Ch. 911..920

Chapter 911

Cole suddenly reached out to grasp Angeline's cold and petite hands, reassuring her. "Don't worry, Angeline. I promise I'll see and take care of your kids as if they're my own."

Zayne took a spoon and knocked it against the back of Cole's hand. "Let go of my sister. What do you think you're doing, showing PDA in the middle of the day?"

Cole retracted his hands and smiled elegantly like a gentleman. "Just how conservative is your family?"

Zayne replied, "You tell me. Our last name is Severe, so I'm sure you can imagine the degree to which our family's values run. You'll have to go through many trials before marriage if you want to pursue my sister. Chastity, for one, then there's also the prohibiting of holding hands and kissing, but I suppose you could send each other flying kisses if you want."

Cole paid attention and listened, even recording them down carefully so he would not forget.

Angeline quietly admired Zayne's performance.

She was very curious as to how Zayne, the shameless delinquent and rulebreaker, came up with something like chastity before marriage.

"Have you and Big Sis gotten registered yet?" Angeline asked.

Zayne replied without thinking, "Nope."

Angeline continued, "Then are you living together?"

At that, Zayne realized the trap Angeline had set for him in her questions and protested. "You're becoming more of a busybody than the elderly women on bingo night. Don't you know worrying makes you grow old quicker?"

Angeline replied, "Who are you to force these rules on me when you couldn't follow them either?"

Zayne's eyes widened. "Are you this thirsty for action, Angeline? So much so that even strangers would do?"

Angeline was frustrated.

Cole liked the idea. "My family is fine with anything, Angeline."

Zayne glared at Cole. "Your intentions with my sister don't seem very pure."

Cole replied, "To tell the truth, it was love at first sight for me, and every subsequent meeting only deepened my feelings for her. I'd rather not marry at all if it's not her I'm marrying."

Zayne snickered. "Naha. Love at first sight? In other words, you mean you saw how pretty my sister is and you had some illicit thoughts about her."

Cole shrugged. "She's a pretty lady and I'm just a man. What's so wrong about that?" "Shallow." Zayne pointed out.

"You mean to tell me that you prefer dirty and sloppy women?" Cole fired back.

Zayne was speechless.

After a long while did his mind finally come up with something meaningful. "You want to marry my sister, but do you at least know what she likes? My sister likes vegetables that come in meat dishes. She orders meat dishes then picks the meat out for other people. Can you deal with that?"

Cole furrowed his brows. "Why do I have to eat them? Can't I just throw them into the rubbish?"

Zayne faced Angeline with his arms open. "He's not your type."

Cole's survival instincts kicked in. He smiled. "For Angeline, I can do it. I can eat her leftovers."

However, Zayne fired back. "You'll need more than just the willingness to eat her leftovers. The type of body you have matters as well. If you eat too much meat, your body won't look as good as it does now. Not to mention the high cholesterol that comes with constantly eating meat. Don't blame my sister if she ends up leaving you because of that."

Cole replied, "Isn't it normal for my body to change after eating so much fatty meat? I'm sure Angeline wouldn't leave me because of that."

Zayne stated offhandedly, "Yet someone still manages to be in great shape despite having done it for over ten

years."

He was blatantly showing off the love between Jay and Angeline.

Cole's expression turned into a look of embarrassment.

Angeline rolled her eyes at her brother. Her voice was fueled by revenge when she spoke, "There's nothing between us anymore, Zayne. Don't talk about him in front of me again." Zayne was taken aback. "Must you go to such extremes?"

He spared a furtive glance behind him only to find Jay Ares silently walking toward the exit.

His steps were reluctant and his retreating figure was full of sorrow.

Zayne's chest hurt. There was a sour and bitter aftertaste in his mouth.

"From now on, he walks his road and I take my path. There are no ties between us. We're both free now," Angeline answered him.

Hearing the determination in Angelina's voice, Jay felt an upsurge of misery fill his chest.

It turned out this was how it would end after he lived his entire life for her.

Chapter 912

Chapter 912

There was no one to blame but fate.

