Before leaving for his destination, Jude made another trip back to the Serene Residence.As Eric had said, he could only acknowledge his love for Scarlett when he was drunk.He couldn't bring himself to admit it while sober, and could only insist that he hated her.As for his bizarre actions recently, he still couldn't find an explanation for them.All he knew was that he didn't want to give himself any free time. Whenever he became idle, memories of that woman would haunt him.He didn't want to stop and rest because once he did, he would recall things about her.Only by burying himself in work could he remain calm and ignore his searing heartache.Suddenly, he was reminded of the scene of her standing on the beach seven years ago. Her smile had been glorious; it was as if she had won a battle.He had the inexplicable urge to visit that beach back then. Perhaps, he could find the answer to everything that had confounded him there.He wanted to know why he hadn't been at all ha
Holding onto that thought, Jude ran so quickly toward the building that he was practically flying. He happened to run into the owner of apartment No. 201 just as he was leaving."Did a woman kill herself in that apartment above two months ago?" He told himself that he was clarifying his doubts for once and for all, and that was why he was going so far as to coming here to question the owner.The owner was taken aback to see someone suddenly showing up in front of him. After seeing Jude's stricken expression, he asked unhappily, "Did you know her?"He was instantly upset. "Jeez! If she wanted to die so badly, the beach is just right ahead. Why must she cut her wrist? Her blood seeped through the floor and dripped in my house, you know. What bad luck! Bodies rot quicker during summer, too. Good thing we noticed the blood and found her soon enough. Give it two or three days and her putrefied body would have stunk out the entire building."Jude's expression was ghastly as he gritted hi
He found the bathtub as soon as he turned around. There were dried bloodstains on the floor. His legs had never felt heavier when walking toward the blood-stained bathtub.Clenching the stud earring in his hand, he stared at the tub. He felt as if he could see that woman lying peacefully inside.His heart throbbed with unprecedented pain.He gripped the stud earring harder as if trying to hold onto that person; as if she wouldn't vanish as long as he held onto the earring.From where he was standing, he could see the view of the distant beach. Suddenly, he understood why she would choose to end everything at this place.She had chosen to end everything at the place where their story began. "Scarlett, was that what you had in mind?" He stood quietly by the bathtub for a long time until he finally raised his hand to wipe the corner of his wet eyes. When he looked at his fingers, he could see the light reflected off his tears."What is this?" He looked at the liquid on the tip of
He didn't need an outsider to guard her belongings.Neil might want to guard her life's work for her, but whether he had the capability to do so was another question."You won't be able to snatch the Thomas Corporation from me," Jude said coldly. "Similarly, you won't be able to stop me if I want to ruin your family's company."The Simmons family had such vast resources that their wealth couldn't be measured solely money.Your regular influential family was no match for an old, well-known family like theirs.Although they had grown up together, Neil never understood why his family's elders would bend their waists and politely greet Jude whenever they saw him."I'll find her grave." Jude stood up, tossed some cash on the table, and immediately walked toward the door.Neil had always felt a sense of helplessness whenever he was facing Jude. This feeling had persisted since his childhood and he hated it immensely.They were both children from rich, influential families and had the
Jude couldn't stop himself from hugging the headstone tightly and shouting in his hoarse voice, "Scarlett, I regret everything!"He was wrong, so very wrong! He didn't realize that he had fallen in love with her a long time ago. What had he been doing all these years?!There were so many opportunities for him to change his mind over the years, but what had he done with them? What had he done?!It wasn't until she had died that he was willing to face the fact that he had fallen for her a long time ago.It took much contemplation and reminiscing for him to realize just how great she had been and how nice it felt to have her around. Everything about her had long become a part of his life.He had called her repulsive and his nemesis, but had he really hated her, he would have cut her off after Lucy's recovery... When was he ever that patient? When was he ever willing to endure the humiliation of being a "good guy" who wouldn't do anything?It would have been all too easy for him to e
The next day.Eric received Jude's call. "I want to take Scarlett on a trip. We... never did go on a honeymoon. I'll leave the company to you."He was speechless.What could he say?His best friend had gone insane.Suddenly, he felt that the high and mighty Jude Simmons was actually a pitiful creature.Jude didn't understand his feelings when his beloved was alive and kept hurting her.He was only able to face his true heart after her death.Jude's trip lasted for nearly half a year. Many famous scenic spots in the world were visited by a handsome man wearing a black backpack.Paris, New York, Manhattan, Sydney...Sometimes, one could see a man standing on the corner of a street and telling the box in his hand stories about the place. He spoke so gently that it felt as if he was talking to his lover.Inside his private plane, Jude patted the box in his arms. "We're going home today. Don't worry. Our house is clean. The housekeeper from my family home cleaned it herself. I ev
Eric wasn't the only one who knew that Jude was coming home today. When Jude entered the Serene Residence that had already been tidied by his housekeeper he saw people who shouldn't be there."Why are you here?" he asked, the frown on his face indicating his irritation."Jude..." Audrey happily ran over to him and tried to grab his arm, only to have him avoid her outreached hand. The bright smile on her pretty face immediately became stiff.An annoyed Spencer stepped between them. "Jude, Audrey is a girl. Give her some face."Gale kept quiet, but the contempt in his eyes was clear. Spencer was the one who told Audrey about Jude's return today. Was he an idiot? Couldn't he see the obvious disgust that Jude felt for Audrey?Jude ignored Spencer's provocation and turned around to address Eric. "I'm going upstairs. Scarlett must be exhausted from the long flight."Everyone else widened their eyes in shock.Scarlett's death was no longer news in Pearl City.So, what the hell did he
"Does it make sense for a girl to run to a man's bedroom and accidentally break a perfectly fine urn?" Gale sneered.Spencer's eyes looked positively venomous as he snapped, "So what? Even if Audrey broke that shabby urn, so what?""She's dead and it's just an urn! I'll compensate for it, all right?""Lunatic!""Jude, she's dead. Why weren't you this kind to her when she was alive? What's the point of being emotional now that she's dead? Serves you right! You reaped what you sowed! You did this to yourself!""Shut up! Shut your freaking mouth!" Eric's expression changed drastically. "Fuck! Do you have a screw loose in your head or something? If you love Audrey so much, stop shoving her to Jude. If you're a real man, win her heart! Don't let her come here and act up!""Ha! Am I wrong? Did I say anything wrong? Are you telling me that Jude doesn't deserve it?"We saw how much Scarlett loved him! But how did he see and treat her? We saw that too!"Serves him right, doesn't it? He