Eight Years Lost A Love Unclaimed (Ariella) novel Chapter 46

BOOK4 Chapter7

On the third day after I arrived, I ended up in the hospital. When I woke up, it was

evening, and a group of people, including Detective Parker and Ethan Harris,

were

gathered around my

bed.

I didn’t have the strength to speak. Jessica was saying a lot, her eyes filled with

tears.

I saw someone comforting her with a gentle pat on the back before I closed my

eyes

again.

The next time I woke up, it was early morning, and the room was dark. The first

thing

I did was reach for my hair. In the darkness, someone gently pulled my hand

down

and adjusted my hair. Then I felt a warm tear fall on the back of my hand, and the

person on the bed beside me let out a small sob.

“When did it happen?”

I looked at the shadowy figure and sighed. “About six months ago.”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

I patted her arm. “It’s not all bad. This illness feels like a release for me.”

Light Years Lost: A Love Unplained

“I’m so sorry, truly sorry. I didn’t know you were sick. I was so guarded, thinking

you

were just trying to get close to Ethan.”

I patted Grace’s hand. “You didn’t do anything wrong. My intentions weren’t exactly

pure. After all, it’s Ethan Harris we’re talking about–the man I loved for ten years,

the man I almost married. Of course I wanted to fight for him.”

The pain in my stomach flared up again. I held my breath, waiting for it to subside

before I could speak. “If it weren’t for this illness, I really would have made a

scene.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to let go.”

Grace’s soft crying made my heart ache. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell him?

There’s still a chance, Sienna.”

Her sudden change of heart caught me off guard. I blinked hard, trying to keep

the

tears from falling. No matter how much I didn’t want to, I knew I had to accept it.

“No.”

“We all know that Ethan’s parents‘ death wasn’t an was

+ revenge. If he

knew the truth, it would devastate him. And knowing him, he wouldn’t just let it

1. go.

He’d risk everything, even his own life, to… I don’t want him to get hurt again.”

Fight Years Lost: A Love Unfaimed

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I sniffed, trying to hold back the tears. “I can’t tell him I’m his fiancée only to have.

him deal with my funeral right after. Losing three loved ones at once–how would

he

handle that? And he’s about to… get married.”

Grace’s sobs grew louder. I held her hand, trying to comfort her instead. “Don’t cry

for me. When I first found out I had this illness, I felt like I was finally being set

free.

The torment was almost over. But then I heard that Ethan was alive, and I

completely

fell apart. Seeing him with Jessica, though, made me grateful for this illness.”

“Sienna…”

I turned my head away, letting my tears soak into the pillow. “And besides, you’ve

seen it too. He’s Ethan, but he’s not my Ethan Harris. My Ethan Harris is still

waiting

for me to find him. Grace, I’ll be seeing him soon.”

Grace gently embraced me, and I hugged her back. “Grace, can I ask you for a

favor?”

That night, Grace cried herself to sleep, while I, having finally shared my secret,

drifted off peacefully.

The next morning, I woke up early. Grace helped me put on my wig while I applied

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makeup. She asked, “You’re still doing your makeup?”

Ever since I got here, I’ve been doing my makeup every day–partly because I look

SO

pale, and partly because I want to look presentable.

Grace didn’t say anything, but her touch became even gentler.

When Jessica came to bring me breakfast, I noticed something was off. She

seemed

distracted, her usual energy gone. Finally, after Grace stepped out of the room, she

approached me.

“Sienna, Ethan… he’s your husband, isn’t he?”

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take a nap in the afternoon, planning to bring dinner later. I never expected that

it

would be Ethan Harris himself who would bring the meal.

When he walked in, I was thankful I had put on makeup, but I worried if my wig

was

askew. I adjusted it several times while he wasn’t looking.

Inside the insulated container were mashed potatoes, mini dinner rolls, and

baked

chicken breast. He must not have known what I could eat, so he made two options.

The biggest surprise was the dessert–sweet potato casserole.

I really wanted to try the baked chicken breast he made, to see if he’d used the

right

amount of seasoning this time, but my stomach could only handle a bit of the

mashed potatoes.

I sat on the bed while Ethan stood by the window. Neither of us spoke, but it didn’t

feel awkward at all.

Once, we would wake up from a nap in the late afternoon, I’d sit by the window.

playing the guitar, and he’d lie on the bed watching me, not saying a word because

We understood each other so well.

Thankfully, my

stomach cooperated today, and I finished the bowl of mashed

BOOK4 Chapter®

potatoes. I reached for the sweet potato casserole, and he walked over to hand it

to

1. me.

“Thank you.” I said.

“No need to thank me. I should be thanking you for saving Jessica.”

The sweet potato casserole, which was supposed to be sweet, tasted bitter in my

mouth.

After taking a few bites, I finished dinner. I knew he had something to say, but in

the

end, he only managed four words: “Get well soon.” I knew I should’ve said something

polite, like “Congratulations on your wedding,” or “Wishing you a lifetime of

happiness,” but I couldn’t get the words out.

“Thank you. I hope you both… live well.”

Forgive me, but that’s the best blessing I can offer.

Ethan nodded, picked up the insulated container, and left. My eyes followed him

out

the door. As soon as he closed it, I pulled out my IV, dragged my injured leg to the

window, and leaned against it. His figure appeared once more in my sight. I stared

at

his retreating back, trying to etch it into my memory–this would be the last time I

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Light Years Lust: A Love Unclaimed