Chapter 15: It’s the end

Karimba Cellon reached the location Sam Goodwin had mentioned and spotted a familiar figure standing on the bridge. He swiftly gauged the distance between Alley Houston and the water below, estimating it to be about fifty meters, enough to turn the water's surface as rigid as ice.

"Alley Houston, are you out of your mind? Come down from there!" Karimba Cellon called out to the person on the bridge. Alley Houston glanced downward, her eyes brimming with sorrow and grief, all mirroring Karimba Cellon's own reflection. A wry smile mixed with tears formed on her face.

"Karimba, you've finally arrived. I thought you'd leave me stranded here until the despair in my heart pushed me to jump."

As Alley Houston spoke, her tears flowed, and Karimba Cellon's anger morphed into genuine fear. Seeing her perched so high on the bridge, he truly worried she might take the leap. He knew Alley Houston was not weak, and her life in the Vu family was far from easy, but he couldn't fathom what had driven her to such a desperate and anguished state.

"Alley Houston, come down! We can talk about anything, can't we?" Karimba Cellon tried his best not to hesitate, fearing he might witness a harrowing scene. He couldn't just leave Alley Houston without showing concern.

This time was different from the past. The anguish evident in Alley Houston's eyes filled Karimba Cellon with immense dread and concern. He didn't have the luxury to contemplate why he felt that way; all he knew was that Alley Houston was not pretending this time.

Karimba Cellon couldn't afford to hesitate any longer. He signaled Mike and Sam Goodwin to stall for time as he sought a way to climb up the bridge and rescue her. Alley Houston briefly glanced at Karimba Cellon before directing her gaze to the dark sky, her lips curling into a mocking smile.

She had run out of pills, and she no longer needed them. Let the physical pain consume her. Once she left this world, she wouldn't have to endure the suffering of painful treatments any longer. Alley Houston knew all too well that those so-called treatments were merely a means to make her more obedient. She had endured enough.

She had also endured Karimba Cellon's scorn for far too long. She loved him, and nothing in the world was more certain. But how much had he hurt her? His indifference had shattered her hope and trust, leaving her heart wounded. In clinging to him, she had sacrificed her self-respect, yet he still heartlessly abandoned his devoted wife of the past three years for another woman.

"Alley Houston, don't think like that. You can tell me anything, and I promise to listen. Can we do that?"

From afar, Karimba Cellon had scaled the bridge, gradually drawing nearer to Alley Houston. He didn't understand why, but he found himself making such a daring promise to her. His sole concern was to prevent her from jumping down. In that moment, Karimba Cellon couldn't bring himself to consider anything else; all that mattered was his fear.

"You've misunderstood. Brenda and I... Alley Houston!"

Karimba Cellon had no chance to finish his sentence when Alley Houston burst into laughter and hurled herself into the cold, deep water. Karimba Cellon shouted, then abruptly followed her down.

On the bridge, Sam Goodwin and Mike had dispatched Karimba Cellon's bodyguards, but regrettably, they arrived a step too late. Hundreds of onlookers fixated their gaze on the spot where Alley Houston and Karimba Cellon had just leaped. Among them stood Brenda Mclean.

Brenda Mclean couldn't comprehend what was happening but suddenly witnessed Karimba Cellon plunging into the water with Alley Houston. In an instant, a tightness gripped her chest, sharp pain stabbing through her, and she screamed in agony before collapsing to the ground.

It had been three days since Alley Houston hadn't returned home, and Taylor Kindsley couldn't reach her. While having dinner today, Taylor Kindsley saw a news report on TV about Alley Houston's attempted suicide by jumping off a bridge, and the journalists even captured the moment when Karimba Cellon plunged into the water with her. Taylor Kindsley was alarmed, dropping the chopsticks and rushing to the scene.

Karimba Cellon's security team and the police had been searching for Alley Houston and Karimba Cellon. They were both quickly rescued, exhausted, and brought ashore. When Alley Houston jumped into the water, Karimba Cellon didn't hesitate and followed her down. At first glance, it might have seemed impulsive, but Karimba Cellon was an excellent swimmer, and he was determined to do his utmost to save her.

Karimba Cellon managed to save Alley Houston, but as he was about to swim back to shore, he suddenly faltered, his body feeling heavy and weak, sinking slowly below the surface. Alley Houston, by this time, was feeling extremely scared; she couldn't swim, so all she could do was panic and scream, thrashing around and sinking even deeper.

Both Alley Houston and Karimba Cellon were taken to the hospital, and the next day, they finally regained consciousness. Alley Houston looked up at the unfamiliar ceiling, with only Taylor Kindsley by her side.

"Allie, what were you thinking? If there's an issue, you can talk about it and find a better solution, why resort to such a negative one?"

As Alley Houston woke up, Taylor Kindsley scolded her. Alley Houston shook her head, smiled, knowing her sister was only concerned for her and didn't appear angry. Alley Houston sighed, murmuring to Taylor Kindsley:

"These days, I've been dwelling on negative thoughts, unsure if people like us can ever have a good ending. It seems easier for me to decide my fate myself..."

"Are you crazy?" Taylor Kindsley said while squeezing Alley Houston's hand tightly. "I still want to live every single day. You're healthy, why would you want to die? Thankfully, Karimba Cellon saved you in time."

Alley Houston widened her eyes, looking at Taylor Kindsley. Right, she remembered that Karimba Cellon had jumped into the water to save her and tried to bring her to shore. Recalling that night, Alley Houston panicked, grasping Taylor Kindsley's hand:

"Actually... I only intended to use that as a way to make Karimba stay, I never meant to jump down. But for some reason, I acted so impulsively. Let me tell you, how is Karimba now?"

Taylor Kindsley took a deep breath; Alley Houston seemed to be losing control of her emotions more and more, which could lead to depression sooner or later. Maybe she was already depressed!

"Karimba Cellon is fine. He has a whole team serving him, unlike you, who only has me. You have only me as your family, don't do anything reckless, do you hear me?"

Hearing that Karimba Cellon was okay, Alley Houston felt slightly better. Taylor Kindsley was right; since Lily Houston's passing, they had relied on each other like blood sisters. Currently, Taylor Kindsley was the only family she had.

"I'm sorry," Alley Houston said, unable to express anything beyond these three words. She lowered her head, lost in her thoughts, not quite sure what she was thinking, only knowing she felt a burning sensation in her nose, and her eyes were beginning to moisten.

"It seems like... our fate with him has come to an end. Karimba and Brenda have been together for a long time, and he did everything to force me to divorce him, hurting me over and over again. That night, he saved my life, and it seemed to settle the score between us."

As Alley Houston spoke, tears streamed down her face, and Taylor Kindsley realized that she had decided to let go of Karimba Cellon, no longer tormenting herself for that man.

"And what about your parents?" Taylor Kindsley cautiously asked.

"It doesn't matter, I don't care anymore." Alley Houston wiped her tears, smiling back at Taylor Kindsley. "I don't want to be involved with the Trinh family anymore, and the sponsorship for the research project is none of my concern."

Taylor Kindsley nodded gently, but inside, she couldn't shake off the worry. Alley Houston was still under the control of Mr. and Ms. Houston, and the medication she was taking could cause her pain and suffering. Every time she didn't obey, they would force her to take the medication and then control her with potent painkillers. Alley Houston might escape for a few days, but she couldn't escape for a lifetime. Thinking about the unpredictable consequences Alley Houston had to bear from Mr. and Ms. Houston, Taylor Kindsley felt a surge of anger and sorrow.