“Then what do you say I let both of you go and give you the freedom you want?” Heather continued.Hannah widened her eyes in disbelief. “What evil schemes are you up to? Tell me what you want, and stop beating around the bush!”Lily did not comprehend what Heather was planning to do either. However, knowing that Heather must have her reasons, Lily said nothing and sat quietly aside.“I’m being serious. Since you like Ralph so much, don’t you want to leave and spend the rest of your life with him?” Heather’s offer was tempting.Even though Hannah thought it was a trap, she was willing to take the risk. She turned to look at Ralph, then furrowed her brows to look over at her sister. “Say it. Name your conditions.”After growing up together, she knew Heather as well as herself. ‘She would never be so kind and let us off unconditionally. Her offer must come with terms.’Heather nodded with a half-smile. “My terms are simple. First, you are to sever your ties with the Riggs family, an
“Annie, don’t be rash!” Ralph tried to dissuade her.Hannah shook her head, held his hand, and said, “Even without my arms, I still have legs, eyes, and a mouth. We’ll find a way to make a living. I don’t care as long as I’m with you.” “But…”“You’re such a romantic, aren’t you?” Heather snorted and said, “However, have you thought it through? I’ll kick you out of the Riggs family, and you’ll lose your arms while your beloved man is broke. How will you survive later without your bread and butter?”“You know nothing about love. You’ll never understand!” Hannah was indifferent. Heather looked at Chump, and a glinting knife dropped onto the floor with a clang.“You agreed so readily. You think you can reattach your arms after I cut them off?”Lily frowned as she looked at the knife, which she knew was sharpened, judging by its blade. She turned her gaze to Heather and saw her severe, unblinking expression.“I’ll do it myself!” Hannah exclaimed and bent over to pick up the knife.
“I know you too well. After you chop off his leg, you’re going to do something else. You never wanted to give us freedom or let me go. I don’t want to leave then. Just kill me!” Hannah looked like she was ready to sacrifice herself.Heather stared at Ralph quietly, but he simply looked down without a word and had no intention of saying anything.“Aren’t you two in love? Won’t you give up anything for each other? I’ve given you a chance, and you can’t bear to sacrifice a leg?” Heather mocked and directed her words to Ralph.“Uncle Ralph,” Lily said, “Hannah is willing to sacrifice so much for you. Aren’t you going to say something?”“What do you want me to say?” Ralph looked up at Lily and emphasized his every word, almost angry. “What should I say?! That I’m okay to have my leg chopped off? Sorry, I’m not!”“As winners, you guys act all high and mighty and treat people like dirt. Now I have nothing, yet you still want to chop off my leg. How will I make a living without my leg? Wi
“Hannah!” Heather sat up in alarm, wanting to stop her. Shocked, Lily tried to do the same but was too late. No one had expected that she would suddenly do that. Worried for her safety, Chump threw himself before Heather to protect her.With the blade plunged deep into her stomach, a look of pain lingered briefly on Hannah’s face before she started to laugh. Unknitting her brow, she let out a hearty laugh before tumbling aside. “Hannah!” Heather rushed over and held her up, but being too weak, she almost fell together, if not for Chump’s support. “Hannah! You wretched girl, are you nuts? Is it worth dying for such a man? Is it?” She shouted in shock, anger, and even anguish. Lying in Heather's arms, Hannah laughed happily. Holding down the hilt with one hand, she lifted another and saw her palm covered with blood. “I’m so happy. I’m finally free and no longer a shadow of yours.” She turned her head to Ralph and said weakly,” Ralphy… You don’t have to feel distressed anymor
Surprised, Ralph took a moment to respond, but Lily had turned to leave without waiting for his answer. Chump drove while Heather sat in the backseat, holding Hannah in her arms. The younger sister’s breathing was so weak that it might stop at any time. “You wretched girl, don’t die on me, okay? You can’t die without my permission, do you hear me?” She muttered threateningly, “If you dare to die, I won’t let you off easily. Do you hear me? You’re not allowed to die!”However, Hannah neither yielded nor defied her this time. She simply gave no response.Driving solemnly, Chump glanced in the rearview mirror and was shocked. Heather had always been calm and did not even cry, even when seriously hurt. However, she was weeping now, and her beads of tears were falling onto Hannah’s face.As Lily emerged from the gate, Alexander hurried over, having sensed something was not right. “What’s the matter? Heather’s car just left. Why did she leave you here?”He was so worried that he al
When Heather woke up, it was already dark outside. She saw she was in a hospital ward painted all white, and her arm was hooked to a drip. She looked over her shoulder and saw Lily sitting aside, slowly peeling an orange. The orange’s refreshing scent filled the room. Lily lifted her gaze and smiled slightly. “You’re awake?”“Why are you here?” The woman inquired, her voice low.“Someone needs to keep you company, and I’m free anyway.” After a pause, Lily said, “I’m sorry for your loss.”Heather smiled wryly as if she had just remembered what had happened to Hannah. “Sorry? What’s there to be sorry about? Since I was young, I knew she was going to die. If I lived, she had to be dead, and vice versa. I’m better off now that the curse came true, and I need not worry about it from now on.” She tried to sound casual, but her expression betrayed her grief. Lily remained quiet for a moment and said, “Actually, have you ever thought that the curse, perhaps, is not even a curse? The o
The 100-year-old Russell Estate looked the same as usual, but one might think it had significantly aged due to all that had happened recently.Ralph knelt by the bed in Margaret’s bedroom. He had lost a lot of weight, and his hair on both sides had become grayer.Margaret had mixed feelings seeing him. She shut her eyes without saying anything as tears slowly fell from the corners of her eyes.“I’m sorry, Mom! I wish I could still call you so. I was wrong,” Ralph said lowly.“I’ve thought it through. It’s not entirely your fault, and I’m partly to blame for failing to guide you properly until you turned out like this.” Margaret said in a nasal tone as her eyes remained closed.She continued slowly, “Forget it if you’d like me to reinstate you as a Russel family member. From now on, Alex will take charge of everything, and I will no longer interfere with his decisions.”Ralph lowered his head. “I didn’t come to ask you for anything but to apologize. I consider myself lucky to be a
Olivia laughingly took Galen into her arms. “You said the same thing last time, and then what happened? You couldn’t bear to leave him at home. Anyway, I think our Galen is obedient enough. Oh, yes, didn’t Mr. Russell want to teach him some stuff personally? Where’s he?”“Well, Galen nearly crawled into the paper shredder when his father took him to the office, and Alex was so terrified that he stopped taking him there. I guess we’ll have to wait till Galen grows older.” Lily shook her head.Having missed out on many things in their lives, Lily and Alexander had named their son “Galen,” which meant “calm” in Greek, hoping he could slow down and calmly enjoy life, unlike them.However, the boy had always been restless and kept getting into mischief to the point that they wondered if they had made a mistake naming him so. Oliva put everything in order, looked outside, and noticed that her ride had arrived. “I’m leaving. What’s wrong with Mr. Perfect? He’s usually early. Why isn’t he