"Sigh. Forget it. We'll talk next time."

Zayne rushed to the server's desk and ordered a dish to go. With the dish in hand, he rushed out the door.

After exiting the restaurant, he came to a busy intersection. Jay Ares was nowhere to be found.

When in truth the man was sitting in a subtle car outside the restaurant. Taking off his sunglasses, Jay's piercing gaze fell on the restaurant's doors.

Cole and Angeline walked out with smiles on their faces.

"Let me send you back, Angeline," Cole said gentlemanly.

However, he was rejected by Angeline. "No, thank you. I'd like to spend some time alone for a while."

Angeline then turned to leave, the mirth in her eyes immediately washed over by loneliness.

Cole took a big step forward and hugged Angeline tightly from behind.

"I want to marry you, Angeline. Be with me. Let go of the past and start over with me, please?"

Jay's irises contracted as his fist tightened.

However, his agitation quelled quickly and his fists unfurled.

He had chosen to let her go, did he not? He should be the bigger person. He should give her his blessing now that she had someone who loved her.

Yet why did it hurt so bad?

Angeline's expression darkened as her tone turned cold. "Hands off, Cole."

With no other choice, Cole's grip on Angeline loosened.

Angeline's expression was stern when she turned around. "You might not know this, but I'm a clean freak too. Being touched by any other man than him makes me feel extremely uncomfortable, so much so that I most certainly will not start a new relationship with anyone at all. Don't waste your time on me, Cole. It's not fair to you."

Cole smiled elegantly. "It's my fault for rushing things. I'll wait for you, Angeline. I'll wait for the day time has healed your wounds." Angeline's eyes were brimmed with tears. "Thank you, but... I can't promise if that day will ever come."

Cole replied, "That's alright. I'll spend my whole life waiting for you."

Angeline felt guilty. "I'm sorry."

Then, she turned and left.

Cole waved his hands. "Bye, Angeline."

Sunlight bounced off the cold metal on his middle finger in sharp glints, piercing into Jay's eyes.

Blinking from the harsh glare, Jay's sharp eyes fell on the ring on Cole's hand. 1

It was a metal band engraved with the letter 'D' in the middle.

Jay's eyes were glued on the engraved letter 'D' that was of a unique font. Racking through his mind, he remembered the huge ring-shaped hidden weapon at the crime scene of the Bright Moon Village tragedy.

While the two were evidently different, Jay's penchant for fine details had him immediately catching on to their similarities.

Both rings were engraved with the same lettering in the same font.

The only difference was that Cole's ring employed positive etching while the ring from Bright Moon Village employed negative etching.

Jay thought to himself, 'Positive, bright. Therefore, walk freely in the light.

'Negative, dark. Therefore, hitmen who hide in the shadows.

'That must be so.'

Jay's sharp and dark eyes remained on Cole's gentle, warm features.

Disregarding his personal distaste for the man, Jay would admit that his man was indeed easy on the eyes.

Defined brows and enchanting eyes gave the man his charm.

Jay could not help but be reminded of his mother, Chloe Yorks.

Chapter 913

Chapter 913

Like his mother, Cole's irises were onyx and deep. His pupils also shimmered like the brightest stars in an otherwise endless and void-like sky.

Both of them had fair, smooth, and flawless skin. It was almost as if they had emerged from a milk bath.

His mother was indeed once an enchanting woman.

Cole's appearance also seemed to have a touch of feminine beauty to it.

Not to mention another similarity the two shared-they were both Yorks! 1

"Let's return, Finn." Jay suppressed the surge of emotions within his chest.

Returning to Tourmaline Estate, Jay locked himself in the study again and began to draft blueprints of the two rings.

Then, he handed them to Finn with an instruction." This should be Doomsday Organization's insignia if I'm not wrong. Have someone work on it overnight. Have the rest of Ghost wear one each and you should be safe."

Finn parted his lips. "What about you, Mr. President?"

