The blood flowed more and more, quickly soaking the tissue completely, the red color stinging her eyes.
"Aiden Fordham... don’t sleep, I’ll help you up... find a doctor!" Stella Grant’s voice was uncharacteristically fearful.
"Don’t be afraid, it will be better soon." His voice was already sowhat weak, yet he held her tighter.
"I still want... to see the stars for a while longer."
He leaned tiredly on her shoulder, his entire weight pressing down on her.
He hugged her tightly, weakly asking, "Stella, do you have... any more wishes?"
Her trembling voice, filled with a despairing sob, "Aiden Fordham, can you... not die?"
"Okay... I won’t die... don’t cry..."
His breathing was a little weak, his whole body pressing down, almost weighing him down completely.
Stella Grant called out in horror, "Keegan, Keegan."
Keegan Lindsey rushed out from the room.
This night was destined to be very long and sorrowful.
Stella Grant drew another vial of blood, nourishing him in his final monts of life.
The doctor put Aiden Fordham on a breathing machine, Stella Grant stood anxiously by the bedside, and Keegan Lindsey quietly stood outside the room, not leaving a step.
In the middle of the night, snow suddenly began to fall again, the world desolate and withering.
The following morning.
Aiden Fordham opened his eyes, he rely moved his arm, imdiately startling Stella Grant awake.
She leaned down, her voice filled with undisguisable urgency.
"Aiden, I’m here, do you feel any discomfort anywhere?"
He raised his hand, gently yet firmly removing the oxygen mask from his face.
He looked at her, his gaze frighteningly calm.
"I’m fine, don’t worry. I feel much better today."
Stella Grant looked at him, her heart suddenly tightening painfully.
Yes, he did seem much more spirited, his complexion even a bit rosy.
Yet this, felt like the final flare before the end.
Sothing inside her was being pulled, a dull pain aching.
Suddenly, he spoke, "I heard that when it snows, the scenery at Skylake Peak is exceptionally beautiful, accompany to see it."
Skylake Peak, it held too many of their mories, he just wanted to stay in that place.
Stella Grant quickly nodded, tears welling up in her eyes, she bit back the urge to let them fall.
"Alright, I’ll go with you."
Knock, knock.
Keegan Lindsey knocked and entered, holding a brand-new bespoke suit.
He walked to the bedside, his voice steady yet carrying a barely discernible tremor.
"Ma’am, I’d like to help President Fordham freshen up and change clothes."
This was the only thing he could do for him now.
Stella Grant instantly understood his aning, it implied he might never return here again.
She nodded, turned, and walked out.
As the door closed, she leaned against the cold wall, unable to stifle her repressed sobs any longer.
Keegan Lindsey carefully helped him to wash, changed him into clean clothes, and lastly, ticulously shaved the stubble erging on his chin with a razor.
Soon enough, that incomparably handso man was back.
There were no signs of illness on his face, just the sa noble and detached air as always.
Everything was ready; Aiden Fordham suddenly spoke,
"I rember your family is in Borrin."
"After you return, go straight to Borrin to take up the position of general manager at The Fordham Group; from now on, that side will be handed over to you."
Keegan Lindsey’s hand holding the comb paused, his eyes instantly reddening.
"President Fordham, let’s go back together."
He patted Keegan Lindsey’s shoulder, faintly saying, "Let’s go."
Soon, the three of them boarded a helicopter, flying straight towards Skylake Peak.
And as they departed, a pair of spying eyes in the woods below also imdiately drove after them.
The helicopter landed on the helipad of Skylake Peak.
The snow had lessened considerably, but the wind at the mountaintop was strong, slashing across the face like knives.
Keegan Lindsey brought out the wheelchair.
Stella Grant helped Aiden Fordham sit in it, he did not refuse.
She was behind, slowly pushing him, heading towards the hotel by the cliff.
In the snow, they left two deep tracks and a jumble of footprints.
Soon, the freshly fallen snow covered all traces.
The two of them stopped by the cliff’s edge.
Stella Grant gazed into the distance, the entire Mardale draped in silver armor, like a white solitary city, breathtakingly beautiful, with an intrinsic isolation from the world.
Scenes of her and Mr. West ran through her mind like a montage.
She took a thick coat and carefully draped it over his legs, then squatted in front of him.
She looked up at him, her voice gentle yet hoarse.
"It’s really beautiful. The city walls are gone, if only you could see it..."
Yes, the wall that once starkly divided the wealthy district from the poor district was now covered with white snow, transford into a winding white ribbon lying quietly in the city center.
He reached out, holding her cold little hand tightly, his voice so soft it seed like it could flow.
"When spring cos, this city will no longer have a wealthy district and a poor district."
"You will see a peaceful Mardale. From now on, if you want to co again, no one will dare to bully you."
This was his last gift to her.
Yes, half of this city would belong to her.
Previously, Zane Zimrman promised him that if the plan was successful, Mardale would permanently be renad to Astrella.
Half of the treasury’s wealth would be used for the impoverished district, the other half for building a new city.
Her cheek lightly rested on his knee, like a little kitten seeking warmth.
"Thank you, Mr. West."
He gently stroked her long hair, "Tell , when you were studying in F-Country, how did you sneak a peek at ?"
His tone carried a hint of playfulness, deliberately creating a relaxed atmosphere.
She blurted without thinking, "The first ti I saw you was in the auditorium, you were giving a speech on stage."
"Many girls below were frantically taking pictures, chattering about you, all saying how handso you were."
"At that ti, I thought, oh no, there are too many rivals in love, I simply can’t compete. So, I vowed to study hard."
He smiled faintly, "Wanted to conquer with strength?"
"No." she said, "At that ti, I was researching poisonous plants, thinking one day I’d give you so kind of drug to ruin that flamboyant face of yours so you’d stop attracting bees and butterflies everywhere."
"What a little vixen." He laughed, pulling her up to sit on his lap, encircling her in his arms.
She leaned against him, continuing, "The second ti I saw you was in the campus dining hall. A little junior girl, particularly cute, holding a big bunch of roses confessed to you."
"But you rejected her."
"You said, the woman Aiden Fordham fancies hasn’t been born yet. I was beside you at the ti, fuming, how excessive."
He froze for a mont, then deduced her thought, "So, that ti, were you planning to poison silent?"
She laughed in his arms, nodding heavily.
He chuckled, his lips kissing her hair again and again, "Stella, if I had fallen in love with you earlier... how wonderful it would have been."
"Keep talking... I want to hear..."
She continued talking non-stop, while he slowly closed his eyes.
Her words abruptly stopped, her heart skipped a beat.
She clutched his hand tightly, her voice starting to tremble, "Aiden Fordham, don’t sleep, I beg you don’t sleep."
But he no longer responded, his heartbeat had already stopped.
Tears fell like broken beads, dropping onto his cold hand one after another.
She choked up, continuing to speak, as if trying to keep him with her through her voice.
"The third ti, in the auditorium speech, you said... many people make money to buy life, and you hope... to save life through scientific research."
"At that ti... I thought... you were glowing... so I vowed... to research and discover the cancer treatnt formula..."
"D... is remarkable, it... saved... so many people."
She was sobbing uncontrollably.
When God closes all doors, he opens a window for you.
But, where was her window?
She could no longer hold it together, holding him, crying and shouting loudly,
"Aiden Fordham... wake up..."
"I beg you, Aiden Fordham... don’t sleep..."
"I won’t allow... you to die, Aiden Fordham... don’t leave ..."
"Little brother... don’t go..."
Her piercing cries echoed on the cliff, his arm around her slowly slipping away...
Not far away, a helicopter flew over.
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