The Red Rose of Manhattan Chapter 22

The celebration party after the awards was held at the festival's official hotel.

Not until midnight did Lily and Ryan, surrounded by assistants and security, finally head toward the underground parking garage, both tired.

Just as they reached their car, a shadow stumbled out from behind a pillar, blocking their path.

It was Ethan.

He looked worse than on TV—suit wrinkled, tie askew, eyes terrifyingly bloodshot, reeking of alcohol and desperate despair.

He stared at Lily, voice hoarse as a broken bellows:

"Lily... congratulations..."

He stepped forward, almost pleading: "Let's talk... just five minutes... no, three minutes! Give me one more chance... one last time! Please... without you... I really... can't go on living..."

Ryan immediately moved Lily behind him, looking at Ethan coldly, his tone warning: "Ethan! Look at yourself! Get a grip! Lily is with me now. She's happy! Please stop disrupting her life!"

"Happy?" Ethan seemed stung by the word, head snapping up, eyes crazed as he looked at Ryan. "What right do you have to give her happiness?! What do you know about her?! Do you know she steals blankets in winter? That she can't handle spice but loves it, always drinking ice water after? That she..."

"Enough!" Lily cut him off, stepping out from behind Ryan, looking calmly at Ethan. Her eyes held no hate, no resentment—only deep exhaustion and a trace of pity. "Ethan Frost, don't bring up the past. We're long over."

"Not over! How can we be over!" Ethan tried to grab her arm but was blocked by Ryan.

As they argued, no one noticed a black sedan at the parking garage entrance—driver apparently drunk or vehicle malfunctioning—suddenly accelerating wildly like a runaway horse, careening crookedly straight toward them!

"LOOK OUT!"

Ryan reacted first, shouting, instinctively moving to shield Lily completely!

But someone was faster!

Almost from some instinct carved into his soul, before anyone could react, Ethan used every ounce of strength to violently shove Lily—standing in the most exposed position—out of harm's way!

The force sent Lily crying out, falling into Ryan's arms!

And he himself, from the recoil, stood completely exposed in front of the out-of-control vehicle!

"CRASH!"

A dull, horrifying impact echoed through the empty parking garage!

Ethan's body flew through the air like a kite with cut strings, then crashed heavily onto the cold concrete several meters away! Blood immediately spread from beneath him, staining the ground...

Time seemed to freeze in that moment.

Lily, held tight in Ryan's arms, stared at the horrific scene in shock, her heart seeming to stop!

She could even clearly see that in the instant he flew through the air, Ethan's gaze toward her held—

No fear, no regret, only a kind of almost relieved, complex emotion, as if saying: "See... this time... I saved you first..."

"Ethan!" Ryan reacted first, holding the trembling Lily while shouting at rushing guards and hotel security. "Call an ambulance! Quick!!"

The scene descended into chaos.

Lily stared at that motionless figure lying in blood, face deathly pale, body shaking uncontrollably. Though she no longer loved him, though there was so much resentment, watching a living person possibly die before her eyes because he'd saved her...

The impact left her unable to stay completely calm.

Ryan felt her trembling, holding her tighter, his warm palm stroking her back, voice low and powerful: "Don't be scared, Lily. It'll be okay. The ambulance is coming... It'll be okay..."

His voice was like solid shelter, giving her something to hold onto.

The operating room lights stayed on all night.

Lily and Ryan kept vigil outside on a corridor bench.

Ryan never let go of her hand, silently giving her strength. Lily leaned against the chair back, eyes closed, long lashes trembling slightly, revealing her inner turmoil.

At dawn, the operating room doors finally opened. A exhausted doctor emerged, informing them that Ethan's injuries were extremely severe—multiple fractures, internal bleeding—but after aggressive treatment, he'd temporarily escaped life-threatening danger, now transferred to ICU for observation, though not yet out of the woods, requiring close monitoring.

Lily exhaled in relief but still felt heavy.

After another day and night outside the ICU, Ethan's vital signs gradually stabilized. He was moved to a regular room but remained critically weak.

Ryan accompanied Lily to see him.

The room smelled of disinfectant. Ethan lay in the white hospital bed, tubes everywhere, face pale as paper, frighteningly thin. Only his deep eyes, seeing her enter, suddenly lit with faint light, like a drowning man grasping the last piece of driftwood.

His lips moved, producing an extremely weak sound: "Lily..."

Ryan patted Lily's shoulder, indicating he'd wait outside, then considerately closed the door, leaving them alone.

Lily walked to the bedside, sat in the chair, looking at him calmly.

"The doctor says you're temporarily out of danger." She spoke, tone flat.