Love Unbreakable by Bank Brook
Chapter 1684

Chapter 1683: Alternate Ending 2/10

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The passing of the days brought with them an uneasy calm. Nicole and Jarrod had agreed to a time apart, but the void this left in their lives was not so easy to handle. Nicole tried to fill her days with responsibilities and obligations, but the weight of her decisions remained in her thoughts, like a persistent shadow that did not leave her in peace.

Alec, for his part, was in the process of recovering both physically and emotionally. The amputation of his arm had been a devastating blow to him, but what disturbed him most was his inability to understand why everything had gone so wrong. He had given everything for Jarrod, he had sacrificed his body and his life for his loyalty, and yet Nicole's betrayal was a wound that hurt more than the physical one.

In his room, Alec stared out the window. The sight of the hospital offered no comfort; On the contrary, it seemed to amplify the feeling of isolation that gnawed at him. He knew he should move on, but with each passing day he felt emptier, as if the purpose that had defined his life had vanished with the loss of his arm. Jarrod's visits were sporadic, and although Alec knew his friend had his own problems, he couldn't help but feel a growing distance between them.

One day, as Alec watched the sun slowly set behind the buildings, he heard a knock at the door. He thought it would be another one of the endless nurses, but to his surprise, it was Roscoe who came in. There was an awkward moment as the two men looked at each other, not knowing what to say. The tension between them was palpable, a product of the recent events that had marked both of their lives.

Roscoe was the first to break the silence. “I didn't expect to see you here so soon,” he said, his tone neutral, but with a hint of discomfort.

Alec raised his head, his eyes filled with resentment. “I never expected to see you again,” he replied, not bothering to hide his hostility.

Roscoe agreed, as if he had expected that reaction. “I understand,” he said simply, and took a few steps toward Alec’s bed. “But I think it's time we put all this behind us. “I didn’t come here to fight, I came here to talk.”

Alec gave a bitter laugh. “Talk?” After everything that's happened, you think a few words are going to fix anything? You don't know what it's like to lose everything, Roscoe. You don’t know what it’s like to sacrifice your life for someone, only for it all to fall apart.”

Roscoe stared at him, his hands tense at his sides. “I'm not here to apologize, Alec. I'm not here to justify what happened, either. I know things didn't work out, but that doesn't mean we can't move on. We have a life ahead of us, and even though that sounds hollow now, I know one day you'll understand.”

Alec narrowed his eyes, anger mixing with hopelessness. “And what do you suggest? That I just accept it and move on? It's not that easy, Roscoe. “You haven’t lost what I’ve lost.”

“Maybe not,” Roscoe admitted, “but I've lost a lot more than you think. Nicole…she never chose me. Even now, she's still thinking about Jarrod. Everything we’ve been through, every decision we’ve made, has been a failed attempt to escape the inevitable.”

Nicole's name echoed in Alec's mind. As much as he wanted to blame Roscoe for everything, he knew that underneath, the situation was more complex. Nicole, Jarrod, Roscoe, himself… they were all pieces of a broken puzzle.

“Why are you here, Roscoe?” Alec finally asked, his voice lower, almost exhausted.

“Because, despite everything that's happened, I still believe there's something worth fighting for,” Roscoe replied. “And I'm not talking about Nicole or Jarrod. I'm talking about us, about what we're capable of. “The past can’t define me or you, Alec.”

Alec looked down, his thoughts confused. Part of him wanted to continue hating Roscoe, wanted to hold on to the rage that kept him alive. But there was another part of him, apart from that he recognized that resentment would get him nowhere.

“What do you suggest then?” he finally asked, his tone softer.

“Let us work together,” Roscoe said, an unusual determination in his voice. “There's too much at stake. We may not be friends, Alec, but we can be allies. “We don’t have to be at war.”

Alec considered his words. He knew that accepting Roscoe's offer didn't mean forgetting what had happened, but perhaps it was a chance to start over, to rebuild what was left of his life.

“Okay,” he finally said, his voice filled with exhaustion, but also with a small spark of hope. “Let's try it.”

Roscoe agreed, knowing that this was just the beginning of a long road. As he walked out of the room, he couldn't help but feel that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for all of them to find peace, even if the path was uncertain.

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