al bow. "I have carried out Mr. Harding's orders and secured

r chest. Her throat felt raw as she murmur

she expected Leacrest to be her home eventually. She could not b

d. "Understood. I'll

efore we leave for Leacrest, would you like to go

urn against herself

th Brian. A suitcase rolled behind her while she still held Charlotte's a

and opened the passenger door. He carefu

o the driveway when she noticed the sui

ief. The surprise on her face soon

rian, tears gathering in her eyes. "Brian, I told you... You reall

o you just because I was feeling awful during my period. Because of me, Bethany lie

orse when he saw Bethany standing there with he

e center of her life. If anything had truly happened to the girl, how could Bethany return to pack a suitcase

ly curled across Bri

reer until Charlotte came along and made you settle down. What happened now? Did you suddenly get the itch to perform aga

struck Bethany harder th

e everything for. She had fought tooth and nail to mar

ears, yet he spoiled her without hesitation an

ay, given birth to his daughter, and surrendered all the money his father had left her so he

ere parched, and her voice came out rough and broke

able truth, but speaking it aloud reopened the woun

very tremor in her voice was simply anot

Bethany! How many times are you going to do this? Charlotte is a

Brian taking care of me, you can just tell me. Why do you have to keep saying Charlotte is dead? You can't use something so cruel to con

d about his exhaustion and understood how hard he worked. Bethany had never been like that. All she s

ease stop saying such awful things about Charlotte because

hand, his expression turning cold as he stared at Be

e shut her eyes. There was nothing left to explain. No

ound and headed toward the road, pu

fter her and seized the su

was frigid as she turned

"Please don't leave. And don't argue with Brian anymore, alright

the pink jar Bethany had been

eyes. Before Bethany could react, she su

, anger flashing across he

ecting. It must mean so much to her. Help me take it from her! If we us

for Bethany. Yet watching Lexie desperately try to re

and said coldly,

jar and forcefully pulle

me!" Bethan

r legs were still recovering from the injuries she had suffer

ped the jar from her arms an

preading across her face. She glanced at Bethany. "What exac

saw what was inside, her expression

om deep within her chest. But

exie's grasp and slamm

side, then scattered across the ground

ped heavily onto her knees, staring at th

e... Char

shes, now mingled with dirt and tiny pieces of gravel. She scooped up what s

ward Brian. The words came out strangled, almost imposs