His Regret Arrived Three Days Late novel Chapter 41

“Dad,” Annika whispered, her throat too dry to form a sound as she watched her father’s face turn ashen on the operating table.

Marcus’s eyelids fluttered open. He saw Annika, and his gaze instinctively drifted behind her. The moment he laid eyes on Conrad’s tall, imposing figure, a relieved smile finally touched his pale, chapped lips.

“...Conrad,” he managed to say, his voice a faint whisper.

“I’m here.” Conrad strode to Annika’s side and took Marcus’s slowly rising hand in his.

With a great effort, Marcus pulled Annika’s hand forward, placing it into Conrad’s. “Conrad, don’t let me down…”

With that final word, the hands he held went limp, and his own fell to his side. His eyes closed, never to open again.

Tears streamed down Annika’s face, a relentless, unchecked flood. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. Her body trembled and then went limp.

Conrad wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into his embrace and holding her tight. They were so close, yet he felt something slipping away, disappearing with Marcus’s last breath. It was why he had driven so frantically to get Marcus to the hospital, a desperate race against time. But in the end, it wasn’t enough to save him.

The news of Marcus Sargent’s death swept through Seafall City like a wildfire. Creditors swarmed the Sargent Group, and Harvey, unable to fend them off, tried desperately to reach Annika.

It was Hank who answered Annika’s phone. He had been sent by Conrad to manage the situation at the Sargent Group and now reported back to his boss.

“Mr. Beryl, the Sargent Group’s debts are far greater than we imagined. On top of that, there’s evidence of massive tax evasion…”

“What are the Beryl Group’s liquid assets?” Conrad cut him off.

“No, Mr. Beryl had him moved to the Sargent Villa.”

Annika frowned in confusion. Hadn’t she mortgaged the villa?

As if reading her mind, Beth explained, “Mr. Beryl bought it back. He said it was his home too, and Mr. Sargent couldn’t be laid to rest anywhere else.”

Before Beth could finish, Annika was gone, leaving only a fleeting glimpse of her back.

When Annika burst into the Sargent Villa, Hank was directing a team of people setting up for the wake. He saw her and softly called out, “Mrs. Beryl,” but hesitated to approach.

Annika stood by the coffin, her hand trembling violently as she touched the polished wood. Her face was deathly pale. Though her heart was breaking, she stubbornly refused to shed another tear.