I was in shock from the slap, and before I could regroup to chase after him, the phone with the cracked screen on the ground started ringing. It was Remy calling, "Emerson, have you found Noe?"

"The doctors say Alanna might not make it. Please come back quickly!"

Hearing this, I sank to the ground, feeling utterly powerless. If only Noe had come back to the hospital with me, Alanna might have had a fighting chance. But Noe was so resolute in his decision to leave. Mustering all the strength I could, I shouted into the distance, "Noe! If you don't come to the hospital today, you'll regret it for the rest of your life!"

There was no reply from him, so all I could do was drive back to the hospital. In Alanna's hospital room, her face was pale, and she reached out her trembling hand, asking for me.

"Emerson...where's my brother?"

I quickly took her hand, my voice thick with emotion. "I'm sorry, Alanna. I couldn't bring your brother back..."

Alanna gave a faint smile, "It's not your fault, Emerson."

"It's my brother who didn't know what he had... You've been through so much."

At this, I couldn't hold back my tears any longer and held her, weeping. She gently patted me, her voice weakening.

"I've left something for you on my phone, Emerson."

"If you decide to split up, I support you..."

As she finished speaking, Alanna took her last breath.

"Alanna!"

Remy broke down in tears, nearly fainting as the nurse, Ivanna, helped him away. Dr. Julien and Ivanna both came in to console me, offering their sympathies. I sat in the hospital room, overwhelmed with grief and despair.

Just yesterday, Alanna was talking about how nervous she was about the engagement party. We had even planned a family trip for the weekend. I couldn't accept that Alanna was gone.

It was only when Ivanna called me to get up after a long time that I forced myself to gather some energy. I had intended to call Noe to discuss Alanna's funeral arrangements. But then I saw a post Linda had made just half an hour earlier on Facebook. It was a photo of her and Noe, snuggled up together, enjoying the view, looking so close. In that moment, I felt utterly disillusioned with Noe.

I stared blankly as the nurse moved Alanna's body away, hoping she'd have a long, healthy life in the next. Then I sent Noe a message: "Let's get a divorce."

There was no reply to my messages.

It wasn't until the next morning that Noe finally responded, and it was as cold as ever: "Agree."

His expected indifference was almost laughable. Alanna's body was still in the morgue, and Noe was her only family. Just as I was about to message him to ask what to do next, he called.

"Is Alanna with you?"

"Don't forget her engagement party today!" Noe's tone was commanding, as if nothing tragic had happened yesterday.

He must have tried calling Alanna this morning and, not reaching her, decided to contact me. Even though I had sent him the details of her death certificate, he didn't believe me. The thought of it left me feeling completely drained.

Just as I was about to hang up, Noe continued, "I might be a bit late getting back from the Alps. Go ahead and greet the guests at the party."

The engagement party was scheduled for three in the afternoon. Despite having taken the day off, Noe chose to extend his hiking trip, treating even his sister's engagement party as an afterthought.

I remained silent, listening in quiet resignation.

"Are you listening?"

His impatience began to seep through the phone. "Make sure to remind Alanna, okay? She's not taking my calls. I hope she hasn't overslept."

After a full day and night without food, my voice was too hoarse to respond. My body and mind were utterly depleted.

Feeling completely powerless, I replied, "Come to the hospital and talk to her yourself."

I sent him the location and turned off my phone.

After resting briefly, I began organizing Alanna's belongings in the hospital room. Her backpack held a bouquet and a speech for the engagement party, which was supposed to be a joyous event but had turned into a tragedy.

Alanna was three years younger than Noe. The two had relied on each other since childhood. When their parents died in a car accident, Alanna protected Noe from fatal harm with her own body. That year was the hardest for Noe, losing his parents and having his sister critically injured and in a coma. When Alanna finally pulled through, he promised to study medicine so he could provide her with the best care.

And yet here he was, choosing to hike with Linda instead of accepting the possibility that something could have happened to his sister. He was neglecting even the faint chance of Alanna's survival.

The thought brought fresh tears to my eyes. I mourned for Alanna's lost future and was chilled by Noe's heartlessness.

My eyes fell on Alanna's phone, left on the table. Remembering her last words, I picked it up and unlocked it, finding myself on a paused recording page.

Just as I was about to play it, the door to the hospital room swung open with a bang, startling me into dropping the phone.