When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 254

The casino bosses gave Judy a single chance. If Christopher was willing to give up all his winnings and return to the Underground City for her, both she and the baby would be safe.

Judy’s heart was in pieces. Part of her desperately wanted Christopher to come back for her. Another part hoped he’d be cold enough to stay away. He had finally made it back into the Watson family. He shouldn’t throw away everything he’d worked for.

But her hopes and fears didn’t matter in the end.

The deadline came and went. Christopher never returned.

A knife flashed in the dim light. Time crawled by. They cut off the little toes on both of Judy’s feet, slicing them clean at the root.

Then…

Jude did something reckless. He went against the bosses and faked Judy’s death, making it look like she’d died from weakness. Then, he snuck her out of the Underground City.

He couldn’t just stand by and let both her and the child die. After all these years, Jude had already thought of Judy as almost a daughter.

When Nelly heard this, her fists clenched so tight her nails left marks on her skin. She already knew Christopher was cold and heartless, but she never imagined he could be this cruel. Her mother’s blood was mixed into every cent of that Watson family fortune.

“Christopher.” Nelly spat out his name, her voice shaking with anger. She hated him down to her bones. Remembering how he’d abandoned her and her mother made her want to dig out his grave.

“Actually, that’s something I never understood either.” Jude frowned, lost in thought. At first, he’d thought Christopher was just cruel, a monster. But over the years, he kept thinking about those days Christopher and Judy spent in the casino. Christopher never seemed like the kind of man who didn’t care.

When Christopher left, he begged Judy to go with him. The casino bosses had set a price for her freedom. Christopher had to cut out his own tongue, willingly, for her sake. The secrets of the Underground City weren’t allowed to leave.

Christopher didn’t even hesitate. He picked up the knife. Jude still remembered how the two of them struggled for ages, arguing and pleading. In the end, Judy must have said something that convinced Christopher to walk away, shoulders heavy with defeat.

Jude watched Nelly, warmth and pride shining in his eyes. He never thought he’d live long enough to meet the daughter of Judy. Life had been kinder than he deserved.

“Jude, I have one more question,” Nelly said after a pause.

“Ask away.”

“The bosses of the Underground City aren’t easy to fool. After you saved my mother, were you alright?”

Nelly’s eyes flicked to the cane at Jude’s side, worry prickling in her chest. Was his limp because of what happened back then?

“Don’t worry. I’m just getting old.” Jude caught her concern and gave her a gentle smile. “I was lucky. There were a few bosses in the Underground City. One of them actually cared about your mother. After I helped Judy, he thought I was loyal and ended up looking out for me. I’ve had a pretty easy life since then.”