All Chapters of When Love and Hate Rise Like the Tide: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

When Xavier returned home, Martha approached him with trembling hands, carrying a framed funeral portrait, a pink urn, and a contract for the purchase of a burial plot."Mr. Parker, we found these while cleaning Mrs. Parker's room."She hesitated before continuing, "Madam... she'd been preparing to leave this world for some time. I think she may have lost the will to live a long time ago."Xavier's eyes reddened instantly. He snatched the items from Martha's hands and stared at them in disbelief."Why, Riley? Why?" he demanded hoarsely, his eyes fixed on the funeral portrait. "I never once thought about dying, so why did you want to die so badly? Did you ever stop to think about what would happen to me if you left?"In the memorial photograph, Riley wore a faint, sorrowful smile. There was such profound sadness in her eyes that Xavier could hardly bear to look at them.Perhaps she'd been unable to go on living for a long time.His heart felt as though an invisible hand were tearing it

"This bracelet is different. It means something to me. I don't care how much it costs or how much work it takes. I just want it restored," Xavier said firmly.He'd wronged Riley so many times, and destroying the bangle was yet another thing he could never make up to her. When he eventually joined her and both sets of parents in the afterlife, he wouldn't even know how to explain what he'd done.That was why he had to restore it, no matter what.Martin didn't try to dissuade him again. "I'll do my best."With that, he took the bracelet into his workshop to discuss possible restoration methods with several assistants.In truth, his earlier objections had merely been a test of Xavier's sincerity. Countless people came to him seeking restoration work, but not all of them genuinely cared about the items they wanted repaired.He usually passed those clients on to his assistants, reserving his own expertise for people who truly valued what they brought him.After leaving Martin's residence, X

Watching it all unfold, Robert and Margaret felt their last shred of hope slip away.Their son, Yates West, was horrified by what he saw. He immediately abandoned his video game and rushed to stop the movers."Who sent you people? How dare you come in here! Do you have any idea who my sister is? Or who my brother-in-law is? He's Xavier Parker, for God's sake! You touch any of our stuff, and you'll regret it!"He desperately tried to protect the family's valuables, shouting threats and throwing his supposed connections around.The movers, however, weren't the least bit intimidated."Brother-in-law? Mr. Parker isn't your brother-in-law. He's only ever had one wife, and that's Miss Riley Quinn.""Besides, Mr. Parker himself sent us here. There's nothing you can do to stop us."Yates stood there in stunned disbelief.When he saw them carrying away his computer, worth thousands of dollars, he finally lost control and charged at one of the movers, swinging his fist.The man was no pushover.

"No. Riley will forgive me eventually. If I go through the same suffering she did, she'll feel sorry for me when she sees it. She'll soften and forgive me. Riri has always had such a soft heart, and she loved me so much. We'll be happy together in the afterlife, too."Xavier muttered to himself, sounding almost deranged.At some point, he'd wandered back into the cold storage room.Inside the refrigerated casket, Riley's face was grayish-white, her body covered in a thick layer of frost. Xavier seemed oblivious to the cold as he wrapped his arms tightly around the casket, holding it as though he were embracing Riley herself."Riley, Riri, just wait a little longer. I'll be with you soon. Once I've taken care of everything, we can be together again in our next life. We'll never have to be apart."He spent a long time talking to her before finally leaving the cold storage room. After a quick wash, he headed to the office.Over the past few weeks, many employees at the Parker Group had be

Xavier wasn't surprised. He calmly entered the temple and followed the monk's instructions, completing each step exactly as he'd been told.The moment he received the protective amulet, a faint warmth stirred in his heart.Whether the amulet was genuine or not, he was willing to try.After all, a lifetime spent in prayer could be long or short. Even without taking his own life, there were plenty of other ways he could leave this world.When he took another step, he suddenly found himself standing before his bodyguards again.The men froze, then hurriedly surrounded him."Mr. Parker! Where have you been for the past day and night? We've searched this entire mountain and couldn't find a trace of you! You didn't actually run into a ghost, did you?"Xavier shook his head. "It wasn't a ghost. Though I wish ghosts were real. Maybe then I'd have a chance to see my family and Riley again."The bodyguards fell silent. They, too, had family members they'd lost.After returning to the villa, Xavi