Chapter 10
Hearing his disgusting comments, I ran even faster.
The bodyguards dragged Derek away, his screaming voice growing more distant.
I threw myself into James’s arms. He lifted my waist and grabbed my chin without hesitation, kissing me.
“Hmph, there’s nothing worth saying to trash like him. Next time we run into him, just have the bodyguards throw him out.
“Don’t believe a word he says. I’m faithful and devoted. We’re meant to be together.”
James’s words made me laugh.
Maybe it was Derek’s influence.
Somehow, I suddenly remembered how James and I first met.
Back then, both my body and spirit had been severely damaged. I was in terrible shape.
I brought my unborn child’s ashes to the beach, intending to bury it there, but in my daze, I walked into the deep ocean.
Just before I lost consciousness, a strong hand gripped my wrist.
When I opened my eyes again, the smell of disinfectant stung my nose. I looked up and met a pair of deep eyes.
“I don’t know what you’ve been through, but please live well. Your child,
Chapter 10
who passed away, would want its mother to be happy.”
That was the first thing James ever said to me.
After that, James began appearing in my life frequently.
After learning about my situation, he didn’t ask too many questions. He just quietly stayed by my side.
He took me to see a therapist, walked with me, ate with me, and gradually healed me in his own way.
Later, he confessed his feelings and proposed.
He knew I was afraid of marriage.
Before we got our marriage certificate, he transferred most of his wealth to my name and signed an agreement stating that if he ever cheated, he would leave with nothing. He promised me deeply, “Claire, marriage isn’t a cage for women. I want to be your safe harbor. I’ll never betray you. Please give me a chance.”
What Derek said wasn’t entirely wrong.
But James gave me a real sense of security through his actions.
Even if there ever came a day when he betrayed me, I would have the
means to start over.
I heard about Derek again after I returned to the city.
The police suddenly called me.
“Ms. Morgan, your ex–husband is currently holding a woman hostage with a knife. He’s demanding to see you. The hostage is in serious danger. We hope you can come help with negotiations.”
Chapter 10
I was shocked.
No matter how desperate Derek was, surely, he wouldn’t do something like this?
When I arrived at the scene, Derek was standing at the edge of the rooftop, his eyes bloodshot, holding a knife to Tiffany’s throat.
Tiffany’s eyes were tightly shut, and bright red blood had stained her clothes. She looked like she was about to die.
When he saw me, Derek’s tears immediately fell. He choked up, “Claire, you came. I knew you still cared about me. You still love me, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have rushed here so quickly. Come with me, okay? We’ll run away together. I promise I’ll treat you well from now on.”
I thought Derek must have lost his mind.
He was already a wanted fugitive, and he still wanted to drag me down with him.
I looked at him coldly and said without emotion, “You’re overthinking it. The police called me here.
“If I’d known you kidnapped Tiffany, I wouldn’t have come at all.”
Derek’s eyes filled with resentment. He pressed the knife harder and screamed, “I became like this because of that witch! After the company went bankrupt, I wanted to use my backup funds to start over, but I discovered she’d been secretly transferring my assets.
“Even her ferminal illness was fake. She’s not sick at all! For five years, she never let me go to the hospital with her, but she was secretly using my money to hire male escorts!
“Last week I felt sick and went to the hospital. The doctor found out I
have AIDS. Tiffany infected me with her promiscuous behavior!”
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Chapter 10
This information was too shocking. I stood there in disbelief.
But Derek thought I was giving him a chance. He looked at me hopefully, “Claire, AIDS won’t kill you if you take your meds. Can you forgive…”
“No!”
I interrupted him with disgust, “Derek, looking at you now only makes me sick. There’s no such thing as forgiveness between us.
“I have a loving husband now and adorable children. You’re a broke, diseased criminal, Derek. What makes you think I’d want you back? Do you think I’m a garbage collector?”
The hope in Derek’s eyes completely shattered.
He laughed bitterly twice, then collapsed and pulled Tiffany backward, “Yeah, trash like me has no right to ask for your forgiveness.
“Claire, I wronged you. I’m so sinful, so I need to atone. Maybe in heaven, I can find some peace.”
With those words, Derek suddenly turned and jumped off the rooftop with Tiffany.
In the moment before he fell, Derek’s life flashed before his eyes.
It was when Claire was four months pregnant.
Under the warm lights, she took his hand and placed it on her soft belly, her voice gentle, “Derek, listen, the baby’s moving.”
Feeling the baby’s movement, the joy of becoming a father for the first time kept him awake all night. He tossed and turned, ordering several books for new fathers.
He swore to be a good father and a good husband.
Chapter 10
But in the end, he accomplished neither.
He was consumed by desire and lost everything.
He only hoped that somehow, somewhere, he could find redemption.
The tragedy happened too quickly. Everyone screamed in shock.
CTER
But I felt large hands cover my eyes, “Don’t look. It’s dirty.”
James had appeared behind me at some point.
I fell into his arms and sighed, “He got what he deserved.”
The sunlight broke through the clouds, and five years of gloom finally lifted.
Some hurts can never be forgiven.
But fortunately, I found my own light.
The end.
