He Asked How to Compensate Me While I Was Dying Chapter 09

He Asked How to Compensate Me While I Was Dying Chapter 09

Even after six months, hearing those words made 

my skin crawl. 

I shoved Grant away and gave him a cold smile. 

“And then what? Am I supposed to be moved? 

Should I pity you, excuse you, and return to that 

hell so you can lie and cheat again?” “Grant, 

whatever love I had died under your hands. I will 

never humiliate myself for you again.” 

“Do you have any idea what those five years did to me? Every time I closed my eyes, I saw what you arranged.” “I tried to die eleven times. My body was destroyed, and my mind nearly went with it. I finally escaped you, so what gives you the right to follow me here?” 

“I am precious to someone too. I was never unwanted. Did you honestly think one apology would erase everything? Which one of us has lost touch with reality?” 

My whole body shook with anger, and I bit my lip until it hurt. 

Anyone who betrayed a love that sincere deserved to live with every ounce of the pain they had 

caused. 

Grant’s face turned white. With no defense left, he 

dropped to his knees. 

“Arden, I’m sorry. I was cruel and selfish, but I 

understand now. Give me one more chance, and I 

swear I will never hurt you again.” 

I pulled away from his reaching hand. 

“How many times have you sworn that to me? 

Your promises mean less than noise.” “If your love 

is as profound as you claim, then endure my 

eleven suicide attempts and eleven ICU 

admissions yourself. Don’t kneel here, slap your 

own face a few times, and pretend that settles the 

debt.” 

I turned to my parents, who wore the same pleading, humbled expressions. 

“You say Mallory misled you. No. You understood exactly what you were doing.” “The Bennett 

family’s influence mattered more than either daughter. Whichever one of us could secure Grant’s loyalty became your precious child.” 

“People like you have no right to call yourselves 

parents.” 

They shook their heads through tears. “That isn’t true, Arden. We love you. Please believe us once 

more.” 

“Who are you, and why are you surrounding my daughter?” 

Elaine had returned from her walk and found them 

at the door. 

She swung the grocery bag in her hand, forcing 

Grant and the Bennetts back, then planted herself 

between us. 

At the sight of Robert Foster behind her, my 

biological parents seemed to lose the last of their 

strength. 

Wesley Hart stepped forward beside Robert and 

faced Grant. 

“Anything involving Arden involves me. She said she doesn’t want to see you. What part of that 

was unclear?” 

Grant stared at him. “Arden, who is this?” 

I took Wesley’s hand and laced our fingers together. “My fiancé. We’re getting married at the end of the year. Now will you leave?” 

“Grant, if you ever threaten this life, I’ll expose far more than those photographs and recordings. The 

consequences will be much worse.” 

I had never lacked a temper. I had simply loved 

him enough to compromise again and again. 

If Grant tried to interfere, I would make the truth so 

public that none of them could contain the 

damage. 

At last, he walked away with his head lowered. 

My biological parents followed in silence, looking 

hollow. 

When I told Robert, Elaine, and Wesley what had 

happened in the alternate world, they looked at me 

with nothing but love and grief for what I had 

survived. 

On my wedding day, the System appeared for the 

first time in months. 

[Host, Grant was the central character of that 

world. His self–destruction destabilized its story, and the entire alternate world has collapsed. Everyone in it is gone.] 

I nodded without emotion, raised my champagne glass with Wesley, and smiled at the guests who filled the room. 

The nightmare was over. 

This was the life I had finally awakened to.