A week later, Ethan showed up at the hospital again, looking grim.
I just smiled at him.
“What’s with the face? Something major happen?”
He said, his voice low:
“Ella, Noah tracked you down in Paris.”
My fingers froze, but I kept editing lyrics on my tablet.
“Whatever.”
Ethan set down the food he’d brought.
“I saw him downstairs when I got here.”
“Security had him blocked, but he was causing a huge scene.”
I glanced up, looking out the window.
Downstairs, Noah was there, wearing a wrinkled suit, holding a sign that said:
“Ella, please, I just need to see you.”
A crowd had already gathered, snapping pics.
My eyes narrowed in annoyance.
“He’s trying to force my hand.”
Ethan frowned.
“Want me to take care of it?”
I shook
my
head.
“Nah, I got this.”
“He won’t quit until he sees me.”
“Can you watch my mom for me?”
I got up and went downstairs. The moment I pushed open the hospital doors, Noah snapped his head up, his eyes instantly red.
“Ella!”
He rushed forward, trying to hug me. I stepped back, staring at him coldly.
“Don’t come any closer!”
He froze, his voice trembling:
“I’m so sorry, Ella. I swear I know I messed up.”
“I can explain about Lily. I took that song down. I—”
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“Noah.”
I cut him off.
“Are you here because you love me, or because… your new album needs tracks?”
I stared straight at him. His face went stark white.
A bitter laugh escaped me.
I should have known.
Back when we were struggling to make it, my lyrics were the ones that blew up first.
A lot of people started noticing him because of my words.
I’d publicly declared back then that I only wrote lyrics for him.
More and more people started wondering why I was so dedicated, which brought him even more attention.
Now, I’d publicly stated I wouldn’t write for him anymore, and his career had tanked.
Halfway through his new album’s production, the producer pulled out.
“Without Ella’s lyrics, your songs have no soul.”
His fans started bailing in droves.
[So Noah’s just a singer? Ella’s the real talent.]
[No wonder he’s scrambling to win her back. Guess he’s terrified of crashing and burning.]
[And I thought he actually loved her. Turns out he was just using her the whole time!]
Noah’s trembling hand shot out, grabbing mine.
“No… Ella, I really do love you…”
I yanked my hand away, a cold laugh escaping me.
“Love? You’ve only ever loved one person: yourself.”
“You knew how much that song meant to me, and you just handed it over to Lily.”
“You knew my mom’s medical bills couldn’t wait, but you forgot all about them for one dinner with Lily.”
“Noah, your love? It’s cheap, it’s pathetic.”
He froze in place, tears splashing onto the floor.
“I really, truly regret it.”
I turned my back on him.
“Noah, we’ve been through so much, for so many years.”
“I don’t doubt you had some genuine feelings for me, once. Those happy moments? They felt real.”
“Truth is, feelings shift. Lily showed up, and you were instantly hooked.”
10-20
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“If it wasn’t Lily, it’d just be another girl. Someone else would always pop up.”
“You couldn’t let them go, but you couldn’t give me up either.”
“Bottom line? You just wanted everyone to revolve around you. That’s it.”
“I was with you through the absolute worst. But some people can only handle the struggle, never the good times.”
“That’s us.”
“Go. Don’t ever come back.”
I turned to leave. Heard his footsteps pounding after me.
“Don’t come any closer. I’ve said all there is to say.”
“Eight years. I don’t want to make this uglier than it already is.”
And then I walked away.
He just stood there. Then he collapsed to his knees, utterly broken, screaming my name.
But I didn’t turn back.
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8

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.