QT: ME AND THE DEVIL, WALKING SIDE BY SIDE. [BL]

Death is an important concept to keep in mind because everyone will eventually pass away. Death can sometimes be a pathway to liberation, whether you're ready or not. Free from disease, free from deceit, free from your cheating lover, free from relatives who loved you only because they could afford to, and free from the mistakes you have committed in the past. And once more, it knocked on his door.

A 41-year-old man was laying in a hospital bed; His blue hair, which had formerly been long, was now falling out and his once-ocean blue eyes were starting to fade. The young man's long eyelashes slapped together as he read a novel tightly to kill time and get over his ennui.

He happened to catch one of the dry cleaners reading and asked for the book. Why did he do it?

It could have been because he was facing the potential that this would be his last day on Earth following the surgery, or he saw it as an opportunity to start a new chapter in his life.

As memories of the past flooded his head, he became panicked since he had never expected this turn of events to happen to him. But something happened.

FLASH BACK

"So, Lora, you've been unfaithful to me for a long time, and on top of that, you have a son that I was unaware of? Why? Furthermore, it states here that, like me, you are HIV positive. Why did you withhold your HIV status from me?" Neil's voice was thin, nearly inaudible.

"I… I didn't know it will end up this way, so I tried my best. But trust me Neil I can change, give me another chance to make it up to, and I won't fuck around again." Lora went down on her knees begging as crocodile tears poured out from her.

"I can't believe you have the audacity to ask for a third chance, and I just found out that you are only marrying me for the money." He shoved her away from him, appalled by her deceitful intentions.

"Nothing else, and I want nothing to do with you anymore. It is best if we don't see each other. Do not worry about the press. I'll take care of everything; now leave." He ordered as he waited for her to leave..

Instead of leaving, she jumped up and started laughing, "Tomorrow you will be the one thrown out of your house." She mentioned this before departing.

The following day, what she said became public, and the internet was flooded with news that claimed Neil's life.

TWIT NEWS

## Neil Foster, the former CEO of Evergreen Industries, pushed his fiancée into having unprotected intercourse with him despite being HIV-positive. This heinous crime not only jeopardized her health, but also violated her rights and individuality. Neil Foster's acts constitute a blatant abuse of power and violation of trust. It is critical to hold people like him accountable for their detrimental actions and guarantee that justice is served. Such behavior is abhorrent and should be strongly criticized.##

##Neil Foster abandoned his child and drove his fiancée out of their home after infecting her with HIV. He callously pressured her to have an abortion twice, and she sadly complied with his demands the first time. Fortunately, she refused to do so a second time. Now, he is attempting to evict her and move on to another victim. Justice must prevail.##

Neil was shocked to learn that he had been ousted as the CEO. "There must be some error," he muttered to himself. However, more troubling information began to surface.

He was shocked to the core when he discovered that his family was behind this, he knew why.

Before his grandparents passed away, they had given him 100% share of their company, leaving nothing for his brother and parents. This caused a rift between him and his family.

He was puzzled as to why his family was supporting her. He sighed and tried to compose himself, even though his body was in pain. He gently rubbed his chest, feeling the hurt.

Just then, his phone rang, and he quickly answered it.

[We are severing all partnerships with you. Look at how you have disgraced the name of your grandparents' company. What they worked so hard for…]

Neil's heart shattered into a million pieces as he slammed the phone down and watched it crash to the ground. A cry of pure anguish escaped his lips, echoing the depths of his despair. The world seemed to close in on him, suffocating him with its relentless judgment and cruelty. He was drowning in a sea of self-loathing, his soul torn apart by the betrayal of his own heart.

The pain was excruciating, a constant reminder of his own vulnerability and naivety. How could he have been so blind, so foolish to trust so completely?

The truth of his HIV-positive status hit him like a ton of bricks, crushing his spirit and leaving him utterly alone in his suffering. His once-promising business now lay in ruins, his reputation tarnished beyond repair.

Every breath he took felt like a struggle, a battle against the overwhelming weight of his mistakes. His business partners and customers abandoned him, leaving him isolated and broken.

All because he had dared to love, to believe in the possibility of a future with someone who never truly cared for him. The realization that his love had been nothing but a cruel deception tore at his soul, leaving him adrift in a sea of sorrow and regret.

