It had been three long days since Luna and Alex last spoke. No calls, no messages. Luna's heart felt like it was being torn apart, but she still clung to hope that he would come back to her.
On the fourth night, Alex sat in Elsa's clinic. His head rested weakly on the wooden table, his breath uneven. Elsa's hand gently stroked his hair, trying to give him strength.
"Alex," Elsa whispered, her voice trembling, "I'm trying so hard… but it's not working. You're at the end point. We can only try one last thing—the forbidden procedure. It's not allowed in hospitals. If it goes wrong, you might lose your life even sooner… but it's the only desperate chance we have."
Alex closed his eyes, the pain in his skull throbbing. Elsa's words pierced his heart.
"You have… only two months left, Alex," Elsa finally said. "Two months. I will give my everything—I will never allow you to lose your life without a fight."
Alex nodded faintly. After a few minutes, he tried to sip water, but a sharp headache made him wince. Elsa quickly handed him medicine.
Then Elsa asked the question she feared most:
"What about Luna? She deserves to know."
Alex's voice was hoarse but firm. "No. We are not telling her anything. I have a plan. You just… have to pretend we're kissing. Just pretending. That way, she'll believe I betrayed her."
Elsa's eyes widened. "Alex… you're like my younger brother. I can't—"
"Please," Alex cut her off. His eyes were desperate, broken. "Elsa, I saw what losing Nick did to her. She was on the verge of suicide. If she finds out about my tumor, she won't survive it. I'd rather let her hate me than let her die with me."
Elsa's throat tightened. Tears pricked her eyes, but she forced a smile and whispered, "You care for her so much, Alex. Too much."
After some time, she brought him dinner. Alex ate slowly, silently. When he was about to leave, Elsa stopped him with a small smile.
"Alex, I have a surprise."
He raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Elsa lifted her hand, revealing a ring. "I'm getting married. Jake proposed. He's a good man, Alex. I want you to meet him."
Alex's tired face softened into a genuine smile. "Congratulations, Elsa. I'm happy for you."
But then her smile faded. "I need a favor… My parents don't approve of Jake. They won't attend the wedding. I have no family member to walk me down the aisle. Will you… will you do that for me? As my little brother?"
Alex's eyes glistened. "Of course. I'll do it."
As Alex prepared to leave, he opened his phone, checking his CCTV camera connected to his house. His heart sank.
Outside the gate… stood Luna.
Her hair was messy, her face pale, her voice trembling as she begged:
"Please, Alex… open the door. Tell me what I did wrong. Just talk to me… please."
Alex had already ordered his servants not to open the door if Luna came. And so, she stood there, helpless, broken, knocking and crying.
Elsa placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Alex. She doesn't know this address. She won't find us here."
But Alex couldn't look away from the screen. His chest tightened painfully. "She's beautiful, isn't she?" he whispered, his voice cracking.
Elsa smiled sadly. "Yes. She is."
When Elsa finally left, Alex remained frozen, staring at the CCTV footage of Luna, whispering her name.
Meanwhile, outside Alex's home, Luna kept knocking until her voice gave out. Tears soaked her cheeks.
"Please, Alex… tell me what I did… why are you avoiding me? Please."
Morning came. When Alex checked the CCTV again, his heart nearly shattered. Luna had fallen asleep on the ground outside his gate, curled up like a lost child.
Her hopelessness tore him apart. But still—he did nothing.
When he checked his phone, he saw 754 unread texts and 80 missed calls from her. He didn't answer even one.
Desperate, Luna decided to go to Alex's office. Her stomach empty for days, she pushed herself through weakness. But when she arrived, the secretary told her:
"Mr. Alex hasn't come to the office for two weeks."
Luna's eyes widened. "Two… weeks?"
She ran from place to place—the apartment where they once worked together, the plots they planned—but there was no sign of him. Finally, she returned to his office, begging the secretary for any information.
But Alex had already called with strict orders:
"Give no information about me to anyone. Especially to a girl named Luna Watson… or a boy named Nicholas Feren."
So the secretary bowed her head and refused.
"Please," Luna begged, her voice breaking. "I just want to know if he's okay. Please."
But the secretary obeyed Alex's command.
Hopeless, broken, Luna stumbled into the streets. Her vision blurred. Her body gave up—she fainted.
By fate's grace, Nick's car came rushing down that road. He saw her collapse and slammed the brakes.
"Luna!" he cried, running to her side. Without hesitation, he carried her in his arms and rushed her to his home.
He laid her on his bed gently, then prepared food for her.
When Luna finally opened her eyes, Nick stood by her side.
"Why did you faint, Luna?" he asked, worried.
She forced a weak smile. "I… I didn't eat breakfast. That's all."
Nick frowned. "No. It's because of Alex, isn't it? He's hurting you. Maybe he's cheating—"
Before he could finish, Luna slapped him. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Don't you dare say that. Alex would never cheat on me. He's not like Adarsh. He would never betray me."
Nick's chest tightened with guilt. He lowered his eyes. "I'm sorry, Luna. Maybe he's just… in some trouble. I shouldn't have said that."
He left the room to bring her something to eat.
But in his mind, a dangerous thought flickered—an opportunity. If Alex is gone… maybe Luna could be mine.
When he returned with snacks, he found Luna staring at a picture of Alex, whispering softly through tears:
"Where are you, Alex? I'm trying to reach you again and again. Please… I'm ready to sacrifice everything for you. Everyone… just come back to me."
Nick froze. Her words pierced his heart.
She would even sacrifice me… for him.
And in that moment, he realized: Luna would always belong to Alex, and Alex would always belong to Luna. No one could ever come between them.
So Nick let go of that selfish thought.
They ate together in silence, Nick trying to lighten the mood with silly jokes. Luna gave him faint smiles, but her eyes were still filled with pain.
Nick, being a skilled racer, was soon called by his club for an important event. And far away, Alex… was planning something.
Something big.
Something dangerous.
Something that would change everything.