Back home, Winter is trying to settle back into her routine, hoping for some peace after her recent adventures. However, the arrival of Karina Yoo, the beautiful VIP investor, stirs up unresolved emotions and echoes from her past. Karina's presence...
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I sat right beside her, the weight of her unresponsive body pressing heavily on my heart. Winter lay there, pale and still, her fragile form a haunting reminder of the chaos that had unfolded. The sterile hospital room, filled with the sterile scent of antiseptic, felt suffocating, as if the very air conspired against me. The rhythmic beep of the heart monitor was a cruel reminder that, though she was stable, she had still suffered a pain I couldn't bear to fathom.
Tears streamed down my cheeks, hot and stinging, as I traced the outline of her fingers, feeling the coolness of her skin beneath my trembling touch. Each droplet that fell felt like an echo of my guilt—sharp and bitter—stabbing at my insides. Why did she take that bullet for me? The question clawed at my mind, relentless and unforgiving. I should have protected her, shielded her from harm, yet I had let her down when she needed me most.
The weight of my failure pressed down like a suffocating blanket. I hated myself for not seeing the danger, for not being quick enough to pull her back. If only I had reacted faster, if only I had been braver. The thought consumed me, wrapping me in a shroud of despair.
Giselle and Ningning hovered nearby, their arms encircling me, whispering soothing words that felt distant and hollow. Outside, I could hear Tiffany's voice rising above the soft murmurs, speaking with Ms. Kim, Winter's mother, whose cries echoed my own anguish. The sound pierced the air, a heart-wrenching symphony of sorrow that mirrored my self-loathing.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jae and Minji were deep in conversation with the doctor, their expressions a mix of concern and determination. I could see the tension in their postures, their hands clenched tightly as they awaited news. All I could think about was the girl lying before me—the one who had been so brave, so selfless, and now lay there as a silent testament to her courage.
I wanted to scream, to lash out at the world for allowing this to happen. I wished I could trade places with her, to bear the pain instead of letting her suffer in silence. Every breath I took felt like a betrayal, and every heartbeat echoed my regret. I longed for the day when I would see her bright smile again, free from the shadows that now cloaked her—free from the burden I had failed to protect her from.
I held her hand tightly, my fingers entwined with hers, as if my grasp could somehow bring her back to me. The warmth of her skin felt like a lifeline in a sea of despair, but the tears kept flowing, each one a reminder of the pain I felt. Why was I crying? Because I was terrified of losing her, terrified of the world that had taken her away from me, even if only for a moment.
I held her hand tightly, my fingers entwined with hers, as if my grasp could somehow bring her back to me. The warmth of her skin felt like a lifeline in a sea of despair, but the tears kept flowing, each one a reminder of the pain I felt. Why was I crying? Because I was terrified of losing her, terrified of the world that had taken her away from me, even if only for a moment.
Suddenly, a soft whisper broke through the fog of my grief. "Why are you crying?" The delicate sound wrapped around my heart, pulling me back from the edge of despair. It was Winter's voice, faint but unmistakable, like a fragile melody in the stillness of the room.
