MTLNOVEL Chapter 357: Who are you?
Arwen stared at him for a moment.
His expression looked so sincere that no one could doubt his words or intention until they have solid evidence against him.
But still …
She neither could bring herself to believe him nor his words.
Yet, even if she didn't trust him, there was something she did want to know.
Or, rather say, there was something that she wanted to confirm.
"Fine," she said, her voice calm yet unwavering. "Then, tell me … That night when you came there to save Delyth, did you really didn't regret leaving me there to die?"
Her eyes studied his face, watching his expression, all so minutely.
Ryan felt his chest tighten.
He looked at her as if searching her gaze, hoping —praying —that she would believe him.
But Arwen's expression remained so unreadable. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't decipher what she was thinking while asking him that.
And since he couldn't tell, he assumed the worst. Worst that she resented him —hated him for not saving her that day.
"I am sorry," he apologized first, his voice thick with guilt and remorse. "That night, I shouldn't have ignored you. I shouldn't have left you behind. But trust me, I had no idea that you were struck there. Delyth said that you have already called an ambulance, so I thought … I thought you would be fine there."
"Fine?" Arwen repeated, incredulity clear in her voice. "Really, Ryan? How can I be fine inside that wrecked car? Did you not know that cars often explode after an accident like that? If that had happened, I would have died that night. And —"
"I am sorry. I really am, Arwen," Ryan interrupted, unable to bear hearing her say it. The more she spoke, the more suffocated he felt by his own guilt. "That night I shouldn't have believed Delyth. I should have gone to check on you myself. Maybe if I had, you wouldn't hate me as much as you do now."
"But at that time, I hadn't realized my feelings for you," he added, not realizing that he was simply trying to justify himself. "I was only thinking of the promise I made to Zeke. Delyth said she had hurt her leg, and her leg was important, so I —concerned for her —brought her to the hospital first. It was later that I found out it wasn't even serious. It was just a minor sprain."
"And sprain couldn't kill someone," Arwen added sarcastically, shaking her head at him.
"Arwen, I —"
"You still haven't answered my question, Ryan," she cut him off, her tone cold and direct. Her eyes still looking at him as if she was waiting to hear him continue.
He blinked in confusion.
Hadn't he just answered it?
He had explained everything that had happened that night —what else was she asking?
Seeing him confused like that, Arwen repeated her question from earlier. "I didn't ask you what happened that night," she paused, letting the weight of her words settle. "I asked if you regretted leaving me there to die."
Ryan stared at her, his mind racing.
He didn't understand what she was pressing him on this, but since she had clarified, he didn't hesitate before answering.
"Of course, I did" he said, his voice firm. "I regret it every night. Since the day I found out the truth, I have regretted it every single day. For weeks, I couldn't sleep. In my nightmares, I relived that night again and again. It was torturous. I —"
"Then what would you do," Arwen interrupted, cutting through his words like a blade, "if I told you that it wasn't an accident in the first place?"
Ryan's breath hitched. He froze. Staring at her, his entire expression shifted —just for a fraction of a second —but it was enough.
Arwen had been watching him closely. And in that fleeting moment, she saw it.
She got the confirmation she needed.
A soft laugh escaped her lips, one laced with bitter amusement.
"So … I don't actually need to tell you, do I?" she said, her voice laced with irony.
Her laughter sent a chill through Ryan's spine.
"You have known this already."
"Arwen, I —"
"You knew Delyth was behind it," she continued, her voice eerily calm. "Yet you chose to side with her, hide away her crimes and erase all the traces that could lead anyone to her. And now, here you are, confessing your love to me?"
She tilted her head slightly, looking at hum as if he were some strange, pitiful creature. Isn't your kind of love a bit … weird, Ryan?"
"Arwen, I —" Ryan felt difficult to explain. "It's not what you think. I promised Zeke to look after Delyth after him. I am just doing what I promised him. Delyth did something wrong and she is already suffering a lot. Can you please forgive her for me?"
"For you?" Arwen raised her brows at him. "Who are you? And what gave you the confidence that I will forgive someone heinous, criminal act just because you say so?"
"Arwen, Zeke —"
"Neither I have anything to do with you, not I know anyone called Zeke," Arwen snapped, "So there is no way I would let go Delyth on your or his accord. So, don't expect it. I am not kind enough to let go the person who tried to kill me. Since she dared to do something that vicious, she would have known the consequences that could befall on her."
At that moment, Arwen's gaze was sharp and Ryan knew she wasn't just saying it for a say. She meant every word she said.
"Arwen, I knew what Delyth did was wrong, but she is already suffering. She is already —"
"Wait," Arwen raised a finger, pausing him in his words. "What does her suffering as to do with me. It's not like I caused her to suffer whatever she is going through. Don't guilt trip me for something I am not at all guilty."
With that, she was ready to pull out her phone and make a call when, Ryan spoke up, halting her.
"She is not the only one guilty in your accident, Arwen."