Chapter 26
Allen finally understood the determination behind Claire’s departure. For the first time, he realized he was powerless to bridge the growing distance between them. It felt as though an insurmountable mountain now stood between them, making it impossible for him to take even one step closer to her.
“Drinking alone? Want me to keep you company?” Frank patted Allen on the shoulder. He had actually arrived some time ago. While fearing that Allen and Claire might reconcile, he was also worried about Allen. Although both of them had always been flawless in their decisions since childhood, emotions were never something that could be feigned.
“Our mentor always warned you not to be too
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self–centered, Frank remarked with a touch of humor. “He said it would eventually cost you dearly. Turns out, he was right.”
In the past, Allen would have immediately retorted. But now, all he could do was take a deep swig of his drink in silence.
“You’ve fallen for Claire, haven’t you?”
Allen’s sudden question caught Frank off guard, plunging him into silence. He didn’t know how to respond. In the end, he could only shake his head gently. “So what if I have feelings for her? She could never accept anyone else anymore.”
That night, just before leaving the country, Frank had confessed his feelings to Claire, but she rejected him.
“I’m sorry, Frank, right now I just want to
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focus on being a doctor. I don’t want to think about personal relationships”
At that moment, Frank hadn’t fully understood. Now, he realized that Claire had been deeply hurt.
Irritated, Frank grabbed the bottle of liquor from Allen’s hands. “Allen, you’re such a bastard. A girl as good as her loves you, and not only do you take her for granted, you leave her scarred!”
Suddenly, Frank swung his fist, landing a hard punch squarely on Allen’s face.
Allen didn’t even flinch or attempt to dodge.
“You’re right,” he admitted bitterly. “I’m a bastard. I lost the person I loved most in this world.”
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But why? Why did she stop loving him? They had been so deeply in love. How could she suddenly claim it was all gone?
For the next three days, Allen lingered at the camp.
However, Claire made it painfully clear that she was avoiding him. Anywhere Allen showed up, she made sure to steer clear, no matter what excuse she had to make. And with calls constantly coming in from the hospital for a major surgery that urgently needed his participation, Allen had no choice but to leave.
Before he left, he cornered Claire in her dorm. “I’m getting ready to leave.”
Claire, who had been feeling down, immediately felt a sense of relief and even a bit of eagerness. “Safe travels.”
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Allen bent down, though he knew Claire would be glad he was leaving. He didn’t expect that there wouldn’t even be a single word to make him stay.
He had always believed that he could win Claire back, but now it seemed like that chance was slipping further and further away.
Just as Allen stood there, mouth open, unsure of what to say, a shout came from outside the door.
“Run! Go to the escape tunnel!” Frank suddenly shouted. Afterward, a deafening rumble sounded. The building shook uncontrollably, starting to collapse. Some areas erupted with flames.
Frank burst through the door, handing the
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last two escape descent devices to Claire and Allen. “The building’s collapsing. There’s a rope outside. Hurry, get out!”
“What about you?” Claire anxiously asked.
“I have my ways!” Frank answered.
“No! If we’re going, we go together, she insisted.
Ignoring her, Frank turned to Allen. “Allen, take Claire and leave! Don’t let her stay here and cause trouble!”
Claire was pushed by Allen and Frank to use the descent device to escape.
When there was only one descent device left, Frank strapped it onto Allen.