Chapter 23
Despite Ash’s death threat, Drake and Mr. Lockhart still refused to let Rianne approach him.
Because Ash had gone so far as to strap explosives to himself–he was clearly mentally unstable. What if he decided to take Rianne with him in a suicide pact?
Too dangerous!
“But if he detonates the bomb here, at this close range, I won’t survive either,” Rianne said. “And everyone else would die with me.”
“Dad, Drake, let me go. Ash has done many wrong things, but he’s always kept his word. If he says he won’t detonate the bomb if I talk to him, he’ll keep that promise.”
Rianne insisted on going, leaving Drake and Mr. Lockhart with no choice but to reluctantly agree. But they demanded that Ash and Rianne remain within their sight and not wander far.
“Fine,” Ash consented without hesitation.
He then took Rianne to the hotel’s rooftop.
Strong winds whipped around them. Ash stood at the edge of the roof, looking at Rianne with profound sadness. As he stared, tears suddenly began to fall.
“Rie,” Ash said, “if only I had met you earlier.”
Rianne said nothing, only turning away to look into the distance.
“I did love you,” Ash continued, tears streaming down his face. “You were like a light shining into my
dark existence.”
“But I couldn’t let myself betray Sophia. I thought since she came first, I should love her properly. No matter how wonderful you were, I couldn’t betray her. I had to put her first in everything, make her my whole world–that’s what unwavering love meant to me.”
“But I never imagined she would be a liar… I was such a fool… the world’s biggest idiot…”
Hearing this, Rianne couldn’t help but sigh: “Ash, it’s too late for any of this.”
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Billionaire Heiress Burns Seven Traitors in Epic Revenge
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Chapter 23
“I loved you once, but that love was worn away by your betrayal and coldness. Now, I feel nothing
for you.”
“I hope you’ll stop pursuing me. Let’s part ways cleanly, maintaining some dignity for both of us.”
At her words, Ash gave a desolate smile, choked with emotion: “Rie, don’t worry. I won’t pursue you
“I just wanted to talk to you one last time before I leave.”
“Unlike the other suitors, I have no parents. I never even met them from birth.”
“I have no family, no friends. My entire world used to be just Sophia.”
“Then you came along, brought me home. Though I never said it, I truly saw you and Mr. Lockhart
as family.”
“…If… if Sophia hadn’t been there, I think we would have had a completely different ending.”
“Rie, have you heard of parallel universe theory? Perhaps in another universe, without Sophia as an obstacle, you would have been my only salvation, and I would have loved you as my whole world.”
“We… we could have had that ending…”
But alas, all of this was just “if only.”
In reality, all they had left was what might have been.
‘Rie, you loved me once, right?” Ash asked urgently, as if needing confirmation.
Rianne was silent for a moment but finally nodded: “I once made you my whole world too.”
At this, Ash finally smiled–not a smile of despair, but one of release and satisfaction.
‘Being loved by you was my honor,” Ash said. “I only wish I had realized too late, missing my chance with you.”
‘If there’s a next life, I hope I’ll have another opportunity to love you.”
With these words, Ash suddenly embraced Rianne and pressed his lips to hers.
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