Ryan immediately pulled his foot back, his expression shifting to one of concern. "Is your heart bothering you again? I'll take you for an exam first."
Without another word, he turned and walked out of the department, his back to me, never sparing me even a glance.
On the other hand, Stacey couldn't resist throwing one last glance over her shoulder.
A smug smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she mouthed:
'Laura, your boyfriend, is really thoughtful.'
The words stung. I felt a sharp ache in my chest, but I couldn't bring myself to look away from him as he walked out, his arm around her.
"Laura, are you okay?" Diana's voice broke through my thoughts as she helped me up. I winced, the sharp pain from my ankle making my stomach flip, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the cold emptiness settling in my heart.
I stood there, watching Ryan's figure disappear down the hallway, and despite all the disappointment, a part of me still couldn't believe it.
He was the man I had loved for ten years.
Ten years...
When I was eighteen, my parents died in a car accident.
Afterward, I struggled with severe claustrophobia. It was darkness that wrapped around me, making it impossible to breathe and to think clearly.
But then, Ryan appeared.
He risked everything to save me that day—jumped into a malfunctioning elevator to pull me out.
I can still remember how he bled from the cuts on his arm, his voice shaky but filled with concern, asking, "You're not hurt, are you?"
From that moment on, he became my light, my rescue, the one who helped me break free from my fears.
Despite Jeremy's warnings, I left the villa to live with him. Ryan was still struggling, barely getting by. He'd stay up late drawing sketches, working toward giving us a better future. Even though most of his designs sold for next to nothing, he was always positive.
"I'll give you a better life, Laura. If I fall in love with someone else, I'll never have a good ending," he promised me once.
Those words still echoed in my mind, and for so long, I believed them. I thought we would grow old together, happy and in love.
But now… now I couldn't help but wonder if it was all just an illusion.
The coldness of the moment snapped me back to reality, and after my ankle was bandaged, I left the hospital, ignoring the doctor's warnings to stay longer. I just wanted to get home, to escape the mess that had become my life.
But when I stepped into the elevator, things took another turn. Just as the doors were about to close, the elevator stopped. The lights flickered and then went out, leaving me in total darkness. Instantly, I felt the familiar pressure in my chest, the tightness that came with my claustrophobia. I couldn't breathe.
Then, the sound of a knock on the door shattered the silence.
"Is anyone in there?"
It was Ryan's voice.
Even though I felt crushed by disappointment, fear gripped me more. I was alone in this elevator and the thought of being stuck there without anyone to help him terrified me.
"Yes, it's me!" I called out, desperate for some kind of reassurance.
Ryan paused, and I could hear him trying to suppress his panic. "Wait for me. I'll get you out of there right away!"
I held onto that small hope. He knew about my claustrophobia. He had to come for me. He wouldn't leave me alone.
But just as that hope flickered, I heard a phone ringing outside.
"Ryan, you need to come quickly. Stacey's feeling really bad. The thunder scared her, and her heart… it's really bothering her."
Stacey's frail voice came through the phone. "Ryan, don't worry about me. I'm fine… Ah, it hurts!"
Hearing her in pain seemed to make Ryan shift instantly. His voice softened, filled with concern. "What nonsense are you talking about? You're not fine!"
I heard it—the unmistakable bias in his tone. And with it, the crushing realization that his focus was no longer on me.
"Laura, wait inside. I've called the security guard. They'll be there to help you soon."
The words stung more than they should have, and just as I tried to steady myself, a thunderclap rattled the elevator.
I froze.
The fear hit me like a wave, and I couldn't hold back the tears. My body went limp, and for the first time in years, I felt completely powerless.
Please don't leave me alone, I thought, but the pride I had worked so hard to hold onto shattered.
"Can you… can you not leave?" My voice came out in a broken whisper. "Please."
Ryan hesitated momentarily, but then the edge returned to his tone. "Laura, be good. Stacey could die if we don't take care of her. You know how serious her heart condition is."
Frustration and helplessness surged within me.
"And what about me?" I finally snapped, the tears flooding my eyes. "Don't you think I might die too, Ryan?"
"You just have claustrophobia. How could you possibly die from being locked in? Why are you being so dramatic?" Ryan snapped, standing up and walking out.
Just claustrophobia... He knew exactly how deep the shadow of my parents' deaths loomed over me. He knew that when I had an attack, it was more than just a panic and could be life-threatening.
I still remember those early days when he never once left my side.
He'd hold me tight in the elevator, whispering over and over again, "Don't be afraid."
But now? Now, I was nothing more than a nuisance, an overdramatic woman in his eyes.
My chest tightened as I fought for air. The walls seemed to close in.
"Go ahead, then. Let's break up," I muttered, barely able to get the words out.
Before I could finish, Ryan cut me off. "Whatever," he said coldly, not even looking back as he left.
