"Why did you save me?! Why did you betray me after I gave you my heart?! Wasn’t I good enough for you?! Why did you want to leave me?!"
"I didn’t care about anything you did! Even when you suddenly started hating me for no reason, I never tried to understand it or dig into it. But what I can’t understand is why you treated me this way!"
"Why was I the last person to find out you liked me?! Why did you betray me?! Why did you hide from me after telling the entire world that you loved me?! Why did you promise to stay by my side, only to leave me behind?!"
Twisted emotions and fury ignited into a blazing inferno that spread throughout his body, burning through flesh and blood alike. All the grievances and resentment he had buried deep inside erupted like a sudden flood.
Seeing him like this, Vivienne Blackwood felt a sharp pain in her heart. She hurriedly tried to explain.
"I... I never wanted any of this to happen. I don’t love you that way. I don’t want to be with you. I’ve always seen you as my closest—and only—friend. I just... I just..."
She never wanted this.
Vivienne had never wanted to hurt him. During all that time, despite hating the storyline that forced her to stay by his side, she knew Adrian was just as innocent as she was. In fact, both he and Mrs. Voss held a special place in her heart.
She had genuinely wished for their happiness.
She had never wanted to hurt them.
She had never wanted any of this.
His emotions were completely out of control.
Adrian Voss stopped listening to her explanation altogether. The raging storm inside him continued assaulting his mind, causing a pain so intense it felt as though he were suffocating.
"If you wanted money, I would’ve given you money. If you wanted fame, I would’ve given you fame. I could’ve given you anything and everything you desired. But why... why did you have to tell me?! Why did you have to fall in love with me?!"
"Why did you tell me?! Why couldn’t you keep it hidden from me?! Why did you have to make me know you liked me?! Why did you have to make me hate you?!"
"Why couldn’t things stay that way forever?! I would’ve given you everything you wanted! Why couldn’t things stay that way forever?! Why did you have to tell me?! Why did you do this to me?! Why?!"
Hatred and indescribable emotions swirled violently within his eyes.
Every ounce of darkness Adrian Voss had buried in his heart for years burst free at once, dragging both of them toward an endless hell.
"I knew nothing. I never even understood why you did it. After that, I couldn’t find out anything about you. I never understood what happened. Then one day, I heard you had been rushed to the hospital and that your life was hanging by a thread."
"When I heard the news in the middle of a negotiation meeting, I lost my mind. For the first time in my life, I humbled myself and begged others. I begged everyone I knew to save you."
"I even prayed to gods I had never believed existed."
"That day, my flight was delayed because of a storm. I kept calling and calling, begging everyone I knew to save you."
"I gathered every resource available for your operation and dragged you back from death’s grasp. For the first time, I regretted leaving you. I regretted being so cold to you. I regretted letting you go so easily. For the first time, I regretted not chaining you to my side."
Fear accumulated in his eyes.
His hands trembled uncontrollably.
His relentless shouting had turned his voice hoarse, and it sounded as though he might choke on his own sobs at any moment.
"But then I realized... you wanted to abandon me."
"You wanted to abandon this entire world."
Vivienne Blackwood froze.
Pain and confusion flashed across her face, but more than anything else, she felt guilty toward him.
"I’m sorry..."
She had thought she survived only because the story wasn’t over yet. The plot still needed her. She had never known what this man had done to keep her alive.
She felt deeply moved.
Ever since losing her parents, she had always been unwanted and alone in this world.
Yet somehow, the male lead of this world remembered her.
He had tried to save her.
Adrian lowered his head.
His eyes turned red, and tears streamed down his face. Barely able to force the words through clenched teeth, he said:
"Vivienne... in that moment, I truly hated you."
"I hated you so much that I wanted to kill you with my own hands."
"I hated you so much that I wanted to fall into hell with you."
Tears poured down her face as well.
The bitter droplets mingled together, making it impossible to tell whose grief they belonged to anymore.
A lump formed in Vivienne’s throat.
All she could manage was a choked whisper.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would hurt you this much. It’s not just guilt... I’m afraid of living this kind of life. I can’t endure it anymore..."
I’m afraid of hurting you.
I’m afraid of losing control of my jealousy again.
I’m afraid of a life worse than death.
I’m afraid of an endless abyss.
It was unbearably painful to live without parents, without family, without freedom.
To be unable to control her own body.
To keep hurting the people closest to her.
"I can’t take it anymore..."
I can’t.
Adrian Voss was stunned.
Strange emotions flooded his mind, bringing with them a dizzying sensation. The world before his eyes began to twist and distort.
His consciousness sank into darkness, intertwining with the demons he had suppressed for so long.
Intertwining with the darkest version of himself.
He could no longer control himself.