Chapter 6
The ambulance sirens pierced the night.
Carla sat on a bench in the hospital hallway, her hands clenched tightly
into fists.
The doctor had just told her that her parents were only shaken but physically unharmed.
She let out a long breath and gently closed the door to the ward.
“Jason! Hang in there! It’s all my fault.”
From the far end of the corridor came Kate’s heart–wrenching sobs.
Carla looked up just in time to see medical staff rushing past with a
stretcher.
Jason lay on it, his white shirt soaked with fresh blood, his handsome face pale and lifeless.
Kate clutched his hand tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks like raindrops. “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. You intercepted the plane to find me, and I even grabbed the steering wheel and caused a scene.‘
Jason weakly lifted a hand, using his fingers to wipe her tears away. “As long as you don’t leave me, I’m willing to do anything.”
Carla’s heart clenched painfully. She turned and hurried away.
She no longer wanted to see it. She couldn’t bear to see anymore.
In the following days, Carla stayed in the hospital, caring for her parents.
06:03
Every day at dawn, she’d make a hearty broth and see her parents drink it slowly, spoon by spoon.
The nurses‘ gossip occasionally drifted through the hallway.
“Mr. Quinn really spoils Ms. Murray. Even with such serious injuries, he still tries to make her happy every day.”
“Yeah, I heard Ms. Murray said she wanted some cake from the west side of the city at midnight, and Mr. Quinn immediately drove there despite his condition.”
Carla’s parents looked worriedly at their daughter, but she calmly peeled an apple as if she hadn’t heard a word.
“Carla…” her mother started, then stopped.
“Mom, I’m fine.” Carla cut the apple into small pieces. “I don’t love him anymore.”
That was the truth.
From the moment he tied her mother onto the operating table, her love for him had completely died.
Now, her only thought was to take her parents away safely.
A week later, Carla’s parents‘ condition stabilized.
“Carla, we’ve gotten through it. You should go pack your things,” her father said, patting her shoulder. “We’re leaving soon, probably for good. Whatever’s left to do, it has to be settled first.”
Carla nodded.
Back at the villa, she had barely started packing when the door suddenly
swung open.
06.03
Jason stood at the entrance, his expression dark. “Kate’s been through a lot these days. Go to the chapel and get a protection charm for her.”
His tone brooked no argument as if he was ordering a servant.
Before, Carla would have refused outright.
Now, she only nodded numbly. “Okay.”
She didn’t dare resist anymore.
The last time she did, he almost cost her parents their lives.
She couldn’t afford any more risks.
Early morning mist curled around the mountaintop chapel.
Carla walked way up the long flight of stone stairs. By the time she reached the summit, her legs felt numb.
As she stood, something caught her eye.
An old oak stood nearby, its branches tied with handwritten notes- messages, hopes, and memories fluttering in the wind.
Curious, she stepped closer. And froze. One by one, she read the handwriting on each note.
“For Carla, may she always be safe and happy. -Jason”
“Keep Carla healthy. -Jason”
“Please let Carla fall in love with me. —Jason”
Every note was a silent love letter from Jason, spanning over the years- from their high school days to just before they got married.
Carla let out a bitter laugh and turned toward the hall.
48.25
06:03
11
She still got the protection charm Kate had asked for–but this time, she also picked up a pair of love charms.
Before leaving, she borrowed a pair of scissors from the groundskeeper, returned to the oak tree, and cut down every note with Jason’s name on it. One by one, she burned them into ashes.
“Miss, what are you doing?” a young attendant asked gently.
“Letting go,” Carla said softly.
On her way down the mountain, she handed both the protection charm and the love charm to Jason.
“What’s this?” he frowned, holding up the pair of love charms.
“Love charm,” Carla said sincerely, her eyes calm like still water. “I hope you and Kate live happily ever after.”
Jason looked at her deeply. “You really mean that?”
She nodded. “Of course.”
He frowned and stared at her for a long time as if wanting to say something, but in the end, he said nothing and simply turned to leave.
