A Journey from Bitterness to Truth

Chapter 23

In the silence of the hospital room, Matilda’s eyes flickered open, greeted by a blur of dim light that gradually cleared into a coherent world.

She took in her surroundings until the door creaked open, and a figure walked in, snapping her back to reality.

Yvan stood at the threshold, his expression a twisted tapestry of emotions that flickered across his face before dying in the depths of his dark eyes.

Matilda stared numbly at him, wordless. She had imagined countless scenarios for a reunion with an old flame–the world was cruelly small, and those you’ve loved deeply had a way of resurfacing. But never had she envisioned Yvan standing before her like this.

In a manner so brutally final, he thrust her back into the abyss of despair.

Sensing her silence meant she had no desire to speak, Yvan cleared his throat awkwardly from the doorway. “You’re awake.”

Matilda gave him a frosty glance, remaining silent.

He stepped forward, lifting her chin with a firm grip, and as he met her sc

unexpected pang of pain twisted in his chest.

game with me?” he sneered, a cold smile playing on his lips. “Matida, I should’ve ended you five years ago. The fact that you’re still breathing is a stroke of luck on

your part.”

“Oh, how generous of you to spare

feel wronged?” Yvan’s mocking tone matched hers.

Matilda’s eyes narrowed, her frailty masked by the lethal sharpness

Yvan felt

strip color from the world. “Yan shouldn’t I be thanking you? You shattered my life five years

excuse are you trying to scrape

laughter was maniacal a sign of someone with nothing left to lose, backed into a comer. She shouted at him. “Ivan, just answer me this–if Rachel’s death had nothing to do with me, will you ever be able to settle the debt you owe me in this lifetime?”

strike Yvan like a physical blow as his grip loosened, and he stumbled back incredulous. “What did

hate you anymore. I think you’re pitiful enough that it doesn’t matter whether

once filled her eyes for him was replaced

bitterly in response, his rage making him all the more striking a man with the

his flame only

Just five years in