Chapter 8

Today was Alison's hospital appointment.

It was also the day she had chosen to leave.

When Alison came downstairs, fully dressed, Ivan had just stepped through the door. Behind him were Josh and Jessica.

She had known Ivan would rush back to accompany her for the eye consultation. After all, her recent changes in behavior had already made him uneasy.

"Honey, we're home!"

Ivan opened his arms, trying to spin her around in the living room, but Alison gently pushed him away.

There was no trace of joy on her face at their return.

Ivan's smile faltered. "Honey?"

"Mom." Josh eagerly shoved a model building into her hands. "This is your souvenir. Feel it. Do you like it?"

Alison set it aside without a glance. Her voice was distant and cool. "I'm heading to the hospital. We'll talk later."

Ivan wrapped an arm around her. "I'll go with you."

Josh clung to her leg. "Me too! I feel like I haven't spent time with Mom in forever."

Before getting into the car, Alison turned to glance at the villa one last time.

Ivan asked with concern, "What is it?"

She shook her head. "Nothing."

Just... saying goodbye to the place she had lived in for the past ten years.

The Hardman Medical Hospital was located on the outskirts of the city, near the sea. The car cruised down the wide highway.

Josh grinned. "Daddy rushed all the way back just to take you to the doctor."

Alison turned to look out the window. "Weren't you on your school research trip? How did they let you come back early?"

Realizing he'd said too much, Josh quickly shut his mouth.

Ivan held her hand. "Yes, we came back early. I promised I'd be there for you. Promises should be kept."

Just like how he once promised to love her forever, to never betray her.

So many promises… Perhaps that's why he forgot some of them.

Alison didn't respond.

The car fell into silence.

Suddenly, Ivan's phone rang loudly. Without even checking, he hung up.

But the caller was relentless and kept calling, one call after another—over a dozen times.

Alison said, "Pick it up. What if it's something urgent from the company?"

Ivan rolled down the window, letting the roar of traffic flood the car.

Whatever was said on the other end made his face go pale. He snapped at the driver, "Stop the car!"

The vehicle screeched to a halt.

Ivan softened his tone and turned to her. "Alison, something urgent came up at the company. I have to go now. Josh will wait with you by the road. I'll send another driver to take you guys to the hospital."

As he spoke, he opened the door.

But Josh was quick to catch on. He knew that in his father's eyes, no business matter could outweigh his mother. So it must be something to do with Jessica!

Josh immediately made up an excuse. "I want to go too! I'm the future heir of Hardman Group. I should start young!"

"But what about your mom?"

The wind tugged at Alison's skirt as she said, "It's fine. Go."

Ivan hesitated for only a moment before agreeing. "Honey, just stay right here and don't move. The driver will be here in ten minutes."

Without waiting for her to nod, he turned to leave.

Just as he reached the door, Alison tugged at the corner of his shirt.

"Can you... not go?"

Ivan pried her hand away. "Alison, this is really important. Be good and stay put, okay?"

And with that, he shut the door. The car sped off down the road.

From that same direction, a large truck approached. The driver climbed out and unloaded the body of an unidentified woman.

As he prepared to drive over it, a hand suddenly covered Alison's eyes.

She pulled the hand away, only to see a broken, mangled corpse and blood staining the pavement.

She wondered, 'What will Ivan and Josh feel when they return to see this scene?'

They would believe that while chasing after another woman, they had abandoned a blind wife and mother on the side of the road, and she had died in a tragic car accident.

Today would be the last time they ever saw her.

For the rest of their lives, the memory of this moment would haunt them. Grief would devour them, and regret would tear at their hearts.

"Don't look. I'll take you away now."

Alison nodded and walked away, head held high.

From this day on, under boundless skies and across endless seas, she and Ivan would never cross paths again.