Third Person’s POV
Agatha thought she would no longer reminisce the time she spent together with Mikhail. Because she already moved on. But that was a false alarm. She can vividly recall the good memories she had with him:
“Hey. You got the ice cream all over your mouth,” Mikhail chuckled upon seeing her face as she ate her ice cream.
Agatha took a step back. "That's so corny."
Mikhail squinted his eyes and pouted. "Is it bad to be romantic? I'm your boyfriend, so it's normal." He stuck out his tongue and playfully teased, "Bleh~"
Finding him adorable, Agatha smiled and gently touched his cheek. "Do you really love me that much?"
Without hesitation, he nodded and said, "Hmm. A lot."
She rested her head on his shoulder and continued enjoying her ice cream. "How much do you love me?"
"Hmmmm," he paused for a moment, then replied, "A whole lot. Just like me. I'm BIG."
"Ugh! Ugh!" Agatha's face turned red as she coughed after choking.
He opened a bottle of water for her and chuckled, "Hey, what's going on in that mind of yours? Are you having naughty thoughts?"
She took a sip of the water and acted innocent. "What are you talking about? I'm not thinking about anything."
"Seriously?" Mikhail shook his head in disbelief. He tousled her hair and said, "I love you."
"I love you too," she responded, resting her head on his shoulder.
"I love you so much that I would even die for you."
Agatha appreciated his declaration of love but didn't like the last part. She turned to him, giving him a stern look. "No. Don't die. Even if we were to break up, which I doubt, please don't die."
Mikhail just chuckled.
"But if you ever cheated on me, I would personally kill you."
"Cheating? Come on. That will never happen." He playfully pinched her cheeks.
"But I'm serious," she said, her expression turning serious. "Don't sacrifice yourself for me."
Agatha had made it abundantly clear beforehand.
Mikhail shouldn't sacrifice his life just to protect her.
So why?
Why did he jump in to shield her?
Agatha closed her eyes.
Now, she sat on the bench outside the operating room. Her gaze fixed on the empty space, while her bloodied hands continued to tremble.
Lanceil had just finished speaking with the police who apprehended the car responsible for the attempted murder. After giving his statement, he glanced at the girl who had been silent since Mikhail was taken into the operating room.
Letting out a sigh, he approached her and sat down beside her. Agatha didn't notice him. If she did, she didn't have the time to process all the information flooding her senses.
Just like Agatha, Lanceil couldn't believe that Mikhail would do such a thing. However, when he recalled what Mikhail had told him on the night they met at the party, everything started to make sense.
"Mikhail," Lanceil uttered.
Agatha turned her head slowly to face him.
"He was the one who spilled the beans. He claimed to be your boyfriend and said he ended things because of your failed business."
Her fists clenched as she listened intently.
"But you know what? That guy..." Lanceil's expression soured. Without glancing back, he confessed, "He still loves you."
Agatha was well aware of that fact. Mikhail didn't need to go to extreme lengths to prove his love. She bit her lip, holding back the tears threatening to escape.
"He broke up with you because he found out that his father betrayed yours. That's what caused your business to crumble. Mikhail felt so guilty that he... doesn't know how to face you."
Lanceil's voice cracked in the middle of his explanation. He could empathize with Mikhail's emotions. They were both sons of sinners.
"But when he discovered his father's plan to harm you, he revealed everything to me. He asked me to expose the truth because he didn't want you to suffer."
He turned around and was shocked to see her eyes filled with tears.
"Why are you telling me all this?" she replied. "I don't need to hear it from you. Mikhail should be the one to say it. I'll wait for him to explain everything. I'm sure he will. Right?" She nodded firmly. "Mikhail will be the one to tell me. He will."
Lanceil bit his lip, unsure of what to do next.
Suddenly, the door to the operating room swung open. The doctor emerged and approached them.
Agatha quickly composed herself, despite her trembling knees. Lanceil stood up and stood behind her.
"H-How is he? Is he okay now? Mikhail made it, right?" she fired off questions at the doctor.
The doctor's gaze shifted to Lanceil before letting out a heavy sigh. Lanceil could read the outcome from the doctor's face.
Lowering his mask, the doctor uttered the most heartbreaking words that echoed through the hospital, "I gave it my all."
Those words pierced her heart like a dagger. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried to compose herself with a forced smile.
“R-Right. You did your best so he’s alive. Mikhail is alive and just taking a rest. He's in the process of recovering," Agatha stuttered.
"I'm sorry," the doctor whispered, lowering his head.
"No," Agatha cried, shaking her head vigorously. "No. No! That can't be true! He's not dead!" Tears streamed down her face as she dropped to her knees, clutching her chest. "Mikhail! Why?! Why?! No! Please!"
Her loud cries reverberated through the hospital's white walls, causing everyone who passed by to pause and glance at the distraught woman. Among them was Lawrence.
Taking a deep breath, Lawrence stood at a distance, observing her sobbing on the ground.
Lanceil watched her too, fighting back his own tears. He longed to embrace her, but he couldn't bring himself to do so. Even in this moment, he didn't feel worthy of comforting her.
Understanding the potential outcome, Lawrence slowly approached her side. Lanceil turned his head towards him, remaining silent.
"No way, Mikhail! He's not gone! He can't just leave us!" Agatha yelled out in despair.
Lawrence knelt down beside her, trying to offer some solace.
As soon as Agatha caught sight of him, she rambled on, "Mikhail can't be gone. There's so much left unsaid between us. I haven't even had the chance to apologize. Why would he leave now? It's too much to bear... It hurts so bad..." She clutched her chest, feeling the constant ache.
Lawrence slowly reached out his hand, gently pulling her into his embrace, holding Agatha tightly. Like Lanceil, he struggled to find the right words to comfort her. But unlike him, he had the privilege of letting Agatha cry on his shoulder.
He held onto the trembling woman, who could only utter the name of Mikhail in her anguish.