Ch.9-The Throbbing Heart

Aaron mutters to himself, " should I tell Kate about what happened?"

Later on, …

Aaron headed to the place where Kate was waiting for him, just as they had agreed.

Kate eagerly " and he said that?"

Aaron: "yes." 

Kate lowers her gaze: "okay...He is not convinced, what should we do now?"

Aaron after hesitation: "Kate, I have a plan... But I don't know if it will work." 

Kate suddenly stands up; her eyes are glowing with enthusiasm:

Kate: "really?" What is it Come on, tell me quickly!"

She grabs Aaron by the arm and sits him down:

Kate: "don't procrastinate, say it now!"

Aaron smiles:"the plan is..."

He whispered something in her ear, and her eyes widened in surprise

Kate enthusiastically: "great! Let's start implementing it now¡"

Aaron: "not now. If we do it now, Eric might know that we planned this. Tomorrow... tomorrow we do it."

The next day…

One of the servants turns to Eric.

The servant: "Sir Eric, this is a message that has reached you."

Eric takes it hesitantly: "a letter?" Well... I'll see what's in it."

Opening the letter, his eyes pass over the words quickly…

Eric whispers: "My God... impossible!"

He quickly ran towards the Palace, climbed the stairs with quick steps, his heart beating like a battle drum. He reached the door of the Amber Room and began to knock hard.

Eric with a troubled voice: "Amber! Amber, open the door!"

No answer. He pushed the door... The room was empty. 

He searched frantically—under the bed, behind the curtains—but found no trace of her.

Rushing out, he collided with Aaron in the hallway.

Eric breathing heavily:"Aaron! Did you see Amber "

Aaron:" No why What Happened?"

Eric:" She sent a letter… do you know where she is?" Where can I find hir?"

Aaron surprised:

"A letter? What letter?"

Eric hands him the paper:"This one!"

Aaron read it quickly, and his eyes widened.

Aaron: "This… this is because of you! I told you to talk to her, to resolve things between you two but you chose to turn away!"

Eric clutching the letter, his voice trembling :"That doesn't matter now… what matters is finding her!"

Aaron:"Alright, let's search together !"

The two dashed through the estate like a storm. They checked the rooms, the garden, the corridors, the servants' quarters—even the old cellar—but there was no sign of Amber.

Eric panting:"Where could she be?!"

Aaron thinking hard:"Maybe… she went to the last place you two met?"

Eric suddenly recalling:"No… no, she went to the river… she always goes there when she's upset. Let's go—now!"

They ran out of the manor. A carriage was already waiting at the gate.

By the riverbank, Amber sat in silence.

Tears welled in her eyes as she stared into the flowing water.

The sound of the river seemed to whisper comfort her.

Her fingers fidgeted nervously with a small piece of paper.

Kate stood behind her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

Kate softly: "Stay here… I'll be right back."

She walked away to a nearby tree, hiding behind it as she anxiously watched the river.

Kate thinking: "Aaron should be here soon… with Eric, just like we planned."

Flashback – The night before

In Kate's room, she read the letter aloud, her voice shaking:

Kate reading the letter: "From Amber:

Our relationship was like a long road…

And now, when I thought I had reached the end, you weren't there.

How can you ask me to forget everything we've been through?

I can't go back anymore…

I'd rather end my life than losing you.

It will all end where it began.

I love you,

Amber."

Kate worried:"Do you really think this will work? I'm scared… What if Eric don't believe it?"

Aaron with confident: "It's a suicide note. Even if he doesn't believe it, he won't ignore it.

And if he does… then he never deserved Amber's tears."

Back to the present

Kate, still behind the tree, whispered:

Kate: "I just… want Amber to be happy, truly…

I'll be heartbroken if Eric doesn't take this seriously…"

Inside the carriage – on the way to the river

Aaron glanced at Eric, clearly concerned.

Aaron: "Well… he believed it. But he looks seriously worried. I feel guilty for lying. Should I tell him? Or just let it go?" 

He tried to break the silence.

Aaron: "Eric… how do you know for sure that Amber would be at the river?"

Eric didn't answer, his eyes locked on the road.

Aaron repeating:

"Hey, Eric? Are you listening?"

Eric finally turned to him, his voice raspy, as if the air had grown too heavy to breathe.

Eric: "I made a mistake… I never should've treated her that way…"

Aaron looked at him in disbelief, gasping quietly when he saw a tear fall down Eric's cheek.

Eric yanked off his glasses and wiped his face with a trembling hand.

Eric shouting at the driver: "Can you go faster? Please!"

Aaron to himself, watching Eric: "Oh God… he's really crying.

I feel terrible now…"

At the riverbank, Amber stood near the edge, staring at the rushing water with eyes full of sorrow.

A single tear fell down her cheek. She wiped it quickly, as if denying its presence.

With a deep sigh, she turned to glance around.

Amber to herself: "Kate's taking too long…"

Her eyes landed on a small flower, growing alone near the muddy edge of the river.

She stepped closer, gazing at it with a tender sadness, as though the flower mirrored her loneliness.

She reached out toward it—just one step forward, but…

Eric shouting:

"Amber! Nooooo!"

That voice—full of fear and love.

He sprinted toward her with everything he had.

Before she could take another step, he grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.

Amber stood frozen, more stunned by the suddenness than anything else.

Her wide eyes trembled in disbelief.

Eric crying, holding her tightly:

"Please… don't leave me… I'm sorry… for everything…

I love you. I won't give up on you. Please… don't go…"

They both collapsed into tears.

Eric gently wiped her cheeks with his shaking fingers, whispering:

Eric:"No more tears… I won't let you cry again.

I'll be here. Always. I promise."

Amber voice cracking:

"Eric… don't ever leave me…"

Eric looking deep into her eyes: "Never… I won't."

Behind the tree, Aaron and Kate watched the scene unfold.

Both of them wore bittersweet smiles, eyes shimmering.

Kate wiping away a tear: "Yes… we did it."

Aaron softly, thoughtful:

"Love… it really is a beautiful thing."

Kate turned to him, curious at the tone in his voice.

Kate: "You say that like… you're in love with someone?"

Their eyes met for a few seconds.

Then Aaron smiled faintly.

Aaron: "Yes… I do love someone in this world."

Kate's face flushed red.

Kate stammering: "R-Really? You have a… a lover?"

Aaron chuckled softly and said,

"Yes, I have."

Kate was stunned by what he had just said,

and whispered to herself,

"A girlfriend… he has a girlfriend?"