Chapter 107: Erica, let’s break up
Upon hearing the news of Ansel’s awakening, Erica immediately left the university and hurried to the hospital to see him. As she stepped into the room, she saw Ansel sitting on the bed, gazing blankly out the window. Unable to contain her emotions, Erica ran over and tightly embraced Ansel.
“Oh, Ansel,” Erica exclaimed, “thank God you’re finally awake.”
With a trembling voice and tears streaming down her face, Erica expressed her overwhelming joy and happiness. Upon witnessing Erica’s emotions, Ansel also experienced a surge of joy and happiness. However, due to recalling the negative words from the doctor, Ansel chose to remain seated calmly, refraining from reciprocating Erica’s heartfelt embrace. Conflicting emotions between his heart and rational mind left Ansel feeling hopeless about everything.
“Ansel, I was so scared when you had the accident. I feared losing you. So, thank you so much for fighting to come back,” Erica said, her voice quivering with emotion.
Ansel’s response was nothing but silence, leaving Erica feeling perplexed. It seemed that Ansel was still preoccupied with his inner world, unaware of Erica’s words and actions.
“Ansel, are you very tired?” Erica broke the embrace, tenderly inquiring as she noticed Ansel’s unresponsiveness.
“Do you need anything?” Erica gently stroked Ansel’s cheek.
Ansel finally looked directly into Erica’s pale face. He could clearly see the worry and exhaustion etched on it, and he knew it was all because of him. Seeing Erica like this pained Ansel deeply. Feelings of guilt, despair, and helplessness surged within him, tormenting his conscience. Since waking up and learning about his condition, Ansel has been contemplating it intensely. He felt compelled to make a cruel decision, one that he believed to be right and necessary. However, Ansel didn’t know where or how to begin or how to make Erica understand and accept his choice.
On the other hand, Erica patiently waited, but Ansel remained unresponsive. His silence left Erica feeling restless and uneasy.
The silence at that moment was truly terrifying.
“Ansel, I have something to tell you.” Erica decided to speak up first. “This is a matter of utmost importance. So, I want you to prepare yourself mentally to listen.”
She was about to disclose significant news to Ansel, something that would undoubtedly bring about a change. However, to avoid raising excessive hope and unfounded expectations, Ansel abruptly interrupted Erica’s intention.
“Erica,” Ansel called out. His gaze at Erica appeared pained and laden with guilt.
“What’s wrong?” Erica asked with a hopeful expression. “Do you need something? Are you thirsty or hungry? Let me get you some water.”
“We should break up.” Ansel’s voice was decisive and unusually firm.
Erica’s face suddenly turned pale at Ansel’s straightforward and heartbreaking statement. She paused in her actions, the glass of water slipping from her hand and shattering on the floor. The sound of it breaking echoed, resembling the sound of someone’s shattered heart. She turned to look at Ansel with a bewildered and stunned expression.
It took a moment for Erica’s brain to process what Ansel had said. She was confused and overwhelmed with a sense of distress.
“Break up…” Erica stuttered as she asked again, “What do you mean, Ansel?”
“I want to call off the engagement. I want us to end this relationship,” Ansel declared with a calm tone, requiring all the courage and pride he had to achieve this.
“Are you joking?” Erica asked with difficulty.
“I am very serious.” Ansel maintained his determination as he spoke.
“Has any injury affected your mind?” Erica continued to ask, “We need to call a doctor to check…”
“Erica, please,” Ansel pleaded, “don’t pretend that you don’t understand what I’m saying.”
Taking a deep breath, Erica tried to control her emotions and asked seriously:
“Why? What is the reason you want us to break up?”
“I just want to break up; please grant me that,” Ansel evaded answering.
“Ansel, I need a valid reason. You have to convince me,” Erica insisted firmly.
“Otherwise, there will be no separation at all. And don’t say meaningless things like you don’t love me anymore or you love someone else.”
Knowing that Erica is stubborn by nature and won’t easily give up without finding a genuine reason, Ansel has no choice but to tell the truth.
