Chapter 5
When Avery opened her eyes again, she heard heated arguments outside her door.
“Avery is my sister, and someone you’ve watched grow up. How could you possibly think she would push someone into water? You deliberately retaliated and nearly drowned her–don’t you owe her
an apology?”
“I’ll apologize after she apologizes to Hannah first! If she hadn’t acted out of jealousy and hurt Hannah, would I have retaliated without reason? You care about your sister, and I care about my wife! If anything had happened to Hannah, Avery could die a hundred times and still not atone for
it!”
Hearing Jake’s furious words, Avery felt a chill run through her body, as if plunged into an icy abyss.
Despite all his previous rejections, she had never felt this hopeless.
She had thought that even if they couldn’t be together romantically, they still had some small
measure of connection after knowing each other for so many years.
But apparently, when it came to his beloved, she meant nothing at all.
The two men outside didn’t realize she was awake and continued their heated exchange.
“You have no evidence, yet you blame everything on Avery without even giving her a chance to explain? Just because she’s liked you for years, you think you can hurt her so carelessly?”
“She’s been clinging to me for years, and I’ve only tolerated it out of respect for you! All these years,
haven’t I been decent enough in trying not to embarrass her? You accuse me of hurting her feelings, but have you considered how long I’ve had to endure this?”
The anger that had been building in Nathan finally erupted.
Unable to contain himself any longer, he grabbed Jake by the collar and threw a punch.
Jake didn’t hold back either, and the two began brawling.
Hearing the commotion, Avery’s heart jumped. She forced herself up and went outside to break up the fight.
17:05
She Moved On… He Crashed and Burned
19.0
Chapter 5
Seeing their faces bruised and their ferocious blows, she rushed between them.
Tears she had held back for so long streamed down her face as she cried out desperately.
“Stop it! Please stop fighting! Nathan, can we just go home? I’m begging you!”
Seeing his sister’s tears, Nathan’s rationality finally returned.
His nose stinging with emotion, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and released his grip.
Taking Avery’s hand, he turned dejectedly toward her hospital room.
As the door closed behind them, the siblings heard Jake’s cold voice.
“Don’t think playing the victim will make me forgive you. This is my final warning–stay away from Hannah in the future.”
Nathan’s anger threatened to flare up again, but Avery hugged him tightly, her voice filled with pleading.
“Let it go, Nathan. I’m leaving soon, and I won’t appear in Jake’s world ever again. There’s no need for you to ruin your relationship with him and your other friends because of me.”
The more she tried to calm him, the more Nathan’s heart ached for her.
The siblings looked at each other in silence. After a long while, he finally broke the quiet with a heavy voice.
“Avery, I’m sorry. Jake only has eyes for Hannah–he’d even sacrifice his friendships for her. I should have told you the truth when I first noticed you falling for him. You wouldn’t have fallen so deeply.”
17:05
