They Called Me Heartless, So Reborn, I Watched Them Self Destruct Chapter 07

They Called Me Heartless, So Reborn, I Watched Them Self Destruct Chapter 07

After that day, a tiny crack began to form between Ethan and Lily.

They weren’t fighting. Somehow, that made it worse.

Lily went back to school to handle her reenrollment paperwork, and she started keeping busy.

She said her doctor had recommended that she get back to a normal routine.

She joined a book club. She started preparing applications for graduate programs. She began posting photos

of herself looking bright and full of life.

There were flowers in her pictures. Coffee. Library shelves.

But never Ethan.

Ethan spent his days going through physical therapy, taking medication, and going to follow-up

appointments.

One by one, the classmates he’d once known started landing jobs.

Some posted pictures of their big-tech employee badges. Others showed off their new offices and research buildings. Some celebrated online about starting “a new chapter” in their lives.

Ethan blocked them one by one.

Then, one by one; he went back and checked their profiles.

It was almost like he was punishing himself.

My mom felt sorry for him and began holding a grudge against Lily.

“Ethan gave her a kidney. Look at what he’s been left with. How can she just focus on herself?”

My dad was just as unhappy.

“The Hayes family needs to take responsibility.”

Of course, the Hayes family couldn’t give them the answer they wanted.

Lily’s parents had sent over supplements and thank-you letters. They’d even covered most of the medical

expenses.

But love wasn’t a contract you could sign for life.

My mom called me and ranted about how ungrateful Lily was.

I listened, and all I could feel was irony.

In my previous life, when Lily died, everyone had turned her into the most perfect version of herself.

She had become almost saintlike.

Pure. Kind. Tragic

Ethan’s greatest regret.

But this time, Lily was alive.

She had her own selfishness, her own fears, and her own ways of running away from things she couldn’t

face.

She had finally come down from the pedestal and become a human being again.

And they couldn’t stand it.

On Ethan’s twenty-seventh birthday, Lily was late.

By the time she arrived, the frosting on the birthday cake had already begun to melt.

She was wearing a beautiful coat, her makeup perfectly done.

Ethan had waited for her for two hours.

The moment he saw her walk in, his eyes lit up.

Then the light faded.

“Where were you?”

Lily set down the gift she’d brought.

“My department called an emergency meeting. My phone was on silent.”

Ethan stared at her.

“Did that meeting have to be with Lucas Scott?”

Lily’s face changed.

Lucas Scott was an upperclassman in her program. He was young, healthy, and came from a comfortable family.

More importantly, there was no heavy debt between him and Lily.

He hadn’t saved her life.

She didn’t owe him her future.

Lily lowered her voice.

“Did you check up on me?”

Ethan gave a short, humorless laugh.

“I just saw a group photo one of your classmates posted.”

There were only family members in the private dining room.

I shouldn’t have been there.

My dad had insisted I come because he wanted the whole family together.

Maybe he thought that with Ethan in this condition, I should feel guilty.

Maybe he thought I should come home and help carry the burden.

Instead, I sat quietly in the corner and drank red wine.

Then Ethan suddenly looked at Lily.

“Do you regret it?”

Lily fell silent.

My mom panicked.

“Lily, Ethan did all this for you…”

“Mrs. Miller.”

Lily interrupted her. Her voice wasn’t loud, but every word was clear.

“I know he saved my life.”

Ethan’s eyes turned red.

“Good. At least you know.”

Lily looked at him, tears slipping down her cheeks.

“But Ethan, I can’t spend the rest of my life being reminded that you traded your future for mine.”

Ethan froze.

“When did I ever remind you?”

“You don’t have to say it. I can see it in your eyes. Your parents remind me too. Everyone does.”

She covered her face.

“I’m grateful to you. I really am. I’ll remember what you did for me for the rest of my life.”

Ethan’s voice trembled.

“That’s not what I want. I don’t want you to just remember.”

Lily sobbed.

“But I can’t give you what you want.”

The entire room went silent.

My mom slammed her hand against the table and stood up.

“Lily, do you have no conscience? When you were lying in that hospital bed, why didn’t you refuse when Ethan offered to donate his kidney?”

Lily’s face went deathly pale.

“I was dying. How was I supposed to refuse?”

My mom’s lips trembled with anger.

“So now that you’re alive, you’re ashamed of him?”

Lily didn’t deny it.

Somehow, that was more brutal than if she had.

Ethan swayed.

His cane struck the leg of a chair with a dull thud.

He stared at Lily as if he were seeing her for the first time.

“Are you embarrassed by me?”

Lily closed her eyes.

“I just want to start over.”

“What about me?”

His voice nearly broke.

“I became like this because of you. What am I supposed to do now?”

Lily was shaking so hard she could barely speak through her tears.

“Ethan, please. Don’t do this. What you sacrificed was too much. I can’t carry that weight for the rest of my lifer”

I set down my wineglass.

The stem of the glass touched the table with the softest click.

But everyone turned to look at me.

Ethan’s eyes were bloodshot.

“Are you happy now?”

I shook my head.

“No. I’m not.”

He let out a bitter laugh.

“You’re not satisfied seeing me like this?”

I looked directly at him.

“You’re still trying to find someone else to blame for the consequences of your own choices.”

His face darkened instantly.

I stood up and picked up my bag.

“Ethan, you made your choice. Lily made hers when she accepted your kidney. Mom and Dad made theirs when they supported you. No one can guarantee that a sacrifice will buy you the ending you want.”

I walked toward the door.

Behind me came the sound of a glass shattering against the floor.

“Claire, shut up!”

I didn’t turn around.

In my previous life, Ethan had trapped me inside his hatred.

This time, the only person he could trap was himself.