A dark shadow cast over Jay's chiseled features." From what I've read up about this Doomsday Organization these few days, I can conclude that this

act of revenge would never end without the Ares family paying a hefty price. That's just the way they work, Finn. So let all this hate and revenge end with me."

Finn stared at the calendar on the wall. There were only three days left before death came knocking at their doors.

Jay stood from the chair, his head held high like a king in the night. There was a ferocious and domineering aura oozing from him. "I should begin the final preparations for the estate."

Jay made his way to Chateau de Selene. Seeing him, the grand old master huffed and turned away, ignoring him.

Grand Old Master had never once looked at him with anything but a long face ever since his ignorant decision to return to Tourmaline Estate.

Jay bent down in front of Grand Old Master and smiled. "How long more are you planning to hold it against me? There are only three days left until we die and part ways. We'll be reincarnated as different people with no memory of each other. Our paths may never cross again. Won't you take these last few days to teach your grandson a little more about life?"

Grand Old Master was exasperated.

"Look at you, Jay Ares. A man living on borrowed time and yet you still have the mood to joke around."

Perhaps the grand old master had adored Jay too

much.

As a result, Jay had always held himself cool and composed regardless of the situation.

"People die, Grandfather. Such is the way of life. I've spent mine loving with my entire heart. I have no regrets," Jay replied.

"Do you really?" Grand Old Master asked. "You even gave her Grand Asia. What if she takes this company you've poured your heart into and your children to marry the man you hate?" A ferocious glint cut through the calm on Jay's attractive features.

Grand Old Master clicked his tongue and sighed. "You don't want that to happen, do you? Then get out of Tourmaline Estate. I'm sure your abilities are more than enough to protect yourself." Jay replied, "Let's not waste time on such nonconstructive topics, shall we, Grandfather? I came here to discuss countermeasures against Doomsday Organization."

Grand Old Master shook his head vigorously. "Forget i t. Death is the only option."

Jay turned to look at the guard barrack not too far away. "If it is as you say, Grandfather, that death is the only option, then why won't you have them stay and die with you at Tourmaline Estate?" The grand old master's eyes flashed with guilt.

"I really can't hide anything from you."

Collecting himself, the grand old master began to discuss with Jay in all seriousness. "Doomsday likes using biochemical weapons when they slaughter, Jay. I suppose you could call it a silver lining, but the Ares family has come to understand a part of such weaponry during your mother's stay at Tourmaline Estate. I've made a tank strong enough to withhold such biochemical weapons and I'd like you to drive it that day."

Jay brushed him off with a perfunctory agreement." Sure. I've had a professor in senior cosmetics at the Legendary Youth Academy prepare a few scapegoats who have similar body shapes to you as well. All you'll have to do is wait patiently in the Underground Palace. Although you'll need to wait in hunger for help to arrive two days later."

Chapter 914

Chapter 914

The grand old master nodded with a smile. "Sure."

While both believed that their plans were the best, the two believed even more in their own ability in looking for loopholes in the other's scheme.

"You can't go back on your words, Jay. I won't hide in the Underground Palace if you don't get in the tank."

Jay was an exceptional negotiator. "11:59 PM. We'll follow through with the other's plans."

Grand Old Master was displeased, for he had not an inch of advantage in the situation. "You've never once let your grandfather win. Haven't you ever heard of respecting your elders?"

Jay Ares held his ground. "You've never let me win either, Grandfather, not even when I was just a baby. Haven't you heard of letting children win? How am I supposed to respect my elders if you've never taught me what it means to let children win, Grandfather?"

Grand Old Master waved a hand at him. "Go away. All you know how to do is frustrate me."

Jay turned and left.

The grand old master tapped without rhythm against the coffee table in front of him, his expression one of confusion. "I'd like to see how you're going to hide us all in the Underground Palace." Exiting Chateau de Selene, Jay looked up at the tower with the countdown numbers on it.

D3!

A confident smile broke on his chiseled features.

Two days later.

Angeline spent every day calling Baby Robbie only to be sent to voicemail every time. The person at the other end of the line did not show any hints of picking up. That had Angeline growing anxious. With no other option, she dialed the numbers of friends who lived over in S country and inquired about the situation of the Taekwondo competition there.

