Ethan stood up, and Sienna eagerly followed suit, excited for what she thought would be the most spectacular moment of the evening. But everything she had imagined didn’t unfold.
"Sienna, I’ll take Ellie and leave. You two carry on."
Everyone froze, including Elena.
She, too, had thought the ‘Celestia's Crown’ was for Sienna. Her emotions went on a rollercoaster ride, and she quickly hurried to follow Ethan.
Confused, she wondered why he would spend such an extravagant amount if the crown wasn’t meant for Sienna.
"It’s for you."
Elena was stunned, speechless. Then, it hit her—was this the affection she had traded her life for?
Had Ethan finally begun to develop feelings for her?
"Huh?"
"You wanted it, didn’t you? You’ve been eyeing it for quite a while. You never even look at things you don’t like."
Ethan knew Elena so well. Her likes and dislikes were always clear, just like how she didn’t like Sienna and would never pretend otherwise in front of him.
Elena’s heart churned with a storm of emotions. All she had ever wanted was a bit of Ethan’s affection, even if it was just out of pity.
"Ethan, aren’t you worried Sienna will be upset?"
"Nah, she won’t be."
The next day, Elena understood why Ethan was so confident that Sienna wouldn’t be upset.
After they left, Ethan had ordered the delivery of the "Tears of the Immortal Heart," a symbol of lifelong companionship. It was rumored that when a man gives this to a woman, it signifies a lifetime together.
Elena felt as if she had been struck, but soon, she let it go. It had always been like this, hadn’t it?
The most precious things were always reserved for Sienna.
Elena received a call from the hospital, urging her to return quickly for her surgery.
Elena gave up and requested the hospital to keep her condition strictly confidential.
Even if the treatment succeeded, the survival rate would only extend her life by a few years. To her, trading those few years for one month of peace was worth it.
After hanging up the phone, Elena turned to see Ethan approaching from behind. He noticed her anxious expression, and an inexplicable unease stirred in his heart.
“Who were you calling? Why are you so flustered?” he asked.
“Oh, don't worry about it.” Elena hurried to follow him as she saw he was about to leave.
Ever since Ethan was discharged from the hospital, she had been like his shadow, never leaving his side.