Love Died One Apology at a Time Chapter 06

Love Died One Apology at a Time Chapter 06

When they heard their daughter had been arrested, Riley’s parents finally showed up.

They found Ethan in the hospital hallway.

The moment they saw him, they froze.

He looked as if he had aged years overnight.

“Mr. Carter. We know the victim is your girlfriend.”

“But you understand Riley. She just made a mistake. One impulse.”

“You’ve helped her so many times. What’s one more?”

“Name your price.”

Ethan looked past them.

A nurse was helping me back from an examination.

Ever since I was hospitalized, Ethan refused to leave.

He knew I didn’t want to see him.

So he spent night after night sleeping on the bench outside my room.

“Claire, does anything hurt?”

I stepped away before he could touch me.

Then I looked coldly at Riley’s parents.

My voice was hoarse.

“I don’t want a penny. I want your daughter in prison.”

Before they came to the hospital, they had already called Ethan.

At first, they tried to get him to take Riley’s case again.

The call happened while my attorney was visiting me.

She was a colleague of Ethan’s.

She greeted him politely. But he just stood there.

Only after she left did he seem to come back to himself.

He hadn’t been sleeping. He had spent days organizing evidence.

“Claire, why didn’t you…?”

I knew exactly what he wanted to ask.

Why hadn’t I gone to him?

Why had I hired another lawyer when he was standing right there?

“Because I don’t trust you.”

The color drained from his face.

“What if you decide she’s still young? What if you decide she didn’t mean it? What if you decide she’s pitiful?”

“I think you’re more likely to become Riley’s lawyer than mine.”

“If you take her case—”

“Just don’t lie. Don’t lie to everyone’s face this time.”

Ethan looked like a tree that had been snapped in half.

My words seemed to physically crush him.

“I wouldn’t.” The words came out barely above a whisper.

I turned my back on him.

He remained standing there like a statue.

Eventually, I heard him leave.

My attorney told me Ethan had given her evidence. Witnesses. Documents.

My finger hovered over my phone screen for a long time before I replied.

“Okay. Noted.”

Then I put the phone down. Pulled the blanket over my head. And didn’t move for a very long time.

Riley’s parents had followed Ethan’s gaze and noticed me too.

Threats. Promises. Money. They tried everything.

My answer never changed. No negotiations. No forgiveness.

Ethan stepped in front of me.

His expression dark.

A warning hidden in his eyes.

“Mr. Morgan, I’ve heard some things about your business.”

The couple’s faces changed immediately.

In the end, they left cursing under their breath.

I returned to my room.

Ethan remained outside.

I drifted in and out of sleep.

When I woke again, my pajamas were soaked with sweat.

Only then did I realize Ethan was inside the room.

Moonlight slipped through the slightly open window.

Silver across the floor.

Silver across his face.

The successful, confident lawyer I once knew was curled awkwardly on the sofa.

He looked terrible.

Dark circles under his eyes. Several small cuts along his jawline from careless shaving.

Even asleep, his brows were tightly furrowed.

The moment I moved, he woke up.

“Claire, what’s wrong?”

“Did you have a nightmare?”

He hurried over so frantically that he nearly stumbled, catching himself as he leaned down in front of me.

I stared at him.

Then suddenly burst into tears.

“Ethan, I hate you.”

“I hate you so much.”

The pain was everywhere.

If none of this had happened, maybe Ethan and I would still be in love.

Maybe I’d already be wearing the ring he bought me.

Maybe we’d be married.

Maybe we’d have a child. A home. A future.

“I only found out I was pregnant the day I lost it.”