Amused by Chris' expression, Helen smirked. "Have you never thought that I could've staged my death?""Why?" He was hurt to hear that. "Why did you stage your death? Where have you been these years? What does it have to do with Toxic Hive?"She softly chuckled at the righteous man. "You're as easy to fool as always. You haven't improved despite so many years.""What do you mean?"She slowly rose from her seat and caressed his cheek. "Chris, oh, Chris. Do you know how long I have waited for this day?"The more Helen spoke, the more confused Chris became. He could not understand how that gentle woman turned into this kind of person."I don't get what you're talking about. Say, were you the one who orchestrated Marina's car accident? Why did you do that to her? She's your biological daughter!""Biological daughter?" She burst into laughter. "Chris, we do have a child, but the child died long ago."Chris' eyes widened as he clearly wasn't aware of that. "What did you say?"She giggled. "Yo
"You don't love me, but I don't blame you for that. I kept assuming that time would help you get over it, and that you would fall in love with me someday."I didn't mind the cold treatment you gave me. I thought that you would love the child because we were a family. So, I wanted to take good care of her and see her grow up."But when I saw her slowly lose her vitality, I resented you to the bone for being heartless. How could you be that cruel? You'd rather give that bitch all of your love instead of giving a smidgen of it to us. So, I swore that I was going to make you regret it for the rest of your life."Her eyes turned ferocious as she continued, "Later, I found out that Chloe was pregnant. I lost my child, so how could she have a family and a child that loved her? Which was why I set everything up. I stole her baby right after she gave birth."Chris muttered, "That baby was … Marina!""That's right. Don't you love that bitch so much?" Helen's face was contorted with madness
Helen blurted out the cruel truth, which was a huge blow to Chris. Coldness seeped into every part of his body.He didn't have the time to accept reality as rage inflated in him. He was on the verge of losing himself."Must you take it that far?" His eyes were red, and his voice was icy."It's still not enough, of course. I prepared you a second gift, and it's a huge one. You should enjoy it," announced Helen like a witch. "Do you know how many years I waited for this day to come? I was in hell every day you and Chloe were living a peaceful life. You should experience the pain yourself."Then, she kicked Chris' waist and broke free from his grasp easily.By the time he stood up while hugging his stomach, she was standing three steps away from him."Chris, I'm no longer the foolish woman who'd keep waiting for you to look at me anymore." She appeared sophisticated in that beige dress, but her eyes spoke of madness."I'm going to see your family ruined! Your wife and daughter are
Standing at the door, Olivia saw all this before she even entered. A mocking look flashed across her eyes. She couldn't believe the sort of family her mom had married into.Other than Chris, no one sincerely cared for Chloe.In the past, Chloe did her best to please Otto, but Otto never thought of her as family.In the end, the person who suffered the most was Chris. If he had to exchange Marina's life for Chloe's, Chloe wouldn't forgive him when she woke up.Moreover, he had raised Marina as well. He had treated her like his biological daughter since she was young.He couldn't possibly make the choice.No matter who he chose, he would lose. He wouldn't recover from it.A nurse ran over to them. "You're the family members of the patient, right? She has woken up, and she wants to see you."Chris whipped his head around and then followed the nurse out. Olivia went after them as well.The doctor was standing at the entrance. "According to the patient's wishes, she wants to be tra
In the end, Chris completed the procedures for Chloe to get discharged. He also made a meal at home. Chloe was extremely weak as she sat in the wheelchair.She kept calling Marina over the phone. She still missed Marina despite everything.To not upset Chloe, Chris didn't tell her the truth.She had done everything a mother should do. He didn't want Chloe to leave with regrets."Don't mind her. She has always been a stubborn girl, so maybe she'll come home in a few days.""You're right."Chloe only assumed that Marina hated her as always. So, she didn't insist much on it.At the table, Chloe kept telling Ethan to treat Marina well in the future. She told him not to hurt Marina, and that Marina was a good woman.Suppressing his coldness, Ethan promised to do what she said.Even though Marina wasn't present at the meal, Chloe was happy. She even drank some alcohol, and her face was flushed.She asked Olivia to watch the sunset with her. She was very talkative."Liv, if I knew
Marina was distressed to hear that both her parents had died overnight. However, because of her body, she couldn't even attend the funeral.The entirety of Aldenvine seemed to be enveloped in gray fog.When Otto learned that both his son and daughter-in-law had died, he was so shocked that he had to be hospitalized. Hence, Chris' funeral was held in a hurry.Under the gray sky, Olivia spotted a woman in black clothes. The woman was holding an umbrella as she stood in front of Chris' grave for a long time.There was a terrifying expression on her pretty face. She didn't expect that Chris would choose to die with Chloe in the end.She had been scheming for so many years, but in the end, it was all in vain.She didn't get the desperate plea she expected from Chris. He had chosen to die and express his feelings in this manner.In the end, Helen didn't get what she wanted.Olivia walked up to her. "Is this the ending you wished for?"Turning around, Helen glanced at her. "It's you.
Under the pouring rain, Olivia stood in front of the grave for a long time. Her body was quite soaked by now. Unable to ignore it any longer, Ethan spoke up. "Let's go back. It's getting late."Olivia stood there silently, looking like she would disappear at any moment.Once again, she lost a family member. She looked even lonelier now, and Ethan's heart ached even more for her.Reaching out his arms, he wanted to hold her in his embrace. But Olivia looked calmly at him from under the black umbrella. Her gaze was so cold that it startled him."Don't be sad, Liv. You still have me."But she was sad exactly because she had him.When the mountain breeze blew past, Olivia's lone figure looked even more determined.Without another word, Olivia walked away. She had nothing to lose now.Ethan felt uneasy when he noticed Olivia's silence. He convinced himself that he needed more time to eventually heal the hurt in Olivia's heart.Seeing that Olivia had returned to her room once they w
Colin knew that Olivia already knew about his identity. Hence, he seemed a little guilty as he looked at her."Olivia.""Long time no see, Colin." Olivia greeted, easing the awkwardness.Lowering his head, Colin fiddled with his fingers. He looked down at his fingertips like a child who had done something wrong. "As you already know, I'm Leo.""Yes.""I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hide it from you. I—""I should've realized that earlier. When I was kidnapped, someone called the kidnappers. That someone was you, right?"That was how you could find me so easily, and you did everything you could to take me away."Colin knew that he had kept everything a secret, and he was no better than the people who hurt her."Olivia, it's my fault. I won't complain even if you blame me or hate me. But I never once wanted to harm you.""I know."If he wanted to kill her, she wouldn't still be alive today.But Olivia had experienced so much of being lied to and betrayed. She was no longer willi