He raised his bloodied hands only to find that the mint-green hairband he had kept carefully with him was now dyed red. With trembling fingers, he raised the hairband to his lips. “Don’t die. Please, you can’t die.” He murmured under his breath as his eyes reddened further. “You promised you’d pester me forever. You can’t go back on your word now.” Felipe’s voice shook as he repeated himself, unable to put the panic within him to rest. Just then, the operating room’s door opened to reveal a doctor in a white coat. Felipe immediately ran toward him. “Professor Quinney, how’s Cathy?” The professor shook his head. “I’ve got the bullet out, but since it hit her heart, I can’t bring her back to life. I’m sorry, but Miss Cathy has passed.” Frozen in place, Felipe felt his world crack as he stood rooted to the ground. “How did she just get shot out of the blue? Could it be the Stygian Johnsons?” The doctor sighed, his heart clenching at the loss of such a young life. Felipe
Felipe felt his heart pause as he took the item from the box. He would never forget this red string. When he met the little girl with the dimpled smile years ago by April Hill’s beach, she had been the ray of light that pulled him out of the dark. She even gave him a rainbow shell. In return, he gave her a red piece of string. That day of that year marked his innocent meeting with the energetic and warm Vetty. It was love at first sight. When he grew up, he found out that the girl was Madeline. That was why he did everything in his power to make Madeline his. However, why was the string he had gifted Madeline in Cathy’s hands? Not to mention that it had been kept so safely. Felipe’s mind was filled with questions that could not be answered. Not that meeting Madeline by the seaside back then mattered to him anymore. The moment Cathy was shot, it dawned on him who he truly had feelings for. Perhaps he should have known the moment Cathy jumped into the river because
“Where is Cathy, Felipe?” Madeline pressed on, but Felipe had already left.Watching him drive away, Madeline decided to search the manor for traces of Cathy. She even went to the basement, but Cathy was nowhere to be found. Confused, she went to ask the servants, but none of them were certain themselves. Madeline arrived at Cathy’s room and found a photo collage open on her bed. It was filled with pictures she had taken from the past. It looked like it had just been flipped through. Had Felipe been looking at it? Curious, she took up the photo collage only to find a piece of paper squashed under it. “Certificate of cremation?” Madeline’s heart lurched. Reading it, she saw Cathy’s name, followed by Felipe’s signature at the very bottom. Cathy was dead?! … Jeremy thought that Madeline was resting in the hotel the entire time he brought Lillian out for a walk, so he was surprised to not see her when they returned to their room. He put his daughter to sleep and was
“Master Whitman, our men have just gotten to April Hill. We’ve asked around, and from an old man, we can confirm that there had been a family with a daughter by the name of Cathy.“The father of the family ran a small business, so their family was rather well off. However, he and his wife met a tragic end during one of his delivery trips. “His relatives took his house and threw his daughter out.”The person confirmed.“Master Whitman, it’s confirmed that after the death of her parents, the daughter who was thrown out was indeed Miss Cathy. They gave me an image of Miss Cathy when she was young. I’ll send it to you now.”With that, Felipe’s phone received the image.On the display was an old picture, one that caused the tears brimming in Felipe’s eyes to fall.It was the same smile he had engraved into his memory—the very one that haunted his dreams for the past decade. Felipe wanted to smile, but his vision became blurred from the tears. His arm drooped limply, and the red
“Eveline was right. None of the Whitman family men are good men. If any one of us were even half the man Grandfather was, perhaps the women who love us so much would not have been so deeply hurt.”He raised his frosty and fierce gaze. “I’ve already turned over a new leaf, Felipe. What about you? Will you not own up to your mistakes? You would go and surrender yourself if you have even the slightest bit of conscience left in you. Or you can wait until I hand the police the evidence they need.”Jeremy warned solemnly as he gave Cathy’s tombstone one last look, his deep gaze filled with hurt. Then, he turned to leave. Dazed, Felipe stood in the wind with Cathy’s ashes held preciously in his arms. A deep swirl of emotions flashed in his eyes. “Don’t worry. I promised you, so I’ll make sure it happens. Wait for me.”He left with the wind blowing in his face and her urn in his hands.…Madeline took care of Lillian in the hotel until Jeremy returned at nightfall. She prayed that
Jeremy raised his arm to pull Madeline into his embrace.“This is my wife. I, Jeremy Whitman, have and will only have one wife—Eveline Montgomery.”His gaze was heavy, and his tone left no room for argument as he reminded Karen.“I do hope that you wouldn’t treat my wife how you used to, Mom. I don’t expect you to be a great mother-in-law, but at least treat her with basic courtesy and respect.”“...” Stunned, Karen’s expression darkened. She turned her head to see Madeline smiling faintly at her and the flames within her flared. “What’s happening, Jeremy? You just told me that you were getting engaged to Yvette? Why are you with her again? Did you forget what she told you before? She’s only doing this to get revenge!”A sour feeling filled both Madeline and Jeremy’s hearts at Karen’s mention of Cathy.Jeremy tightened his grip on Madeline’s hand as he explained solemnly, “I’ve always seen Yvette as my little sister, just like how she saw me as an older brother. There was never a
At that, Jeremy seemed slightly regretful. Anxiously taking in the change in Madeline’s expression, he resembled the careful self she used to be with him.“I’m sorry, Linnie. I shouldn’t have brought up the past. I’m sorry I made you upset again.” He apologized softly, pressing his lips lightly against the back of her ear. “I’ll bring you to Adam first thing in the morning to make sure you’re alright. Then I’ll go and settle Cathy’s situation.” Without waiting for Madeline to nod, he bent down to carry her into his arms. “It’s getting late. Let’s go to sleep.”Madeline reached out instinctively to wrap her arms around his neck. Carrying her into their bedroom, Madeline felt her heart race in a way that reminded her of the first time she married Jeremy.She had been nervous, moved, and slightly hopeful. Lying down, Jeremy held Madeline and pressed a kiss on the top of her head.“I can finally hug you and have a peaceful sleep, Linnie.” In the dark of the night, his to
On the first page was written in a girl’s clean handwriting: [The most beautiful moment in my life—meeting Felipe Whitman] ‘The most beautiful moment in her life.’Felipe’s vision blurred. ‘No, Cathy. Meeting you is the best thing that happened to me. ‘There is nothing beautiful about you meeting me.’With his heart aching, Felipe flipped through the diary and found that the first entry was the day he confirmed his sponsorship. The words inside read: [I’m so lucky to have met the little boy who was by my house all those years ago. Ah, wait, he’s not little anymore. Despite how long it has been, I knew it was him the moment I saw him. Although, it doesn’t seem like he recognizes me anymore. (Sobs) [I still have the red string he gave me. I wonder if he still has the shell I gave him? [He has grown to look so handsome and gentlemanly. Ah, how could a man look so beautiful? He’s so perfect, I’m sure there are a lot of girls who like him. (Envious) [Yeah, I’ve got to study