"You are nothing but a brat, a useless fool," his father's words kept echoing in his head, finding him disgusting and weak.

His phone rang on the ground, but he ignored it as he was not ready to answer any calls. However, the phone kept ringing persistently, so he eventually picked it up from the floor and answered the call.

Unknown: Hello, brother.

"Are you Dante?" he asked, surprised to see the unknown caller ID.

Dante: Yes, it's me. Surprised you recognized my voice, little brother hehe.

"Why did you call?

Dante: Listen up, I feel it's only fair to clue you in on this little secret, because you definitely need to be in the loop.

He said with a sly grin, over the phone.

Neil cleared his throat, preparing himself for the worst. He knew that whatever he had to say was bad news, but he had grown accustomed to it.

Dante: Do you want to know who the father of Lora's child is, the one she has given birth to and the one still inside her stomach?

No words came out from Neil's lips, he was biting on it before he let out a sigh. He had nothing to hold on, and he wasn't the type to show his weakness.

It had all been a cruel game of chess, and his own brother had emerged victorious. The truth about the father of her child had been revealed, and with a heavy heart, he ended the call.

Gently touching his chest, he collapsed to the ground in despair.

FLASHBACK END.

All he had desired was to cherish the remaining time with his future wife, despite battling heart cancer. His heart had been weakened by the preexisting condition of cardiomyopathy, which he had managed for years. The persistent strain on his heart muscle had created an ideal environment for cancer cells to thrive.

His parents were aware of his condition but continued to make his life miserable until his grandparents intervened and took him under their care. He had been grappling with this illness for a long time, and that particular day proved to be the breaking point, leading to his hospitalization.

Spending six days in the hospital, he found solace in the novel he was engrossed in. The news of Lora moving on had reached him, but he was still unable to let go. The pain in his heart lingered, causing him immense sorrow.

Why does he have to be the one to suffer such a fate, why does it have to be him?

He did nothing but pour his heart out in love and devotion to her. Yet, all he got in return was a cruel betrayal.

It felt like a dagger through his heart, a betrayal so deep that it felt like she had pushed him off a towering 20-story building, leaving him shattered on the ground, devoid of the love and happiness she once bestowed upon him.

He couldn't fathom that it was all a facade, but the question lingered - why him? Why did he have to endure such pain and heartbreak?

Betrayal was something he never saw coming, tears cascaded down his cheeks as he tried to wipe them away with the hospital bed sheet. "Who said a man shouldn't cry?" he chuckled bitterly. Clutching his chest, he couldn't shake off the haunting echo of the voice in his head.

"The tumor is situated in the septum, which is the wall of tissues between the heart's chambers. It is a cardiac sarcoma, an uncommon and aggressive type of heart cancer."

When he inquired about its origin, the doctor hesitated before responding. He clarified that the weakened immune system due to HIV had facilitated the development of the cancer.

Neil's mind was overwhelmed as he pondered the situation. If she hadn't cheated, he wouldn't have contracted HIV. Perhaps he wouldn't be dealing with this now. The news wasn't devastating until he learned that the children were not his but his brother's, which caused his heartache to intensify.

The stress and emotional turmoil exacerbated his condition, complicating treatment. However, Neil, known for his stubbornness, opted for surgery.

"Why don't I read this novel again?" he said to himself, smiling.

"Aren't we both naive and foolish, Prince Owen, sacrificing yourself for parents who only taunted you because you aren't suited to be the crown prince."

~ppft~

He laughed loudly as he continued reading, "You ended up dead trying to kill your sister's future husband, saving her ass. I guess you must have loved her too much, hence it's a pity they sent you on a suicide mission. But then again, if I were him, would I be able to make such a sacrifice again?"

He sighed as he muttered, "The answer is no. It's already late; I better prepare for tomorrow."

Meanwhile, In the dim corners of the hospital, a tall creature with piercing black eyes and wild blue hair peered out the window, his gaze fixed on Neil's room.

"He touched the book, but I don't think he's worthy," a sweet voice whispered to the tall creature.

"It's time. You should stay and guide him if you wish the best for the master," the creature said to the delicate fairy with butterfly-like wings. "We can't let this information reach anyone's ears."

The creature warned menacingly, causing the fairy to nod in fear. It returned to Neil's window. "For now, it's best to lock up some of your memories," it said before vanishing into thin air, leaving the little fairy alone.