Your Love Came Too Late

During Ember's hospital stay, Atlas came by to ask about her condition, but Spencer dismissed his concerns with perfunctory answers.

"You've seen how she is. If she doesn't cooperate, there's nothing I can do. When she finally decides to take her treatment seriously, she'll recover quickly.

"Once she's abroad, there will be even better specialists to treat her. You can rest easy."

Atlas was torn—angry at her supposed stubbornness, yet secretly pleased by how much she seemed to care for him.

It was clear that he was important to Ember—so important that she was willing to push her body to its limits just to cling to him.

"Ember, wouldn't it be better to accept treatment and recover sooner? Why must you insist on making things worse for yourself?"

But Ember simply asked in a calm voice when she saw him, "Has Mr. Ferguson Senior woken up?"

The brief flicker of compassion Atlas had felt vanished instantly. He scoffed.

"You still have the nerve to ask? If your legs weren't injured right now, I'd drag you over to kneel and apologize to him!"

Ember muttered weakly, "I'm sorry."

Nonetheless, it seemed Atlas either didn't hear her or chose not to.

Soon, Ember's belongings were packed up from the Ferguson residence. The sheer amount made it look as though they were preparing to throw her out completely.

Among the items was a small wooden carving she had once intended to give Atlas for his birthday.

When she'd first arrived at the Ferguson residence, she had been just a young girl, who was unfamiliar with the world around her.

When George was too busy, it was Atlas who accompanied her—to the amusement park, shopping trips, and even movies.

Atlas was kind and attentive back then. He showered her with warmth and care.

She had even started secretly keeping a diary, carefully writing Atlas' name over and over on its pages.

She spent an entire month crafting that wooden carving.

Even when the carving knife accidentally cut her hand, the sharp pain didn't stop her. At that moment, all she thought about was not letting the carving get stained with blood.

But when she arrived at his party on the day of his birthday, brimming with joy, she saw that he had already chosen his date.

It was Kaylee.

She was holding Atlas' arm intimately, and their smiles were glaringly painful in Ember's eyes. Ember felt like she might burst into tears right then and there.

To make it worse, Atlas was entirely oblivious to her feelings. He even brought Kaylee over to her and said, "Ember, this is Kaylee's first time at an event like this. Make sure to take care of her…"

She didn't hear the rest of his words. Overcome with sorrow and anger, she flung Atlas' hand away and ran out.

She was the one who was supposed to stand by Atlas' side. She was his fiancée!

Afterward, she and Atlas had a heated argument. He accused her of being unreasonable.

"Can you stop lashing out at everyone like a mad dog? Don't you feel embarrassed? Kaylee is my friend—can't you show her some respect?"

But Ember had seen it clearly—the way Kaylee looked at him wasn't how a mere friend would.

From that point on, Atlas gradually grew colder toward her. He no longer called her name in the same warm, gentle tone as before.

Her heart would ache every time he addressed her with that impatient tone.

The day she was stranded on the snowy mountain as her life was hanging by a thread, she sat under a tree after dragging her injured legs for miles, consumed by despair.

In the face of death, all her obsessions felt as weightless as a feather.

Suddenly, the ethereal figure of the Moon Goddess appeared before her, dressed in flowing white.

"Ah, it's a human on the brink of death, heartbroken from love. Let's make a deal. I'll let you survive this."

Barely alive, Ember whispered, "What kind of a deal?"

"Give me the most precious thing you have, and you can live."

"I have no parents, no power, no wealth. The most precious thing I have is my love for Atlas. But how can I give that to you?"

Ember let out a bitter laugh, feeling somewhat pitiful.

"Jump from a building six days from now. I will take your love for Atlas and all your memories of him. Then, you'll begin a new life."

Ember closed her eyes as flashes of her past with Atlas played like a montage before her.

"Atlas, I'm letting you go now," she thought to herself.

Finally, she nodded. "I accept."

…

On the sixth day, an employee from the Ferguson residence came to Ember's hospital room to ask if there was anything else she wanted to take with her.

"Ms. Sloane, all the belongings from your room are here. Please check and confirm."

Ember glanced at the pile of items briefly before shaking her head. "There's no need. Throw them all away. I don't need anything."

Atlas came to see her before her departure. Knowing it would be a long time before they met again, a strange discomfort stirred within him.

"While you're abroad for treatment, take the time to reflect and fix your attitude. When you've realized your mistakes and changed, I'll come to bring you back. Do you hear me?"

Ember merely nodded without any emotion. "I understand. I'll change."

Atlas frowned, and his unease grew stronger. This obedient, compliant version of Ember gave him an inexplicable sense of unease.

It was as if, deep down, he knew Ember wasn't supposed to be like this…

At that moment, Kaylee walked in and hooked her arm through his, momentarily breaking his train of thought.

"Ember, are you ready?"

Seeing their intimate posture, Ember smiled faintly. "You two go on ahead. I'll just change my clothes and come out."

Atlas hesitated. There was a flicker of concern flashing through him, but he ultimately allowed Kaylee to guide him out of the room.

A growing sense of dread swirled in his chest.

Why wasn't Ember clinging to him like she used to?

Why wasn't she jealous of him and Kaylee anymore?

Noticing his expression, Kaylee's eyes flashed venomously.

"That wretched Ember. What could she possibly have left to hold his attention? She's already nothing more than a broken shell of her former self, and yet Atlas still cares for her," she thought to herself.

But when she looked up again, her face bloomed into a sweet smile directed at Atlas.

"Atlas, don't worry so much. Your parents have everything arranged. Ember will be well taken care of."

Atlas nodded absentmindedly.

At worst, he could always fly over to check on Ember from time to time. But she mustn't know—otherwise, she'd cling to him just like before with her temperament.

The thought made him unconsciously curl his lips into a small smile.

But the next moment, his peripheral vision caught a figure sitting by the fifth-floor window—a familiar silhouette.

"No…" His pupils dilated as panic surged through him, and his body moved instinctively to rush forward.

But it was too late.

The slender figure plummeted to the ground, and a crimson bloom exploded on the earth below.

"Ember!" he screamed.