Chapter 8
The driver said nothing more after reading the tension. He quickly grabbed the cash before making his leave.
Meanwhile, Richard felt his entire body tense up as he stood behind the door.
So, it was true… that car crash from two days ago wasn’t just a random accident; it was planned. No wonder the car had been barreling toward Margaret and suddenly swerved at the last moment.
At that instant, a whirlwind of anger, shock and disbelief flooded Richard’s mind.
Margaret, satisfied that everything had gone according to plan, was humming a tune as she sauntered out of the hospital room, only to lock eyes with Richard.]
The realization of what she had just been talking about wiped the color from her face.
After stumbling over her words, she finally managed to ask, “Rick… what are you doing here?“>
“I thought you were supposed to be home with Evelyn?” Richard’s voice was sharp, his eyes blazing with rage. “Are you afraid I’d find out that you set this whole thing up to hurt Eve? It wasn’t enough for you that she lost the baby; you actually wanted her dead too!”
“Margaret, it was you who insisted on marrying Thomas, begging me to help you change those acceptance letters. Then you told me
he couldn’t forget Evelyn. When I found out you were sending someone to hurt her, I tried to step in.”
“But you cried and pleaded, even using your late father’s memory to get to me. In the end, I went along with your plan to ruin her reputation. Wasn’t that enough for you?”
“Why do you still want to hurt her? Why would you even think of wanting her life?”
As the truth began to sink in, Margaret recoiled, fear written all over her face.
As Margaret listened to how much Richard cared for me, her face shifted from pale to flushed, then to a sickly shade of green.
She laughed bitterly, “Why would I want to hurt her? It’s because you’ve changed, Rick. You don’t see only me anymore. You’re happier when Evelyn is happy and you’re even thrilled about the baby she’s carrying.”
“But why? Why should I be the one to suffer? I was left broken by Thomas and all of this should have belonged to Evelyn. You’re mine, Rick!”
With that, Margaret rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Richard, her voice softening, “Now that I’m back, no one can stand in our way. Let’s start fresh, okay?”
But Richard’s words jolted him back to reality.
Yes, he had fallen for Evelyn long ago during all those moments they shared. Every smile, every little thing she did pulled at his heart and he couldn’t help but look forward to their baby together.
With that thought fresh in his mind, he pushed Margaret away, his gaze sharp and resolute.
“The debt I owe Uncle Felix for saving my father was paid off years ago. The woman I love now is Eve.“}]
“Whether or not she forgives me doesn’t matter–I’ll be by her side.”
“As for us, let’s not meet again.”
With that, Richard turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Margaret behind.
Margaret wasn’t done yet though.
She clutched her chest and pretended to feel unwell, but Richard just ignored her and kept striding ahead.”
In the days that followed, he scoured every corner of Ostmarc City, but no one had a clue where I had gone.
Eventually, he fell sick, burying his face in his hands on that cold hospital bed, sobbing uncontrollably, repeating, “I messed up, I messed up…”
***
Meanwhile, after eleven long days on the road, I finally arrived at the Great Corona Plains. As I stepped off the bus and took in the sprawling landscape before me, I felt like I was starting anew.
Just as I was about to grab my luggage, a guy wearing a liberation hat and a suit came over and took it from me. Then I remembered he was our group leader, Charles Wellington.}]
With a big smile, Charles hoisted my bag onto his shoulder and said, “Come on, let me show you around. The scenery here is a whole different vibe from what you’re used to back in the city.”
