Chapter 12
The day I resolved to cut ties with him forever, I received a call from my lawyer.
Grandpa was on his deathbed. He wished to see me one last time.
Over the past ten years, for all the pain the Richards Family had caused me, grandpa had at least treated me with respect. Out of duty, out of sentiment, I decided to go.”
1 set aside my grievances with Jonathan and rushed to the old mansion of the Richards Family.”
Lying weakly in bed, the old man was a shadow of his former self. His once–sharp eyes were now clouded with sorrow.
“Zara,” he murmured, his voice frail. “I have wronged you. The Richards Family has wronged you.”
When I married Jonathan, I was still young and foolish.N
But a man like Richards’s grandpa–who had spent his life navigating the ruthless world of business–had known all along how unfair that contract had been.N
cage.
Grandpa had cut off all other possibilities in my life, luring me into signing that contract, burying my life’s happiness in a gilded
I was silent for a moment before finally speaking. “I don’t blame you. Back then, it was my choice and I made it willingly. I don’t blame anyone.”
“I spoiled Richards too much,” the old man sighed. “Whatever fate awaits him, he has only himself to blame. I won’t ask you to take him back, but I beg you–if he ever finds himself destitute, just make sure he has something to eat.“”
The lawyer beside him handed me a document. The old man was prepared to transfer the majority of his shares he held, wealth and property to my name. He even entrusting me with the company’s future. All that would be left for Jonathan was a villa and a small portion of shares.
I chuckled lightly and shook my head. “Grandpa, this responsibility is too great for me. I can’t shoulder it. More importantly, I have already wasted ten years of my life on Jonathan. The rest of my days–I want to live for myself. I don’t want to have anything to do with him anymore.”
The Richards Corporation’s lead loved his grandson to the core. Even on his deathbed, he was still paving the road for him, willing to sacrifice others without hesitation.
But I had long outgrown my weakness. I would not be swayed by Richards’s sweet words nor deceived by the man’s gestures of goodwill.
I understood now–every so–called gift of fate comes with a hidden price tag.
Seeing my determination, the man let out a heavy cough. Jonathan’s emotions were also a bit agitated. He looked at me, his eyes red–rimmed, desperate to speak, but the old man raised a weak hand to silence him.
I bowed to him, unwilling to stay any longer.
When I walked to the door, I heard the old man’s helpless, heartbroken and pain–filled voice behind me.}
“Give up, Richards. No amount of wealth in the Richards Family will bring her back to you. You have made deep mistakes. You’re too deeply wrong.”
me?”
Then, the sharp sound of an alarm pierced the air.
The man who had spent his entire life scheming and struggling had finally reached his end, burdened with regret.
I asked the doctors to send a wreath in his memory, a final gesture to put my past with the Richards Family to rest.
As I reached the street corner, Richards ran after me again.”
Right there, on the bustling sidewalk, he fell to his knees.
“Zara, Grandpa is dead. You are all I have. I’m willing to repent. Just tell me what exactly do I have to do for you to come back to
It could be seen that this time, the repentance and apology came from his heart. It was sincere.
But just as such as assurances, I had heard it all before. Too many times, over too many years.
I looked at the children running past us, then at the elderly woman wiping the sweat from a little boy’s forehead.}
After a long silence, I finally spoke.
“Unless time rewinds and the dead come back to life.”
Realizing the impossibility of his wish, Richards broke down, sobbing like a spoiled child, hoping his tears would earn him what he
wanted.
I didn’t want to pay attention. I didn’t care.
Instead, amid his wailing, I hailed a cab.
As the car drove toward the rising sun, I never hesitated.”
And I never looked back.
(The End)