However, this was what she heard from her friends," There isn't any youth division Taekwondo competition in S country, though."

Angeline felt her heart sink.

Summoning her courage, she dialed Jay's number to ask.

Red Spider Lily was a bright song, sang by Angeline herself when she was young. Her voice was light and clear, while her heart was carefree and void of anything negative.

Putting it as his ringtone, Jay would play it time and time again whenever he found himself missing Angeline.

Jay was stunned to hear Red Spider Lily ring out on its own accord this time. After a while, he reached out a shaky hand to pick up the phone.

The screen displayed Angeline's name.

Jay's chest was full with a heart-warming surprise.

Trembling, he accepted the call. After a long while of silence did Angeline's interrogative voice ring out." Where's Robbie? Where are you keeping him?" Her voice seemed to drip with distress.

Jay wanted nothing more than to console her, but this was also the last day. He refused to provoke her during such dangerous times. "Angeline Severe!" He forced his voice to sound as cold and collected as possible. "I've already sent Robbie to a secret location to train." Jay prayed that Robbie going missing was merely a calamity and that he would soon return to soothe the pain Angelina was due.

 

Chapter 915

Chapter 915

Angeline asked softly, "How long more until Robbie comes back?"

Jay swallowed, taking his time before he replied," That'll depend on him. He'll be back soon if he's hardworking with his studies and martial arts practice."

Angeline could not bring herself to accept such ruthless separation regardless of how casual Jay tried to make it sound.

She began to yell. "He's just a child, Jay Ares. How could you send him somewhere so far away? I want him back."

She wailed. "You b*stard."

The corners of Jay's eyes burned. He wanted to find and bring Robbie back too, but it was no longer within his abilities.

The sudden outburst of emotions had Angelina's optic nerves going haywire and she immediately lost sight in her eyes.

This happened while Angeline was walking on a crowded pavement. The sudden loss of sight had her staggering onto the asphalt before she knew it. The sharp whistle of an engine echoed through the line, followed by hoarse yelling. "Hey, are you trying to

get yourself killed?"

"Sorry, sorry, sorry..."

Angeline saw nothing but black, almost as if she had been engulfed by black-out curtains with no exit in sight.

"My eyes..." she muttered to herself.

Hearing the myriad of other sounds trickling through the line, Jay began to filter out the truth from a load of mixed information.

Unease made its home in his chest. Had Angeline's eyes given out?

Such thought would never have crossed his mind had it not been for the fact that Angeline once lost her vision for a short period of time before.

Right at that moment, he heard another shout from the other end of the line. "Don't come out and cause problems if you're blind."

"Sorry, sorry." Angeline apologized slowly.

Jay shot up from his chair and dashed toward the door. Then, as if he had forgotten something, he turned back and took the lavender cologne on the old shelf. He drenched himself with the scent. Tracing the location of her phone, Jay found Angeline in no time. She sat there helplessly on the road with her hands wrapped around her knees and her head between them.

She was letting out heartbreaking sobs.

People had gathered around her and began to point fingers.

"What a shameless blind woman, running to the middle of the road to scam drivers who hit you."

"Don't you blind people have your own designated paths? It must be my misfortune to meet such an unethical blind person like you."

Jay walked over, his gaze sharp enough to kill. After staring down at everyone around her, they began to flutter away like birds.

It was not his Angelina's fault that she had suddenly lost her vision, so of course she was not used to walking those designated paths.

To think that the public would openly humiliate her like that. Absolutely disgusting.

Lifting Angelina's arms and placing them around his neck, Jay skillfully carried her away.

On his back, Angeline trembled as she cried.

Jay dared not speak while tears of his own trickled out his own eyes.

On Jay's back, Angeline thanked him tearfully. "Thank you for helping me."

Jay dared not respond.

Instead, he placed her hand on the corner of his lips. Angeline was stunned. "You can't speak?"

He curled her fingers toward her in reply.

