The Billionaire Who Saved Me

Ariel winced. Ignoring the pain in his stomach, he tried to stand up. But as soon as his body was lifted slightly from the ground, he fell again.

“Ariel!”

Elice screamed when she saw Ariel’s condition. He looked at her. He tried to speak.

“I-I’m okay.”

Elice shook her head. She knew for sure that Ariel wasn’t okay right now. His condition was truly pitiful. But compared to that, there was something even more pitiful. That was her inability to do anything about it.

“Do you see that, Elice?” Farrah’s voice made Elice turn around. The expression of hatred towards her was clearly overflowing. “Because of you,” Farrah said in a trembling voice. “Ariel dares to defy me. His own mother.”

Elice shook her head. She tried to stand, but her legs felt completely powerless. Not to mention walking, even standing still was difficult for her.

“You are such a troublemaker, Elice. I should have gotten rid of you a long time ago.”

Farrah moved. She approached Teddy with an outstretched hand. The man quickly took Farrah’s command.

Teddy drew his gun. He removed the safety and handed the silenced weapon to Farrah.

Ariel shook her head with a frightened expression. “No. Mom, please. Don’t.”

But Farrah’s steady steps toward Elice seemed unfazed by Ariel’s plea. Ignoring her son’s plea, Farrah stared at Elice without blinking.

Separated by a few feet, a smirk appeared on Farrah’s face. She deliberately did not approach Elice, wanting to add a little sensation to her actions. As if she still wanted to give Elice a chance to escape, but in reality, this hope didn’t really exist.

Elice’s steps stopped. She shook her head in sudden terror, making her body feel cold and almost immovable.

“You must die, Elice. You must die.”

For Farrah, there were many reasons why Elice had to die. So, she didn’t hesitate to raise her hand and point the gun at Elice.

“No,” Ariel shook his head. With all his strength, he forced himself to stand up, trying to prevent Farrah’s action. “No!”

Farrah stayed still. She pulled the trigger and sent the hot lead flying through the air.

But there was something Farrah didn’t expect. Because if she didn’t waver in her desire to shoot Elice, Ariel didn’t waver in his determination to protect her.

A few seconds before the trigger was pulled, Ariel ran. Seizing his last chance, he grabbed Elice as tightly as he could.

Ariel’s body jerked. Farrah screamed loudly. And the force that had made Elice feel suffocated slowly vanished.

“A-Ariel.”

Now it wasn’t Ariel holding onto Elice, but Elice holding onto his body. He collapsed. Powerless. Falling helplessly, bringing both his and Elice to the ground.

“Ariel!”

Farrah wailed. The gun slipped from her hand. She was hysterical as she watched the bullet she had aimed at Elice pierce her own son’s body.

“A-Ariel.”

In Elice’s embrace, Ariel’s body landed weakly. He let the blood flow from the wound and soak Elice’s clothes. His eyes blinked. Trying to ignore the stinging. Forcing himself to smile.

“E-Elice,” Ariel murmured, holding back the pain. “A-Are you okay?”

Elice didn’t know how many times Ariel had asked about her condition. Meanwhile, Ariel? He ignored his own condition in order to save Elice.

Elice nodded. One of her hands cupped his cheek. She looked tearfully at the hot red blood flowing from the corner of his lips.

The blood stained the smile Ariel was trying to give Elice. To turn the fear that had gripped Elice into horror. To present the harsh reality before her.

“W-why, Ariel?” Elice asked stuttering. Unable to hold back her tears fell. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

Ariel blinked once. The pain coursed through his nerves. Making him feel powerless. But when he saw Elice crying, the pain seemed to fade.

Ariel forced himself. For the umpteenth time, he forced himself. To try to raise his hand again. To reach for Elice’s face.

“P-please don’t cry.”

The blood overflowed. It rebelled even more, wetting Ariel’s mouth. Giving off a strong rusty smell that filled the air. Incredibly effective in eliciting Elice’s hysterical cries.

“Ariel! Don’t do it. Don’t say anything. P-please. You have to hold on. I beg you, Ariel.”

But Ariel knew. He seemed to know that this could be his last chance. “I’m sorry, Elice.”

Elice nodded. She took Ariel’s hand to her face and held its fingers.

“I forgive you, Ariel. Please, you must hold on,” she begged.

Ariel smiled weakly. “G-Garrett…” Ariel took a deep breath. It felt heavy. But Elice’s grip gave him some strength. “G-Garrett will come soon. G-Garrett will protect you.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Elice nodded. “Ariel, please.”

“You must be happy.”

Every word Ariel uttered felt like a deep cut, causing unimaginable pain. Perhaps it was more painful than if Elice had felt the hot lead herself. But Ariel?

For himself, Ariel was ready to sacrifice his life. He really proved his words. That he would protect Elice even if it cost him his life.

“Ariel.”

Elice’s sobs became uncontrollable. When she saw the amount of blood coming out, she knew that Ariel was not well. Ariel gave up his life. And all to protect her.

A huge risk. With each passing second, Elice wanted to deny reality. But that’s how fate spoke.

Ariel’s body tensed. His breathing felt labored. And his eyes lost focus.

“Ariel.”

Drop by drop, tears fell on Ariel’s face. It brought Ariel back to consciousness. That there was something he hadn’t been able to say to Elice.

Ariel wanted to say it. How much he still loved Elice. How much he regretted everything that had happened in the past. How much. How much. How much.

But once again, it was fate. So cruel not to give him the chance. Not to allow Ariel to say his words of love. Because in the end, all that was left of Ariel was one thing. A faint smile and eyes that looked at Elice for the last time.

It was a beautiful memory for Ariel. The most beautiful thing to be his last memory. Because in the end he realized something.

In his remaining life, there was a woman he loved beside him. A woman he loved holding his hand. A woman he loved calling his name. A woman he loved who cried for him.

And finally, Ariel wouldn’t forget. How Elice screamed his name with all her sense of loss.

“Ariel!!!”

*