Chapter 11
Edward suddenly remembered the old apartment, the shelves stacked with medicine bottles.
He had planned to check it out, but Viviana called about a troublemaker, and he had to rush over.
The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became. His severed finger throbbed, and thoughts swirled in his mind, just out of reach.
He didn’t hesitate any longer, grabbed his car keys, and headed out.
On the way to the apartment, memories kept flooding back–their first kiss, the first time they were together, and the first time they made a wish under the moon.
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Back then, Anastasia had said something he could never forget. “In this life, I will love you until I die.‘
His eyes reddened. He slapped himself hard to focus and drove with all his attention.
‘Anastasia, this time I’ll admit defeat. Can we start over?”
But when he arrived at her apartment, the door was wide open. Three workers were repainting the walls.
Everything was gone–the place was empty.
‘Anastasia, you really are something! How much longer do you plan to keep hiding?”
Viviana had somehow shown up too, looking flustered, still in slippers.
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Chapter 11
“I couldn’t reach you by phone, so I guessed you would come here. I didn’t expect she would run off again. After all these years, she still bolts whenever trouble comes.
“But finding her won’t be hard. Her father’s memorial is in a few days. She’ll probably go to the grave, right?
“This time, we need to make it clear. Being this reckless isn’t acceptable. If she won’t listen, I’ll pay to have her admitted to a mental hospital.”
She spoke too quickly to notice Edward’s expression darken.
Edward shot her a cold look. “Do you still think the little punishment you received isn’t enough?”
Ignoring Viviana, he strode forward and handed a few cigarettes to the workers.
“Hey, do you know where the previous tenant went?”
“I heard she was taken by ambulance. She didn’t make it and died at the hospital…”
Edward felt as if he was struck by lightning.
He staggered back a few steps, struggling to stay upright.
His phone buzzed again–it was the hospital.
He forced his trembling hand to stay steady and answered.
“Hello, is this Mr. Edward Gibson?”
“Yes. I’m speaking.”
“This is Philip Baird. Can you come to the hospital right now? Anastasia Morton has some inheritance matters that need to be handed to you.”
Chapter 11
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Chapter 12
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Chapter 12
Edward tried to keep his composure, muttering that Anastasia was ruthless, but his hand shook uncontrollably.
“I have to see her! This has to be one of her tricks. Make her come out now!”
Philip shook his head and led him to the morgue.
Edward gripped the white sheet covering her face, too terrified to lift it himself.
Time froze. He hardly dared to breathe. Finally, Philip pulled back the sheet.
Edward stumbled back, his legs giving out, and he fell to the floor. He tried to stand, but his legs felt heavy as lead. Tears streamed down his face.
“Anastasia, is this your way of revenge? Is it?”
“Get up! Didn’t you say you would hurt me and torture me? Get up!”
Before leaving, Philip said, “She was in decent shape before, but ever since you returned to the country, she has become unstable. Her condition worsened several times. These are the things she left behind. Take your time going through them.”
Edward picked up the photo, fingers trembling as he traced it. Tears and mucus smeared his hand.
Then, he saw the phone, fully charged. The wallpaper was a sweet photo of the two of them. All her messages were intact, carefully preserved.
Chapter 12
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Finally, he opened the photo album and saw it–the picture of him and Viviana hugging, taken the night before Anastasia destroyed the apartment.
His eyes widened.
That night, after finishing the experiment with Viviana, she had asked to borrow a lab book. When she got it, she suddenly hugged him and confessed…
He had pushed her away. Though his mind had wandered, he had held his ground.
So that was how it was..
Philip had arranged a simple funeral for Anastasia.
Edward was reluctant, but in the end, he was just an outdated ex- boyfriend. Philip had her will, so Edward had no right to interfere.
After the funeral, Edward received a call from Viviana.
Her family was under investigation, guilty of financial crimes, just like Anastasia’s father years ago. She begged for his help, but he refused harshly.
“It’s all retribution. We can’t escape it.”
Julian showed up too. He paid his respect, then turned to fix his gaze on Edward, and said softly, “She’s dead. Will you never forgive me in your life?”
Edward said flatly, “Jules, I’ll never forgive any of us.”
Without hesitation, Julian turned and left.
Edward sat by Anastasia’s gravestone, fingers tracing the carved name.
Chapter 12
“Annie, can we still be together in the next life?
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“If you agree, come back as a butterfly or dragonfly to see me, okay? Or become a gust of wind, a shower of rain, and send me a message, alright?”
The moment he spoke, the previously clear sky darkened. A cold wind whipped across his face.
Everyone else’s clothes remained still, but he was tossed about, a small stone hitting his cheek.
Half a minute later, the wind stopped. The crowd dispersed, and the cemetery fell silent.
Only one man remained, sitting alone, helplessly crying.
VILH
