When Vincent woke up, Sable was sitting beside his bed, looking concerned.
“Vincent, thank God you’re awake! The housekeeper called me in the middle of the night, said you fainted… you scared me to death.”
“Why are you here?” He rubbed his pounding temples, his voice cold.”
She blinked. “What do you mean? You asked me to stay here, remember? You said I should move in and take care of myself during the pregnancy.“N
She tried to take his hand, guiding it toward her stomach. But the image of my bloodstained miscarriage report flashed through Vincent’s mind and he jerked his hand away. His expression cold.
Sable hesitated, her voice cautious. “What’s wrong, Vincent? You’ve been… different since last night.””
He didn’t answer her question. Instead, he spoke flatly, “Go back to Crystal Pointe. It’s quieter there. I’ll arrange for someone to take care of you.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re sending me away?”
Without giving her a reply, he got up from bed and headed to the bathroom. By the time he finished showering, one of the maids informed him that breakfast was ready.}
He sat down, trying to sip his usual bowl of congee–but the moment the taste hit his tongue, he spat it out./
“Who made this?!” he barked, glaring at the staff. “It’s disgusting!“}
The chef looked like he was about to burst into tears. “Sir… this is the same congee I’ve always prepared.“}
“You think I don’t know how my own breakfast tastes? This isn’t the same.”}]
The chef hesitated before whispering, “Sir… ever since you married Madam, she’s always been the one preparing your breakfast. She wakes up at five every morning to simmer the porridge slowly, for hours, so it comes out perfectly.“}
He froze.
Even my breakfast… was my quiet devotion all these years.
He shoved the bowl aside, his appetite completely gone. Without another word, he stood up and rushed toward the nursing home.
By now, his thoughts had finally cleared.§
I couldn’t have gone far.”
I still had my brother that sickly brother I’d do anything for. As long as my brother remained here, I’d have to come back.
Yes. He thought I had no choice.}
He stepped on the gas, his heart racing.
But when he arrived, the director delivered a blow he wasn’t ready for. “He passed away.”}
He stared at the director. “Andrea put you up to this? How much did she bribe you?”
The director’s face darkened. “Mr. Blackthorne, I work for your corporation, but some things need to be said. That night–if you hadn’t blocked the main for Miss Sable’s birthday convoy, the ambulance might have made it in time.”}
“What are you talking about?“}
The director took a breath and explained the whole situation.”
As he listened, a cold sweat broke across his back.
No. No, that couldn’t be true. I was just upset that he was celebrating Sable’s birthday. I hired a few actors to stage that little drama to get his attention. That ambulance? That wasn’t real. There’s no way my brother was actually inside.
He refused to believe it.
He frantically called a friend, demanding to pull up hospital records. He needed proof. Proof that my brother was still alive. Minutes later, his friend sent him a photo – a death certificate.
He added, “Andrea personally signed off on it. I tried calling you that night when she came to file it. But you didn’t pick it up.” He struggled to remember.
That night… he had been with Sable, celebrating her birthday, laughing and kissing under fireworks while his wife handled her brother’s death alone.
He swallowed hard. “Where’s he buried?“}
“He wasn’t. She cremated him. She said she was taking him to see the world.”
Then it hit him. The urn. That ceramic urn I carried back to the house
Everything I said had been true.
And he hadn’t believed me.
–
it really did hold the ashes of the person I loved most.
He’d let Sable smash that urn… while I watched me destroy what little I had left.
He closed his eyes, his chest heaving.”
He left the nursing home with heavy steps.
In the car, he called his assistant. “Find her. Find out where she went.”
Twenty minutes later, he called back.
1004
