Chapter 187 The Key
TESSA
I turned to him and also expected it. Back then, when he transnted Ena’s heart into me, everything happened so quickly, and there was so much left unsaid.
A lot of questions crowded my mind. I was sure he had a lot he wanted to ask me, too, but neither of us had the chance.
So, I stood. He mirrored the motion, and we walked a bit further away from the house, out of Ingrid’s earshot. The air grew quieter the farther we put between ourselves and the little cabin. When we reached a clearing just beyond the treeline, he let out a deep sigh.
“How are you?” he asked finally.
I pressed my lips together. There was a time when I had resented him bitterly for giving me Ena’s heart That resentment had lived in my chest along with her heartbeat, every thump a reminder that my survival came at her expense.
I had thought of him as cruel, careless even, for deciding so quickly, for letting her die so I could live. <b>But </b>time had softened that anger, and living had forced me to realize that I couldn’t waste this gift resenting the hands that gave it to me.
In the end, I was thankful for the life I had right now.
So I smiled softly at him, even though it felt strange on my lips. The gesture caught him off guard, surprise seen in his eyes.
“Better,” I answered. “Thankfully.”
The tension in his shoulders eased, and he allowed himself a small smile, too.
“That’s good to hear,” he said. “I always thought about you. You’re a special patient to me. I wasn’t sure of your well–being for a long time.”
I nodded slowly, acknowledging his words. “Things turned out for the better.”
I hesitated then, ncing away before drawing in a breath. “Now that everything is like this, can I ask you a question?”
He inclined his head, a signal for me to continue.
“Why did you let Ena transfer her heart to me?”
He looked away for a moment. When he finally spoke, his words were blunt but not unkind.
“Her lungs were affected,” he said. “It was a lost cause, honestly<i>. </i>She would have died even then.”
“So… she at least wanted to give you her heart,” he continued. “It was like that. So, it’s not your fault she died. She would have died anyway.”
A long breath escaped me. My gaze tilted upward to the heavens above the treeline. All this time<b>, </b>I’d
Chapter 187 The Key
wondered if Ena should be the one walking this earth instead of me and if her heart belonged to a life better lived. But now, I could believe she had a choice and it wasn’t just chance or crucity.
I felt lighter.
“You seem stronger,” he said suddenly, his voice drawing me back down from the sky
I lowered my gaze to him again. “Hmm?” I hummed, unsure what he meant.
That was when I noticed the way his brows drew together, deep lines creasing with concern. His eyes lingered on me too intently.
Why was he looking at me like that?
“I had a hunch before,” he said quietly, almost reluctantly.
“But I didn’t think it would be right.”
The words scraped against my thoughts, leaving me–staggering in a ce between confusion and fear.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Ben bit his lip, his gaze dipping down, lingering right at the spot where my heart beat inside my chest.
“Ena ude,” he said softly. “I believed she was special when I treated her. She shouldn’t have survived the impact because it was where your car fell, but she survived multiple days, even before the transnt. That isn’t normal.”
Her name sent a chill down my spine, though I couldn’t ce why. I folded my arms to shield myself. I didn’t understand what he was getting at.
I frowned. “What are you talking about?”
He shook his head slightly. “She must have been unawakened,” he continued, his voice quickening. “But then-”
Suddenly, he gasped, eyes widening, as though a revtion had just gripped him. His hand trembled as <i>he </i>gestured faintly toward me. “But with her heart in you, it was awakened.”
– The words mmed into me. “What are you talking about?” I eximed, louder this time, snapping him out of his rant. My pulse was racing, pounding so hard it almost drowned out my voice. “I don’t understand!”
He looked at me, but his expression didn’t soften. Instead, it grew darker. “It might be better if you don’t understand,” he murmured. “I wouldn’t have said this to you, but I felt it right away, too. The moment I saw you with that child.”
“Your child,” he added.
I felt my blood run cold.
He still looked crazy, like he wasn’t entirely here with me. My stomach dropped. “Ca?” <b>I </b><b>asked </b>quickly. “What about her? What about my child?”
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Everything else could shatter, but not this. I could endure every betrayal, every wound, every star life left on me<i>–</i>but not if something threatened Ca.
“What about her?” I repeated.
Ben looked at me with eyes full of something I couldn’t decipher. “Your child is going to be the key She
My heart hammered so violently I thought I might copse.
“Answer me!” I snapped. “What do you mean, the key? What are you saying about Ca?<i>” </i>
I stepped toward him, trembling, my entire body on edge, begging for rity while fearing the truth he seemed so close to revealing.
But before the words could leave his mouth, a voice cut through the air.
“Benjamin!”
We both whipped our heads around to see Ingrid, her figure stiff in the doorway.
Ben froze. His eyes widened, guilt written all over his face.,
Ingrid’s disapproving gaze locked on him, her lips pressed in a thin line. She strode forward with brisk steps, her eyes never leaving Ben. Then, without hesitation, she reached for his arm and tugged him away from me, like a mother pulling back a reckless child.
“Our business here is done,” she said firmly.
“What?” I blurted, but Ingrid didn’t falter.
“We won’t be having formal goodbyes.”
“Send our regards to Edith and Winston.”
And with that, she pulled Ben with her, ignoring his wide–eyed look.
I stood there, my entire body stiff, the words “your child is going to be the key” still ringing in my ears.
What did he mean? The key to what?
I couldn’tprehend. My thoughts were a mess of terror and denial. I couldn’t lose Ca. I couldn’t even imagine her being part of something dangerous or strange.
Why would Ben say something like that? What did he see?
My breath shook, and I didn’t even notice when my feet began moving again. Somehow, I managed to drag myself to Ronnie’s room, though my mind was still caught in Ben’s words.
When I pushed open the door, gasped.
Ronnie was lying there, his chest rising and falling slowly. Peacefully. His face, though pale, no longer looked strained. And when I looked closer, I saw something I hadn’t dared hope for–his <b>eyes</b><b>. </b>Though they were closed, the strange, unnatural cloud that had gripped them earlier <b>was </b>gone. His <b>lids </b><b>were </b><b>shut </b>gently, like any other man at rest.
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He wasn’t awake, but he was… normal.
I pressed a hand to my lips, holding back a tremor of relief, but the unease lingered, refusing to let <b>me </b><b>go </b>
“What is happening?” I whispered to the still air.