Angeline's tears slowly stopped. Why did this mute man feel so familiar?

His back was as broad and as warm as Jay's.

However, the man seemed to be covered in a scent Jay hated the most.

Lavender. Its flower language was waiting for love.

She had gifted him such a cologne before only to receive a frown that spoke of his distaste. "Lavender means to wait for love, Angeline. Your Jaybie doesn't like that. His love is more of a 'gather ye rosebuds while ye may' type of love, instead of waiting until it's too late. Your Jaybie loves in the moment with no regrets."

Chapter 916

Chapter 916

How could this warm and broad back belong to Jay?

Carrying her to Josephine's rented apartment, he sent the latter a quick text stating, 'Sis Angeline's eyes have gone blind. Return quickly to take care of her.' Josephine did not reply, not even after a long while.

Unable to leave a blind Angeline alone in the apartment, Jay decided to stay and take care of her.

He poured Angeline tea and made her food.

Filtering through the lavender cologne he had sprayed on himself, Angeline found the scent of him left behind in the room. It solidified the idea that Jay was indeed right there.

As they ate, Angeline spoke, sounding touched, "Can I touch your face? You've spent the better half of an entire day taking care of me and I'd like to know what my savior looks like."

The cutleries in Jay's hands fell onto the table as he nervously came up with a way to respond to Angeline's small request.

Standing up, he took silent steps toward the coffee table and picked up the scissors sitting atop it. Quickly, he snipped his hair into a messy buzzcut.

Then, he returned to the dining table and held Angeline's hands carefully in his before placing them

on his face. He also made sure to contort his handsome features into a twisted expression.

Trailing her fingers on his face, Angeline felt a jolt of electricity buzzing through her veins as her fingertips inched up his cheek.

Angeline was shocked. Only Jay could feel so familiar.

She began to tremble in elation.

She trailed her hands from his messy buzzcut to his contorted expression before settling them on his seductive Adam's apple. She prayed that her heart was wrong.

However, Jay suddenly held her hands and placed them back on the table, rejecting her touch.

A little embarrassed, Angeline asked, "I just wanted to know whether you're a man or a woman."

Jay wrote a reply on her palm. 'Man'.

Angeline spoke, "You remind me of my..."

Hesitating, she choked out the next word, "Love."

A sweet and shy smile graced her features as she spoke of him.

Jay was stunned. It had all been a facade! The indifferent expression she had been wearing in front of him as of recent was fake!

He wrote in her palm again. 'How is he?'

After a while, Angeline replied, "He's the best Jaybie

the world could offer."

Jay wrote again. 'I don't believe you. The world has no such perfect person.'

Angeline hid the smile behind her eyelids. Her voice was sharp when she spoke next, "Indeed. Such a perfect Jaybie doesn't exist anymore... He died."

Jay felt his blood freeze over. He was rooted in place for a long while.

He lightly let go of her hands and stood, his legs feeling weak.

Right then, his phone rang. The caller ID showed Josephine. Jay then opened the door and left.

"Hello?"

Zayne's voice rang out from the speaker as he accepted the call.

"How's my sister, President Ares?"

"We'll talk more when you arrive." Jay did not even have the strength to talk.

Angelina's disappointment in him loomed over him like a curse, imprisoning him.

He returned to Angelina's side and began to help her clean while he forced down the pain within his heart.

Then, he turned to look at the clock on the wall.

It was 7:09 PM.

The Ares family would meet its end in a few hours.

Chapter 917

Chapter 917

Jay left without a sound.

Zayne rushed over to the apartment to find Angeline sitting straight on the sofa. With her eyes unfocused, she looked blank and lost. Zayne found his legs almost giving out at the sight. "Angel." Zayne staggered forward.

Hearing Zayne's voice, Angeline stood excitedly. "He came, didn't he, Zayne?"

Zayne was rooted in place.

Then, he smiled bashfully. "I don't know. All I know is that I received an anonymous tip telling me to pick you up from here. So I came."

