Chapter 10
Sean stood at the entrance, his white shirt disheveled. Hair usually meticulously groomed now hung over one blood- shot eye.
He clutched something in his hand, knuckles white, his gaze icy cold as it pinned Alexander.
Shirley mistook his haggard appearance for heartbreak over her marriage.
She admitted lingering feelings, but he remained the Williams‘ illegitimate son-
no match for the eldest heir of the Johnson family.
Stepping forward, she chided: “Sean, what do you think you’re doing? If you’re here with congratulations, you’re wel- come. But if you came to stop this wedding, I-”
་་
Before she finished, pallbearers in mourning attire carried a black coffin inside.
The hall erupted in uproar.
Christine and Jeffrey sprang up, furious: “Do you know where you are? Get out!”
Sean remained rooted, glaring at Alexander.
“Care to see who’s inside?”
Alexander met his stare coldly. “Is that a curse on our family? I don’t care who it is–get out!”
Sean charged onto the stage, grabbing Alexander’s collar and landing a punch.
“You promised to take her away! Why abandon her to humiliation?”
“What the hell are you talking about?!”
Alexander retaliated with a kick to Sean’s abdomen.
They traded blows relentlessly.
Chaos engulfed the venue until security pulled them apart.
Sean panted, sneering: “Hope you keep that attitude. Open it!”
As the coffin lid lifted, Alexander lunged–then froze mid–motion.
Rita screamed.
But Alexander heard nothing, strength drained from his body.
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Chapter 10
He stared blankly at the body inside.
This wasn’t Rita.
Couldn’t be Rita.
He’d confined her to the Psychiatric Facility to frighten her–never meant real harm.
Yet here she lay motionless, skin marred with wounds.
Trembling, Alexander touched her face, seeking proof it wasn’t her.
His eyes locked onto the ring on her finger.
A simple band, worthless, yet Rita never removed it.
Even after he’d gifted her jewels, she’d cherished this symbol of their beginning.
He remembered her twisting the ring thoughtfully: “Can this really bind two people for a lifetime?”
288 (Vouchers
He’d held her then, promising: “Rings don’t bind people–love does. I’ll love you forever, Rita. We’ll have our lifetime together.”
But they would never have that lifetime together.
Son’s eyes were bloodshot, looking like a demon crawled up from hell.
Be slowly curled his lips dealing Alexander the fatal blow.
Do you know who she called for help before jumping? She believed till death you’d save her. What were you doing
What was he doing
Alexander couldnt stop remembering.
What was he doing the day Shirley jumped?
He was helping Shirley prepare for the wedding…
Holding her, making love passionately when she demanded his affection…
Alexander slumped to the floor, torturing himself by reliving every detail.
Regret surged like a tsunami, crushing him instantly.
The next second suffocating pain exploded in his chest. He clenched his fists, fighting the coppery sweetness rising from his gut.
Scalding iron flooded his throat. He jerked sideways, blood splattering pink–white decorative flowers without warn-
Wiping his mouth fingertips smeared warm blood. Only when touching skin did he realize he was shaking.
Vision blurred. He saw Rita running toward him smiling, hair brushing his wrist with gardenia scent before vanishing in the wind
Rit don’t leave…”
He tried to speak, voice too hoarse to form words, scattering in the air.
Another wave of nausea hit. He bent over, covering his mouth, but couldn’t stop the second gush of blood dripping ceno polished tiles, blooming into despair.
Nguyenroundings faded. Ambulance sirens dissolved into muffled background noise.
Only his heartbeat remained–heavy, slow, tolling like a funeral bell.
His stomach cramped hollow while his heart clogged like red–hot iron, pain forcing him to curl.
01:01
Chapter 11
Staring at the bloodstain, he suddenly laughed.
Laughter turned to tears, streaking down cheeks mixed with blood, cold as ice.
“1
“My fault…” he whispered. “Come back? I’ll give everything… Take you away… away…‘
Before blacking out, the last memory: her standing tiptoe to kiss his cheek when seeing him off.
She’d said: “Waiting for you home.”
