Love Me or Crash the Spaceship—He Chose the Latter! - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

I woke up in a hospital room with both Marina and Preston standing by the bed.
Preston stared at me expressionlessly, his lips pressed into a thin line.
"Sage, how are you feeling?" Marina looked guilty as hell. "The doctor said you have a mild concussion. It's all because Preston was so worried about me that he didn't catch you in time."
My gaze involuntarily fell on their intertwined fingers, and my heart felt like it was being pricked with needles.
So I really had pushed him away.
Pushed him to another woman's arm.
I forced a smile:
"I'm fine. As long as you two are happy."
Preston suddenly sneered: "You got your wish. Marina's the bride today."
"Yeah, congrats." I stared down at the corner of the blanket, my throat tight.
This was already good enough.
Everyone was alive—wasn't this the best possible ending?
I took a deep breath and forced my brightest smile: "You should go. You'll be late for the wedding."
Preston's expression turned frighteningly dark.
He jabbed the call button and told the nurse coldly: "Remove her IV."
"You're coming too," he said through gritted teeth. "If you hadn't so generously stepped aside, how could Marina and I have gotten back together?"
A sudden sharp pain shot through my chest.
I couldn't tell if I still loved him, but watching the man I'd loved for three years marry someone else—I didn't think I could handle it.
I shrank back in panic:
"I'm still dizzy. Maybe I shouldn't go."
Preston pressed his lips together, his gaze heavy as it locked onto me.
I understood what he meant.
This wasn't up for discussion. I had to go.
I turned away, refusing clearly: "I'm not going."
But Marina suddenly grabbed my hand, tears streaming down her face:
"Sage, I really want you to witness our happiness. But if you really don't want to come, then forget it..."
"I'll go!" I quickly cut her off. "Marina, don't be sad. I just want you to be safe."
Before I could finish speaking, Preston had already scooped me up in his arms.
"You just woke up. You can't walk yet."
Then he frowned as he looked me over. "Sage Sinclair, did you hit your head too hard, or did you suddenly turn gay... and fall for Marina?"
"Neither." I met his gaze calmly. "I just don't want what doesn't belong to me."
His pupils contracted sharply, and he forced a bitter smile: "Good. Very good."
I suddenly remembered the day I first met him.
Sunlight streamed through the coffee shop window as he stared at me in a daze, saying those exact same words: "Good. Very good."
Then came his crazy pursuit.
Roses delivered at dawn, his figure waiting late into the night, and the way he looked at me with eyes so tender they could melt water.
I'd always thought our connection was destined, love at first sight.
Only now did I understand—from the very beginning, he was never really looking at me. He was just seeing another woman through my face.
"Mm." I responded softly, my voice a bit choked.
So be it.
He could finally get what he'd always wanted, spending his life with his beloved.
And I—I just wanted to live peacefully to old age.
In the dressing room, I watched Marina put on my wedding dress and apply exquisite makeup. Finally feeling at peace, I took my seat among the wedding guests.
"This is a special surprise we arranged."
Facing the confused looks from both sets of parents, I smiled and explained, "Just wait and see."
Preston walked onto the stage amid applause.
But five minutes passed, Marina still hadn't appeared.
My heart suddenly clenched tight!
I looked anxiously toward Preston on stage, only to see him smiling slightly as he strode over and swept me up onto the stage.
He gently placed the veil on my head and sighed helplessly:
"Sage, when I said we'd switch brides, I was just talking out of anger. I never thought you'd actually be able to watch me marry someone else."
"Marina and I ended things long ago. From beginning to end, you're the only one in my heart..."
I cut him off sharply, my voice ice-cold: "Where's Marina?"
Preston suddenly let out that helpless laugh.
That laugh that made my skin crawl!
Terror instantly overwhelmed me.
I ripped off the veil and slapped him hard: "Preston Ashford! I asked you where Marina is!"
He froze for a moment, then gently pulled me into his arms:
"Sage, I sent her away. Today is our wedding. Let's not talk about her, okay?"
"Shut up!"
"Stop pretending, Preston!" I struggled desperately to escape his embrace, my voice shaking: "She's already dead, isn't she? She jumped from the ninety-ninth floor? Next you're gonna drag everyone down with her, right?!"
Preston's face changed dramatically:
"What jumping? What dragging people down? Sage, what the hell are you talking about?"
The next second, his phone rang.
"Mr. Ashford," the voice on the other end was clearly audible, "Marina Delacroix has died by suicide, jumping from a building. Your name was mentioned in her suicide note. Please come to the police station immediately for questioning."
Preston's face instantly drained of all color.
I snapped back to reality and grabbed my parents, rushing toward the exit.
As long as we stayed away from Preston, we still had a chance!!
"BOOM!"
In the deafening explosion, I instinctively looked back.
The last thing I saw was Preston's equally terrified face.
This time, it wasn't him!