“Erica, listen to me,” Ansel began with a strained voice. “My right leg is no longer functional. I have become disabled. I don’t want…”
“So what?” Erica interjected with a casual tone. Erica’s decisive response left Ansel slightly bewildered. It seemed that Erica was not surprised by the news. She either already knew about it or she didn’t find Ansel’s revelation powerful enough to shock her.
“I don’t want to be a burden to you,” Ansel sincerely stated in response to Erica’s question and expectations. “I don’t need your pity either.”
“Are you truly considering ending our relationship based on such a trivial reason?” Erica angrily exclaimed, “Do you even realize how selfish and irresponsible you sound? When have I ever pitied you? What on earth are you thinking, Ansel? How could you doubt my feelings?”
“I know this decision will make you upset and hurt you. But I have made up my mind. So…” Ansel hesitated, trying to justify himself.
“You don’t know anything at all!” Erica angrily shouted. “Have you ever considered how I would feel about your foolish and selfish decision? What do you think of me? What kind of person do you think I am? Do you even realize that I feel belittled and humiliated by you?”
“Erica, I never intended to belittle you. I just don’t want…” Ansel tried to explain, but Erica interrupted him once again.
“Listen carefully, Ansel Brown; if we’re ending this, it will be me who suggests it first. I will be the one leaving you. Not you leaving me. So, give up your foolish idea.”
“I have made my decision. I hope you can understand, Erica,” Ansel firmly stated, his eyes pleading with Erica. “I don’t want to tie your future to someone disabled like me.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t agree.” Erica maintained her position firmly.
“Erica.”
“When I say no, it means no,” Erica asserted firmly. “Don’t say anything more.”
“If that’s the case, I will leave you forever. I will go somewhere without you,” Ansel threatened.
“You wouldn’t dare,” Erica affirmed confidently. She didn’t believe Ansel was cruel enough to follow through with his statement.
“Erica. I have no other choice,” Ansel sincerely said. “You can hate me or despise me; just please leave me.”
“Are you done talking?” Erica asked dismissively, not wanting to hear any more of Ansel’s nonsense.
“Erica, consider it a plea from me. Will you grant me that?” Ansel begged Erica once again.
“No.”
“Erica.”
“I will pretend you never said anything.”
“I have made my decision; I will leave you,” Ansel repeated. “Right now.”
“I won’t allow you to do that,” Erica responded confidently, showing no signs of faltering.
“I will still do it; even if you try every possible way to stop me, it won’t succeed.” Ansel remained resolute until the end.
“I won’t let you escape from me; even if you run to the ends of the earth, I will definitely find you,” Erica declared fiercely. “I will cling to you even after you die.”
“I will continue to find another place, a place where you will never be able to find me. I will even willingly go to hell to escape you,” Ansel retorted defiantly. He didn’t want to give in to Erica. “So, it’s better for you to give up sooner.”
Unable to tolerate Ansel’s stubborn and irrational behavior any longer, Erica swung her hand and delivered a strong slap to his face.
“Have you gone crazy enough? If you’ve gone crazy enough, then quickly regain your sanity for me. Then give me back, Ansel. Give me back my husband.” Erica seethed, grabbing Ansel’s collar in frustration. She shouted, “Return Ansel to me immediately. You’re not the Ansel I know.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
Erica’s intense and explosive reaction caught Ansel off guard. He had thought that by expressing hurtful and cruel words, Erica would be deeply wounded, making it easier for her to accept their breakup. However, he was mistaken. Erica was indeed furious, but her subsequent behavior was completely different from what Ansel had anticipated. To be honest, the unexpected slap from Erica didn’t cause Ansel pain. On the contrary, he felt a strange sense of relief, as if a weight had been partially lifted from his shoulders.
“Erica,” Ansel’s voice suddenly softened, his eyes filled with tender affection as he looked at her. “I am not your future. So please distance yourself from me and seek new happiness for yourself. Will you consider granting my wish?”
Tears rolled down Ansel’s cheeks as he felt deep sorrow at the thought of letting Erica go. However, he knew that there was no other option. His future appeared bleak and uncertain, and he didn’t want Erica to suffer because of him. He believed that Erica deserved to find complete happiness in her own way.