The aftermath went more smoothly than I’d imagined.[]
Zoey’s case was airtight.[]
The restaurant’s security footage, my medical reports, the $200K transfer records, plus testimony from those two security guards–she had no way to deny it.[]
She got three years.]
They said in court she was still screaming Dante’s name, saying he’d save her.[]
Too bad by then, Dante could barely save himself.[]
After I kicked him out of the villa, he was penniless.[]
Those friends who used to orbit around him vanished without a trace.[]
〃
He went to our father, but Dad had always harbored resentment about that old affair and, intimidated by my authority, turned him away at the door.[]
He tried returning to the company, only to be stopped by security in the lobby like a stray dog.]
He finally tasted what it meant to fall from the heaven into the hell.[]
Later, he somehow got Celeste’s number and called frantically, begging her to arrange a meeting with me.]
Celeste told me about it.]
I had her pass along one message.[]
“If he wants to see me, he can kneel at my mother’s grave for three days and hights.“[]
My mother had died young from the heartbreak of discovering him and his mother’s existence.[]
This was what he owed her.[]
I thought he couldn’t do it.]
After all, he was such a spoiled, selfish brat.]
But surprisingly, he actually went.[]
Celeste sent someone to check–he really was kneeling at Mother’s grave, not eating, drinking, or sleeping, perfectly straight
On the third day, it poured rain.]
He was soaked through, running a high fever, swaying as he knelt but still refusing to leave []
Chapter 8
Celeste asked me: “Won’t you go see him? At this rate, someone’s going to die.“[]
I sat in my warm office, watching the drizzle outside the window, sipping hot coffee.[]
“He won’t die.“]
I didn’t soften.]
What was this compared to the pain he’d inflicted on me?]
This was just the first installment on his debt for being stupid and vicious.[]
Three days later, he couldn’t hold on and collapsed at the cemetery. A patrolling guard found him and took him to the hospital.
When he woke up, his first act was to keep calling me.[]
I finally answered.[]
His voice on the other end was weak and hoarse, carrying a hint of humble hope.]
“Sis… I did it… can you… can you forgive me?“[]
“Forgive you?”
I laughed softly.
“Dante, are you confused about something?“]]
“I didn’t make you kneel so you could earn my forgiveness.“[]
“I wanted you to recognize who you really are and how everything you had came to be.“]
“Now, do you understand?“]
There was long silence on the other end.[]
I could imagine his despair.]
“I never wanted you dead.“[]
I continued calmly.
“I’ve had my assistant rent you a small apartinent in the suburbs and put two hundred thousand in your account “[]
“That money will last you a while.“]
“From now on, whether you live or die has nothing to do with me or the Blake family.“[]
“From here on, you go your way, I’ll go mine“]
“Don’t contact me again.“{}
Chapter 8
Without giving him a chance to respond, I hung up and blocked his number.[]
The world was finally quiet.[]
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