Angeline was feeling a rush of adrenaline coursing through her. "It must be him. He pretended to be mute and even sprayed the lavender cologne he hated the most just to hide his identity from me." Angeline's tears began to fall. "He must have come to help me when he heard that my eyes can't see anymore through the phone. But I don't get it. Why would he push me away so ruthlessly if he can't let go of me?"

Zayne uttered out, "Let's go take you to the doctor, okay, Angel? Let's go take a look at your eyes."

Angeline nodded.

Zayne crouched in front of her. "I'll carry you."

Angeline placed her hands on Zayne's shoulders. Zayne almost staggered as he stood, causing suspicion to swim in Angelina's eyes.

Not everyone's backs were as steady and warm as Jay's.

Angeline was certain that the man from moments ago was indeed Jay Ares.

Zayne brought Angeline to Grand Asia Hospital. After giving her a full-body check-up, the doctor concluded, saying, "While the organs aren't damaged, your loss of sight may be caused by the nerves that have gone haywire. I suggest that you stay for observation."

The heavy weight on Zayne's shoulders lifted.

Grayson suddenly appeared in front of Angeline with a serious look as they made their way out of Grand Asia. "Please follow us, Miss Severe. There's a document we need you to sign."

Hearing Grayson's voice, Angeline asked shakily, "What document?"

Grayson hesitated before answering, "The divorce papers from the president."

Angeline froze.

After a long while, Angeline replied with her voice shaking with emotions, "Alright."

It was naive of her to assume that he would forget about the divorce should she not bring up the subject.

After all, as long as they had not yet filed for a divorce, he would always be her husband even if he dumped her or was cold to her.

However, there was no escaping fate. What would come would come.

Carefully, Angeline walked downstairs with her hands on the handrail.

By the entrance was a beautiful red limited edition Ferrari.

The interior of the car was luxurious, set with sunflowers made of diamonds everywhere.

Clear as day, it was a woman's car.

Respectfully, Grayson opened the passenger door for her.

Zayne was shocked, for Grayson's attitude toward her reminded him of that to Jay-detailed and with nothing amiss.

With Angeline in the car, Grayson caringly closed the door for her as well.

Seeing that Zayne was still shocked, Grayson lowered his voice and spoke in a grave tone, "Don't worry, Mr. Severe. We'll take good care of... Ms. President."

It finally dawned on Zayne. Angeline was Grand Asia's new executive president.

Zayne lied to Angeline, saying, "I need to use the toilet,

Angel. Call me when you're done with what you need to do, alright?"

Angeline nodded. She trusted Grayson. The feeling was an extension of the unbridled trust she had for Jay.

In the back seat of the Ferrari were three other members of Ghost, all donned in black suits.

The car drove to its destination-a secret castle.

As of that moment, the clock struck 11 PM.

Chapter 918

Chapter 918

Grayson's expression turned grim.

Arriving at the castle, two lines of beautiful ladies approached and helped Angeline inside.

Angeline felt impatient. "I thought we were signing documents, Grayson? Where have you brought me?"

Grayson replied politely, "Give me a moment. I'll retrieve the documents."

The ladies helped Angeline to the study as Grayson placed the divorce papers in front of her.

Then, he handed her a pen.

Angeline's heart broke. Holding the pen, she found herself unable to summon the courage to sign her name at all.

"Tell me the contents of the divorce agreement, Grayson," she suddenly spoke.

Grayson felt uneasy.

Angeline spoke again, "He has a huge family and his own business. Money is bound to get involved in this divorce. Not to mention our three kids. I have to know what happens to them."

Grayson replied, "The president leaves all three children under your care."

Angeline's expression froze. "Does he not want any of

them? Not even one?"

Angeline used to be afraid that he would ruthlessly take them all away. Instead, he wanted none at all.

His decision chilled Angeline's heart.

Why else would he not want any of their children if not because he wanted to cut all ties with her?

"What about his wealth? Do I not get any at all?" Angeline stood in indignance.

She did not need the money, but this was a matter of his attitude.

She wanted, no, needed to know.

