I knew he had returned to himself.
When exactly had it happened?
I didn’t speak, just pressed my
my lips top
together.
Marcus gave a bitter smile, then coughed violently, spitting up blood.
“Im sorry. I came back too late. It wasn’t until after you left that I remembered…I owe you and Lily so much.
“There’s…a USB drive in our marital home. It contains all the evidence of Grandfather’s crimes..
As he finished speaking, he coughed up more blood.
The machines kept emitting shrill warning beeps.
Marcus looked at me, his eyes full of remorse and despair.
“Olivia…I’m so sorry…” he gasped out. “If there’s…another life…
The monitors blared with alarms again.
Doctors and nurses rushed into the room…
In the end, Marcus didn’t make it.
He died.
His death became the final straw in bringing down Grandfather Holt
I found the USB drive and handed it over to the police along with the evidence I had collected.
contained records of Grandfather Holt’s crimes over the y
years.
The evidence was irrefutable. Grandfather Holt was arrested by the authorities.
The Holt family’s business empire crumbled overnight.
Ryan didn’t leave.
He stayed behind alone.
Ryan didn’t leave.
He stayed behind alone.
He said he wanted to remain and atone for the Holt family’s sins.
The nightmare was finally over. Lily and I embarked on a new life.
As Lily g
grew older, she became more lively and cheerful.
She no longer mentioned Marcus, but occasionally when drawing, she would sketch a blurry male figure.
Looking at those drawings, I would break down in tears.
I had always thought children that young wouldn’t remember much,
But in her heart, she had never truly forgotten that father who had hurt her, and ultimately redeemed himself with his life.
Jack remained by my side as a brother figure.
He became “Uncle Jack” to Lily.
We passed our days peacefully like this.
Perhaps it wasn’t a perfect ending.
But for Lily and me, it was the best outcome we could have hoped for.
