The ambulance wailed as it arrived. Declan and twenty-eight–year–old Declan frantically jumped in after Ruby. The whole time, his eyes never left her for a second–he didn’t even notice Nina standing pale as a ghost in the crowd.
Nina took a cab to the hospital herself.
In the hospital corridor, Nina watched Declan carrying Ruby toward the operating room.
He pulled out his phone with shaking hands, but his voice was uncompromising: “Dad! My classmate’s hurt–get every top specialist you know to Metro General NOW! I want her to live!”
This familiar scene was like a poisoned knife, viciously stabbing into Nina’s heart and twisting cruelly.
She remembered last year when she’d been in a car accident–Declan had done exactly this, carrying her while running like crazy, demanding to use his own blood for her transfusion despite his own arm bleeding. ready to fight anyone who tried to stop him…
Past sweetness and present cruelty wove together into the sharpest mockery.
Nina couldn’t watch anymore. She turned and left the suffocating hospital, her silhouette staggering and
alone.
Over the next few days, Nina didn’t return to the hospital.
But twenty–eight–year–old Declan’s message bombardment never stopped.
The videos showed Declan by Ruby’s bedside–feeding her, peeling apples, reading her stories.
The photos captured him asleep next to her bed, their hands intertwined in close–up shots.
The intention was crystal clear: make her back down and step aside willingly.
Vina didn’t reply. Her heart had gone completely numb.
Then came prom night.
Declan sent over a beautiful gift box that morning, and inside was a stunning prom dress.
But when Nina came downstairs in her dress, she immediately spotted Ruby standing by Declan’s car, wearing a dress that was strikingly similar to hers in design elements and style, only with more intricate details and obviously higher–quality fabric.
16:54
Boyfriend vs. Future Boyfriend–Pick Your Fighter!
25.094
Chapter 6
Ruby noticed Nina’s stare and timidly explained: “Nina… this dress is from Declan… it looks like… it’s from the same collection as yours…”
Nina’s heart plummeted.
Declan’s face went extremely uncomfortable as he changed the subject and pulled Nina into the car.
In the car, twenty–eight–year–old Declan’s message came at the perfect moment:
[See it now? Ruby’s wearing the designer’s original haute couture. Yours is just the mass–produced companion piece that came free with the real dress. His heart’s already shifting.]
Nina gripped her phone, fingertips ice–cold, the pain now completely numb.
At the ball venue, they needed dance partners to sign in together.
Declan picked up the pen but unconsciously wrote his name and Ruby’s first.
Realizing what he’d done, panic flashed across his face as he quickly explained to Nina: “Sorry, Nina! I… I just wrote automatically… didn’t mean to!”
Then he looked at twenty–eight–year–old Declan and actually said: “Why don’t… you be Nina’s dance partner for sign–in?”
Nina looked at him, suddenly remembering a middle school dance when they’d had a fight and she’d spitefully asked another boy to be her partner. Declan had waited outside her building all night with red–rimmed eyes, begging her forgiveness, swearing she was his only possible dance partner…
Turns out he was the first one to change.
She said nothing, silently walked forward, and signed only her own lonely name on that list.
No partner.
Inside the ballroom, music began.
After hesitating, Declan finally extended his hand to Ruby and led her onto the dance floor.
Twenty–eight–year–old Declan stood at the sidelines, his gaze following Ruby intently, filled with love so thick it could be cut with a knife.
Nina stood alone in the darkest corner, like a forgotten shadow.
At the ball’s climax, fireworks exploded in brilliant colors outside the windows. Everyone rushed to the balcony to watch and make wishes.
26.79
Chapter 6
Nina saw that under the dazzling fireworks, both eighteen–year–old Declan and twenty–eight–year–old Declan were gazing intently at Ruby beside them as she looked up in wonder and delight.
That image seared her eyes.
She quietly backed away, wanting to leave.
“BOOM!”
Suddenly, a massive explosion from overhead! The fireworks scaffolding seemed to malfunction–burning debris rained down on the balcony like fire, instantly igniting curtains and decorations!
The crowd erupted in panic, screaming and crying as they scattered!
“RUBY!” Through the chaos, Nina clearly heard Declan’s shout.
She instinctively looked toward him and saw him grab twenty–eight–year–old Declan’s arm, his face showing unprecedented terror for Ruby’s sake: “What are you standing there for?! GO SAVE RUBY!”
Not being dragged away–it was his choice, immediate and unhesitating, choosing Ruby.
In that moment, Nina’s heart died completely.
The hungry flames and thick smoke rushed toward her. She was knocked down by panicking people, choking and unable to breathe.
Her last thought before losing consciousness was strangely peaceful.
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