However, Grayson remained silent.

Angeline burst into unhinged laughter. He might as well be dead to her. "So that's how it is, huh?"

Angeline's maddening laughter quickly turned into mournful sobs.

"What have I done wrong, Jaybie? Why are you treating me like this? What did I do wrong? Tell me. I'll change. I promise, I'll be better.

"I know I should've listened to you. I'm sorry for disappointing you. I went to get plastic surgery even when you forbade me. I left when you told me to stay. That's why you're angry, right? But hasn't it been long enough? Hasn't this punishment lasted long enough?

"Please, Jaybie. Please, come back to me. I'm sorry.

Please."

Angeline wailed, the sorrow in her voice clenching the hearts of everyone who heard.

Grayson silently wiped a tear of his own.

His gaze was fixed at the clock on the wall as he watched the minute hand tick by. The Signal of Death was floating about in his mind.

The way the number dropped daily from 13 to 1 was seared into the back of his mind.

He wanted nothing more than to stay by the president's side and be his ride or die.

However, the president had made the members of Ghost vow to him. They had vowed to protect Angeline for the rest of their lives and to give themselves to Angeline as the new head of command. In a rage, Angeline ripped the document to shreds.

"I don't want a divorce." Angeline protested.

"He was the one who sought me out first. He'd better be ready to deal with me for the rest of his life.

"He promised that we'd be together, till death do we part. That we'd face everything together, all the ups and downs of life. So why is he going back on his words? Why?"

The divorce papers flew about the room like snowflakes fluttering in the air.

Angeline sobbed.

The castle was filled with an air of sorrow.

At the same time in Eminent Honor Limited.

Chapter 919

Chapter 919

Zayne stared uneasily at the clock on the wall.

Josephine sat on the bed, her hands tied behind her back.

After the nth time of turning to look at the wall, Josephine could not help but tease him. "This is already the 99th time you've looked at the clock, Zayne. Do you want to hug it? Maybe even live the rest of your life with the clock?" 1

Zayne sat anxiously next to her.

"Josephine, what if I tell you that tonight's the night of Doomsday's and Tourmaline Estate's battle? What would you-"

Josephine's eyes widened with fear at the implications of his words. She began to yell and scream, "Let me out. I need to go."

Zayne was taken aback by her sudden outburst." Josephine, I just said maybe-"

Josephine began to struggle against the ties. "What if this maybe becomes a reality, Zayne? That means I'll never get to see my family ever again after tonight. You're taking away my last chance to say goodbye, Zayne! How could you be so merciless? You monster!"

Zayne felt his mind crack under the weight of Josephine's angry words.

"After tonight, Josephine, when morning comes tomorrow, I promise I'll untie you, okay? I promise."

Right at that moment, a thunderous echo rang from outside the windows. As if a thunder strong enough to split the sky had sounded, its vibrations left no corner of Imperial Capital untouched. Zayne and Josephine felt their eardrums about to burst.

The two shared a look.

Pulling open the curtains, Zayne looked toward the direction of Tourmaline Estate to find it engulfed by a dark fog.

Zayne muttered to himself, "Is it actually happening?"

Mustering up the force of 1,000 men, Josephine tried to break free from the rope around her wrists.

Zayne turned to see her face contorting from the effort put in her hands and the breathtaking red in the corner of her eyes. She was being driven by the pain in her heart.

"I hate you, Zayne Severe.

"I hate you."

Josephine yelled, "It's my fault for loving you.

"If you can't marry me, that's fine. But why can't you even let me fulfill this last wish of mine?

"You sure are good to me."

Zayne's breath hitched at Josephine's words.

"I'm doing this for your sake, Josephine."

Josephine yelled, "For my sake? You'd respect my wishes and help them come true if you were really doing it for me."

Zayne trembled as he walked toward Josephine, pulling her into his arms as she wailed to her heart's content.

"Please, Josephine. I'm begging you. It's just for tonight, okay? Don't cry, it'll be over soon."

