Chapter 10

I woke up. Everyone rushed over to celebrate.

The second surgery had been a success—surprisingly so. The doctor said I was recovering well.

It was nothing short of a miracle that I'd survived.

The ward was filled with people—my friends, my colleagues, Ethan's friends and colleagues.

When Ethan walked in, everyone stepped aside, making a path for him.

He was holding a bouquet of flowers and a small box.

He walked toward me.

Finally, after all these years, I was the center of his attention.

A proposal in the hospital ward—what a perfect, happy ending.

Even the doctors and nurses came over to watch.

This was the same "devoted boyfriend" who'd sat by my side for five days and five nights, never leaving my side.

"Luna Bennett, will you marry me?" he asked.

I looked at him, smiling brightly.

We'd talked about this before. He'd said he'd propose once we'd saved enough for a down payment on a house.

With both of us contributing half, plus a little help from our families, we'd actually had enough money a long time ago.

But he'd kept putting it off.

And with each passing day, I'd grown more and more anxious.

Now, all that anxiety was gone.

"No," I said.

For the first time in years, I felt light, free—like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

Everyone stared at me in shock, confused by my answer.

If they'd lived with Ethan for seven years, they would have understood.

"I'm tired of being ignored by you," I said.

"I've given up too much of my life for you."

"So no. I won't marry you."

"Let's break up."

My words were slurred—I was still weak from the surgery, and I couldn't speak clearly.

But I meant every word.

This was my second chance at life—hard-won, fragile, precious.

I wanted to spend it doing things that mattered to me—not being Ethan Carter's accessory.

Seven years. Or six, if we counted from the day we graduated.

Our relationship had never really changed.

Why would I believe that anything would be different now, just because I'd had an accident?

Maybe he'd love me a little more for a while.

But what about later, when the novelty wore off?

Could I really afford to take that risk?

After everyone left, only my friends stayed behind to help me with things.

They were happy for me, but they still didn't fully understand why I'd said no.

"Maybe... I just don't love him anymore," I told them.