Several days later, Christian returned Athena's ashes to the Tanaka family and the Yoshikawa family in Rohomes.
It was a rainy day, with misty morning weather and low visibility. Looking around, the lush greenery was shrouded in white mist.
A private plane was parked on the empty runway. Vicki and Joyce were both there. Vicki held a large black umbrella, big enough to shelter both of them. The wild winds blew, and it took all of Vicki's strength to keep the umbrella from being blown away.
Joyce held onto Vicki's arm, silently gazing ahead. Christian boarded the plane and handed over a black-cloth-wrapped box to the personnel on the private plane.
Vicki glanced at Joyce. "Why did you come out in this weather? I said I could handle it alone. Are you worried? Do you want to see Athena's ashes with your own eyes?"
"A little," Joyce admitted. "She was so malicious, I'm afraid she might come back."
"Don't worry, that's impossible," Vicki scoffed. "She knew it herself, she didn't have long. That's why she wanted to take us down with her, even in her final moments, her intentions were so cruel."
"Yeah, she was addicted to drugs and wouldn't have lived much longer. In a way, I think her whole life was a tragedy. Born into the Yoshikawa family, she saw the darkness of human nature from a young age. She gradually disguised herself, living in deceit, and in the end, I'm afraid she even believed it herself," Joyce shrugged. "I can imagine, she had deluded herself a long time ago."
"I agree. At first, she might have genuinely felt something for Mr. Warner. But her possessiveness was too strong; she didn't understand what love truly meant. In her eyes, it was all about possession. I think the years of repressed life led to a severe mental illness. But neither the Yoshikawa family nor the Ballard family were willing to face this fact. Without proper treatment, she'd only become more extreme," Vicki sighed. "Sometimes, it's really better to be born into an ordinary family. Maybe it would have been a different life."
"Yeah," Joyce agreed. "To whom much is given, much is expected. You and I are destined to lead extraordinary lives."
"Let it go, I've gotten used to it," Vicki patted Joyce's shoulder.
At that moment, after handing over the urn, Christian came down from the plane and walked over to Joyce.
His hand held a similarly black umbrella, and the fine rain fell on his shoulders, covering his black suit with a layer of mist.
"It's all over. You can leave now," Christian's voice was calm, devoid of any emotion. Whether it was the truth of the past or Athena's death, these facts had all been fully accepted, and no ripples stirred in his heart.
Joyce glanced at Christian's hand holding the umbrella, wrapped in thick gauze that was faintly seeping, and asked with concern, "Your hand, it looks severely burned. Is it serious?"
This was when Christian prevented Athena from throwing sulfuric acid, which ended up splashing on his own hand.
"It's okay," Christian dismissed. In reality, the burn was severe, even down to the bone, but it no longer mattered. With this scar, he would always remember his past mistake and the profound lesson.
Suddenly the air fell quiet.
Joyce didn't know what else to say.
The once close distance seemed to make them more distant due to this incident. Joyce was mainly concerned that Christian had internal struggles.
Vicki, known for her straightforward nature, couldn't stand such an awkward situation. "What are you two doing? If you have something to say, just say it. We've known each other for a long time, there's no need for this."
Christian's face turned serious. "Joyce, I've heard about the poisoning incident with Luther, and it still hasn't been resolved, has it? Athena is not absolved from this. I've heard reports that Athena once used money to threaten you. Later, the antidote was destroyed. All of this is my doing. If I hadn't believed in Athena, how could you have fallen to this point today?"
Vicki was stunned and was about to ask Joyce.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Wrong marriage and sweet love (Joyce and Luther)
If this is the ending of this story the story then I wish I hadn’t started reading it doesn’t even end right has not closure. To bad these writers don’t put much into their endings....
When will the new chapters come I can't wait any longer...
Very strange ending, is Joyce pregnant again or does she still have remnants of the devil with her. Christian should have apologized and made up with Luther and Felix. Too much violence and twists and turns, once settled, everyone should be happy and healthy....
Omg… can’t you just let Luther and Joyce live in peace with their children….another controversy doesn’t add to the story....
Not again, ugh … just get rid of this disgusting despicable woman...
Hopefully the underground bio lab East523will be found soon and Luther will make a full recovery, Lily will be reunited with the family and all will be good. Otherwise this will be a very disappointing story....
Please don’t make more trouble for Joyce and Luther, they need to have their children and be happy...
Looking forward to Joyce shooting Otis where it will hurt him the most and end his disgusting ways with women. He’s a pig, deserves to lose his “unit”....
Just tell him you’re the one that saved him , not the evil woman and find your beautiful love story together. Quit being a wet blanket, too smart for that....
I hate it when the hero and heroine are made out to be fools for the evil people that wish to steal their lives and live. Hopefully Charlotte is found out quickly and removed. Why should a villain with an illegitimate child reap all the rewards. Terrible....