Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
Elspeth got a little angry. “What are you talking about? This has nothing to do with you. It was an accident. Not to be heartless, but he was the reason he died. Not you.”
“But he wouldn’t have been affected if I wasn’t sick. Max was a great racer. He couldn’t have gotten into an accident.” Yelena still thought it was her fault.
“We still have no idea what the truth is, so don’t blame yourself. If that’s how you wanna see it, then part of the fault lies on me. I shouldn’t have told him about your illness.”
Surprised that Elspeth would take responsibility, Yelena quickly said, “No. You’re not to blame.”
“Then you aren’t either. I don’t want to hear that again, alright? And I’ll figure out the truth of this case.”
Yelena nodded, her eyes still puffy.
Hank came back and saw Yelena’s eyes looking puffy. Ah, so she knows. He set up a little table beside the bed and laid out the food before Yelena. “Did you just cry? Now, now. I got you your favorite dumplings. And here’s some chicken and mushroom soup. And there are some hard-boiled eggs too. They say it’s fab.”
These were regular breakfast foods back in their hometown. Hank must have spent a lot of time just gathering these. And they were still hot. He must’ve tucked them inside an insulated box. He was meticulous, but Yelena couldn’t even feel touched. She had no appetite at all.
“I don’t want to eat.”
“I know you’re in a bad mood, but at least have something.” Hank held up the soup and was about to feed her, but Yelena shoved him away.
Beset by fury, she shoved all the food on the ground and raised her voice, “I said I don’t want to eat! Can’t you hear?” And in her fury, the soup splashed all over Hank’s hand.
Hank looked at her coolly and wiped his hand off with a tissue.
“Hank…” Yelena snapped out of her fury, and she started sobbing again. “Let’s break up.”
“We’re not breaking up.” Hank took a deep breath. She’s just confused, that’s all. “Now calm down and eat something. I’ll get you some other food.” He stood up and was about to get her another kind of breakfast.
But Yelena buried her head in the blanket and screeched, “I can’t accept this. I can’t date you now. Not after all that’s happened. I know you know what I mean, Hank. Let’s just give ourselves some time alone.”
For some reason, guilt would well within Yelena when she was with Hank. Max died for her, and yet now she was dating some other guy. It was unfair to him, or so Yelena thought. She wasn’t being stupid. She just couldn’t accept this just yet.
Hank turned around. And with a slightly trembling voice, he asked, “Are you sure?”
Yelena was silent for a long while. Just when Hank thought she had snapped out of it, Yelena suddenly said, “Let’s break up.”
Hank froze for a moment. And then, he forced himself to stay calm. “Very well.” He turned and left.
Elspeth couldn’t step in. Yelena was in a really bad mood after all. She asked, “Are you all right?”
“Elsie…” Yelena pounced into Elspeth’s embrace and burst into tears. “I… It’s just heartbreaking. What should I do? Every time I think of Max, I can see him right in front of me, all bloody. I…”
“I know you’re in a bad mood, but Hank did nothing wrong.”
Yelena buried her head in Elspeth’s embrace, refusing to say a word.
“He came all the way from Damoria. You can’t actually think he’s not taking this seriously.”
“I don’t know. I…”
“I know you’re devasted about Max’s death, but don’t push away someone who loves you because of that.”
A hint of guilt filled Yelena’s heart. She took a quick glance at Elspeth and hung her head low. “I understand. I’ll think about it.”
That’s the best I can do. Can’t rush her. Elspeth heaved a long sigh.
Callum was done with the procedure a while later. He cremated Max, but he didn’t send the urn back. His parents would break down if they knew, and he didn’t want to see that. I’ll tell them when we get back. He came back to the ward and saw Yelena lying on the bed looking like a corpse. Ah, she knows. Elspeth was right by her side, but Hank was nowhere to be found. He placed the fruits on the nightstand and looked around, but Hank wasn’t around. “Where’s Hank?”
“He left. I… yelled at him,” Yelena whispered sheepishly.
“Why did you do that?” Callum was a little confused. Hank loves her. She can’t just yell at him.
“Because I broke up with him.”
Callum was shocked about that outcome. “And why did you do that?”
“Because I know. I know Max died because of me. I can’t keep dating Hank when I know the truth.” Yelena held her head in agony.
“What a fool,” Callum shot straight. “First, Max’s death is not your fault. It was mostly his. You don’t have to feel guilty about it. Two, he risked his life to save you not because he wanted anything from you. His love was pure. He would want you to live your own life, not give up your happiness for him. You insult his memory.”
