your own; you can choose to do as you please. Just don’t involve others.”
Turning to leave the ward, she only felt the gaze behind her vanish when she turned the corner.
Her phone in her pocket rang once. Elisa glanced at it; it was about the latest events in the company’s film.
Miss Hannah informed her that “The Ghost” had been selected for the International Best Picture Award, and they wanted her, the lead actress, to receive the award. The award ceremony was scheduled for half a month later.
Elisa replied that she already knew and put her phone away.
The next day at noon, Micah came to the hospital, informing Elisa that the treatment plan had been finalized.
Louis had been infected with the virus, and his blood contained a high level of infectious pathogens. To treat him, a blood transfusion was needed, but the surgery carried an extremely high risk. There was a possibility he could die on the operating table.
They needed to decide whether to proceed with the surgery. If they agreed, they would need to come to the hospital to sign the agreement.
Half a month later… Elisa carefully confirmed the date of the surgery. It was scheduled for the day before the awarding of “The Ghost.”
…
Louis had been sleeping a lot lately, lacking the strength to speak. He couldn’t keep his food down and had to rely on liquid nutrition.
Louis had a good physique initially, but now, having lost weight, he looked frail, with sunken cheeks, hollow eye sockets, and a pale complexion.
At times, he would experience auditory and visual hallucinations, not knowing where he was. Someone would speak to him, but he wouldn’t know how to respond, only managing a vague “yes” or “uh-huh.” He was becoming increasingly dull, like a discarded machine.
Elisa still entered his room every day, wearing protective gear, even if she only stayed for half an hour.
“Why have you come in again?” Louis asked.
Elisa stood by Louis’s side, knowing he didn’t want her to touch him, so she stayed at a distance.
“Dr. Baker said there’s hope for your illness. The surgery plan has been finalized for the 20th. Don’t worry; it’s just a minor procedure. You’ll sleep and wake up feeling better.”