Josephine's voice was laced with anger. "No. If anything happens to the Ares family after tonight, I swear, Zayne. I swear, I'll kill myself then and there." Zayne gaped in reaction to her words.

The crying, the tantrums, and the kicking had left Josephine exhausted.

Limply, she fell onto the bed and began to accuse Zayne of his sins. "You have no idea what it means to love, Zayne."

"We used to just be the eldest daughter of the Ares family and the son of a downtrodden family. You felt like you weren't enough and you wouldn't dare to accept my love, so I chased after you instead. You loved me, didn't you? So why didn't you accept my love? You just had to push a Shirley Thomas between us. You just had to burn away every lingering thought I had of you.

"Alright, you did it. There's nothing left for me to stay. All I want is to die with my family, so why do you have to stop me?

"Why do you always have to go against my heart's wishes? It hurts, more that it'd hurt to die.

"I shouldn't have loved you.

"I mean it, Zayne. I should never have loved you."

Zayne's eyes glistened with tears as he struggled to breathe. His chest was being weighed down by a boulder over his heart.

Staring at Josephine's spiritless eyes, he muttered sorrowfully, "You're right. You should never have loved me. I'm not someone who deserves the love you're willing to give."

Chapter 920

Chapter 920

Staring at Zayne, Josephine found that there was nothing but shock on his attractive features, not even a n ounce of anger between his brows.

Josephine crawled over to him and pleaded. "Please, Zayne. I've never begged much of you, so please, just this once, can't you just let me fulfill this wish of mine?"

Tears streamed freely from Zayne's eyes. "I would do anything to fulfill any other wish of yours, Josephine. But how am I supposed to say yes when you're asking me to kill yourself?"

Josephine replied, "I'm not afraid of dying, Zayne. I'm really not. If anything, death is more of an escape for me."

Zayne burst into anger. "Do you even hear yourself? How could you be so ruthless as to ask for death in front of me? Tell me, what did I risk my life for when you're not even going to cherish your life?" Josephine's eyes widened.

"What are you talking about?"

Zayne was extremely despondent. "I don't know what I'm talking about either, Josephine. I'm probably just going crazy from your tantrums."

Josephine's enchanting gaze hardened. "What did you

just say?"

As if Zayne would dare to repeat.

Josephine started yelling, "Tell me, Zayne. Explain what you meant. I don't want to owe you anything. So when exactly did you save my life?" Zayne remained silent.

A stray tear trickled out the corner of his eye to the corner of his lips.

Memories from years ago that Josephine tried to forget surfaced in her mind.

Memories of being taken advantage of while she pursued Zayne.

Her entire body felt limp when she awoke in the hospital.

There were only 24 hours' worth of memories in her mind, yet the calendar on the table showed that 40 days had passed.

To help her move on from the scarring memories, Jay had sent her overseas before she knew it.

It slowly muddled the memories in her mind.

If Zayne said he had saved her, then that would be the only plausible time.

"Zayne." Josephine's voice was warm and soft. "Don't be angry anymore, okay? I promise I won't try to kill myself. So please, bring me to Tourmaline Estate, I just want to see them again. Even if it's from afar. I promise I won't make a sound. I just want to see." Zayne stared at her doubtfully.

The request in Josephine's eyes swayed Zayne's judgment.

He had never fulfilled any of her requests before.

"How am I supposed to believe you?" Zayne asked weakly.

Josephine smiled palely. "I suddenly don't want to die anymore. I have to live if I want to recover the memories my brother hid from me back then."

Zayne's complexion paled-

However, Zayne believed that she no longer wished to die as he read the determination in Josephine's eyes. Josephine leaped off the bed and ran toward the door the moment Zayne undid the ropes around her wrist.

However, she only found Zayne's hand tightly gripping her wrists.

Looking at him, Josephine read the concern in his eyes.

Josephine smiled. "You can come if you don't believe me."

Zayne nodded. "Alright."

Josephine was stunned. She could not believe that he had just agreed to a risky adventure without hesitation.

At the same time in Tourmaline Estate.

It was absolute chaos.