Wait. What. I never would… Panicked, Yelena said, “No. I never meant to insult his memory. I never. I just…”
“If he were still alive, he wouldn’t want you to live in sorrow. The reason he stayed away from you was so you could get into a healthy relationship. Free from your past.”
Finally convinced, Yelena nodded. She had no arguments left. “You have a point. I was being selfish.”
“Hank is innocent. If you ditch him just because of something that’s not even his fault, you’ll never find happiness.”
Callum was straightforward, but it was the truth. Yelena hung her head low and started reflecting on her actions.
Gods, he’s scaring her. Elspeth tugged on Callum’s sleeve. “Enough. She’s a patient. Stop scaring her.”
“I wasn’t scaring her. I just want her to face reality.”
Callum looked straight into Yelena’s eyes. Solemnly, he continued, “Some things cannot be taken back once you lose them.” He wasn’t just saying that to her either.
“I see.” Yelena nodded. “I know what to do now.”
Look at her. She’s pale as a ghost. Elspeth said, “It’s alright. We’re not in a hurry. Hank is a very opinionated and rational man. You don’t have to go after him right away. Heal up. We’ll see him once this is over.”
Yelena was wallowing in a pit of sadness, but she was sick, so she couldn’t do anything about it. “I see.”
Elspeth patted her head. “Now don’t worry too much. It’s not as bad as you think.”
Yelena said again, “Okay.” Now that she was sick, she couldn’t film her scenes. And all she could do was stay in the hospital to heal up. Then she went back with Elspeth. Elspeth paid for all the losses, so there wasn’t any mess to deal with.
The first thing Yelena did after she came back was to see Hank. But the moment she came to the firm, a young lady in OL attire stopped her.
Looking at the beautiful yet unfamiliar face, the girl couldn’t help but feel hostile toward Yelena. The arrogant girl asked, “Who are you? Don’t you know this is not a place where you can come and go as you please?”
“I’m a friend.” We’ve broken up, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to call myself his girlfriend.
“Friend?” The girl looked at Yelena closely and clicked her tongue. “Mr. Damazio can’t possibly be friends with people like you.”
“What do you mean people like me? Do you have a problem with me? And why can’t he be friends with me?” Yelena was furious at the girl’s rudeness.
The girl scoffed. “Look at you. You’re dressed up like a whore. Mr. Damazio is an elegant man. He wouldn’t be friends with a whore.”
Yelena laughed mirthlessly. “I guess you’re new here, then. You must not know me.”
The girl raised her head. “That might be true, but I know him well. There’s no way a woman like you can be friends with Mr. Damazio.” The girl thought Yelena only came here to hound Hank or annoy him. I can’t and won’t let her in.
“In that case, do you know I’m his ex?”
A hint of jealousy flashed in the girl’s eyes, but it disappeared soon after. “I don’t. So, you’re his ex, huh? No wonder you’re dressed so…”
Fury flared in Yelena’s eyes. What’s with the personal attack? Annoyed by the girl’s smug grin, Yelena stood up and crossed her arms. Fine. Two can play the game. She eyed the girl up and down, saying,
“What’s your problem with my attire, anyway? I think I’m well dressed. You, on the other hand, are dressed like a nun. Don’t tell me you have no curves.”
The girl felt humiliated. She wanted to fight back, but she knew she didn’t exactly have the perfect body. Defeated, she muttered, “At least I’m not a whore like you.”
Yelena then looked at the girl’s chest and scoffed. “Really? Then, why did you unbutton your chest button? Not like you can attract anyone with that chest of yours. It’s not even big enough to form a cleavage.” She had seen too many girls in her industry pulling this stunt. The girl was calling her a whore, but the girl was actually the one trying to seduce Hank. I despise women like her.
The girl covered her chest immediately. Now, she felt angry on top of being humiliated. “It popped open by accident. I’m not like you.” Dang, she’s sharp, the girl cursed in her mind.
“As if. You’re not big enough for any button to pop open by accident.”
With that, Yelena came out as the victor. Fresh out of the argument, the girl ran into the firm and closed the door. Then, she looked at Yelena smugly. So what if you won the argument? You still can’t come in.
Yelena was a bit annoyed and exasperated. She tried calling Hank, but when she was told he was on a call, she froze. He’s not just on a call. He blocked my number. I can’t believe he blocked my number!
