They Called Me Heartless, So Reborn, I Watched Them Self Destruct Chapter 06

They Called Me Heartless, So Reborn, I Watched Them Self Destruct Chapter 06

The banquet hall was packed with familiar faces.

Ethan’s college friends, Lily’s friends, and several relatives were all there.

The moment I walked in, the room fell silent for a second.

My aunt was the first to speak.

“Well,

look who’s here. Claire finally came. I guess you finally realized how amazing Ethan is?”

I smiled.

“I’m here for the food.”

Her expression soured.

Throughout dinner, everyone took turns praising Ethan.

“Ethan’s a real man.”

“You don’t see love like this anymore. It’s rare.”

“Lily, you’d better treat him right from now on.”

Lily lowered her head, her eyes red.

“I will.”

Ethan looked at her, his eyes shining.

In that moment, he truly believed he’d won.

He had sacrificed his health and lost the career opportunity he’d worked toward. In exchange, he had Lily alive and sitting beside him. He had everyone’s admiration, and he had what he believed was an unbreakable love.

If the story had ended there, he probably would have been happy.

But life never lets you stop on the prettiest page.

Halfway through dinner, one of Ethan’s college classmates, Ryan Brooks, showed up.

He had just gotten back from overseas, and he’d never been known for having much of a filter.

The moment he walked in and saw Ethan’s cane, he froze.

“Ethan, what happened to you?”

The entire table went stiff.

Someone quickly explained, “He donated a kidney to save Lily. He’s still recovering from the surgery.”

Ryan blinked.

“Oh… What about the Federal Aviation Research Center? I thought you already had a position lined up

there.”

Ethan’s face paled slightly.

“Medical reasons. I’m not going anymore.”

Ryan had been drinking and completely missed the warning in Ethan’s voice.

“That’s a shame. You were always the guy in our department with the best shot at getting in.”

Then he looked at Lily and added, half joking, “Lily, you really are one expensive girl. Your life cost him a spot in one of the top research programs in the country, one kidney, and apparently one leg too.”

The banquet hall went dead silent.

The smile disappeared from Lily’s face.

Ethan’s hand tightened around his cane.

“You’re drunk.”

Ryan finally realized he’d crossed a line and awkwardly took his seat.

But the damage was done.

Everyone had heard him.

Expensive.

Far too expensive.

No one had ever put it that way before.

They’d only talked about how love was priceless. How saving a life was priceless. How noble his sacrifice

was.

But once someone put an actual price tag on it, that sacrifice suddenly became unbearably heavy.

Lily slowly loosened her grip on Ethan’s arm.

The movement was small.

But I saw it.

Ethan saw it too.

His face went even paler.

The rest of the dinner never recovered.

People started talking quietly about other things.

Some glanced at Ethan’s leg.

Others looked at Lily.

The looks in their eyes were no longer filled with nothing but congratulations.

There was curiosity now. Pity.

And a little bit of judgment that no one bothered to hide.

As I was leaving, I ran into Lily in the hallway.

She was standing by the window, trying to get some air.

When I approached, she spoke first.

“Claire, did you know this was going to happen?”

“Know what?”

She turned toward me.

“That he’d lose all of that.”

I looked at her.

“The doctors knew. You heard them too.”

Her eyes turned red.

“But I was dying.”

“So you chose to live.”

She bit her lip.

“No one blames you for wanting to live.”

At least I didn’t.

When you’re staring death in the face and someone throws you a lifeline, grabbing it is only human.

What I couldn’t stand was grabbing that lifeline and then pretending you hadn’t taken anything at all. Lily’s voice was barely above a whisper.

“I just didn’t realize it would be this serious.”

I looked at her.

“You didn’t fail to realize it.”

She stiffened.

“You were afraid to think about it.”

The elevator doors opened.

Ethan was standing inside, leaning on his cane, his eyes fixed on the two of us.

Lily immediately lowered her head.

“Ethan.”

He didn’t answer.

He only asked one question.

“Lily, why did you just let go of my arm?”