My Brain Fades, His Hate Never Ends Chapter 05

My Brain Fades, His Hate Never Ends Chapter 05

The cold, mocking smile on Elias Voss’s face dropped completely.

He stared at me in disbelief, then at the sweating doctor.

“What did you say?”

“Progressive… cerebral atrophy?”

Scarlett Hale froze too, clinging to Elias’s arm on instinct.

“Elias, don’t listen to him.”

“He’s lying for Elara-they planned this!”

Dr. Hale paused his emergency care and looked up at Elias, his face grave.

“I’m Dr. Hale, Miss Cole’s attending physician.”

“Everything her brother said is true.”

“Her condition is extremely rare. Her brain is irreversibly atrophying. Her memory and cognitive functions

will fade until…”

He didn’t finish, but the meaning hung heavy in the air.

Elias swayed, his face draining of all color.

He stared at me, eyes wild with shock and confusion.

“No… that can’t be.”

“There’s no way.”

“She was fine five years ago.”

Dr. Hale let out a heavy breath.

“The trigger was the extreme emotional stress you put her through back then.”

“You were critically ill, Mr. Voss. You told her you’d left everything to her. The shock broke her.”

She didn’t disconnect your ventilator for money.

Her brain couldn’t process what it was. She forgot it kept you alive. She only thought it hurt you, so she

panicked and pulled it free.

Elias went stock-still, as if struck by lightning.

So that was it.

I hadn’t done it for the money.

I was just… sick.

Five years of hatred, five years of bitterness-all of it, one cruel joke.

“No… you’re wrong.”

Scarlett panicked, shaking Elias’s arm frantically.

“Elias, wake up! They made this up!”

“He’s just a doctor. We pay him, he’ll say anything!”

Jude Cole lunged at her like a raging animal.

“You vile woman! Shut your mouth!”

“If it weren’t for you, Elara would never be like this!”

Guards moved in to block Jude in an instant.

But Elias didn’t seem to hear a thing. He only stared at me, empty-eyed.

At my pale face, my hollow gaze.

He stepped toward me, slow and unsteady.

Each step felt like walking on shards of glass.

He knelt down and reached to touch my cheek.

Snap!

Jude broke free of the guards and slapped his hand away.

“Don’t touch her!”

“You don’t deserve to.”

Elias’s hand hung in the air, his fingers trembling.

“Elara…”

His voice was hoarse, desperate in a way he didn’t even realize.

The shouting made my head throb worse.

I stared at the strange man in front of me and shrank back, scared.

“Who are you?”

“Don’t come near me.”

My reaction pierced Elias’s heart like the sharpest blade.

The light in his eyes died at once.

“I’m…”

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Who was he?

He was the one who hurt me most.

He was the one who pushed me into the dark.

“Take her away.”

Elias finally spoke, his voice worn thin.

“Take her to the best private luxury medical center. ive her the best care money can buy.”

“I’ll cover every cost.”

Jude let out a bitter laugh.

“We don’t want your charity.”

“Elias Voss, who are you trying to fool now?”

“You tortured her like this. You think money fixes it?”

“Well, it doesn’t.”

He lifted me gently from the floor and held me tight against him.

“Stay away from my sister from now on.”

“We never want to see you again for the rest of our lives.”

With that, he led me away with Dr. Hale, not looking back at the gilded prison.

Only Elias and Scarlett remained in the hall.

“Elias…”

Scarlett tried to speak.

“Get out.”

Elias’s voice was ice, no warmth left.

He watched us leave, then slowly sank to his knees.

He reached down and picked up the ring he’d called trash.

He squeezed it so hard his knuckles whitened.

The sharp edges cut into his palm. Blood trickled between his fingers.

He felt no pain at all.

Nothing hurt worse than his heart.

He finally understood.

Five years ago, I hadn’t pulled his ventilator out of hate.

It was love.

Twisted by sickness, clumsy, but deep and true.

And he’d spent five years destroying that love.

Destroying me.

“Elara…”

He whispered, tears breaking free.

“I’m sorry…”