Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Gabriel waiting outside amidst the crowd. At the sight of our gathering, he hesitated and quietly slipped through another entrance.The courtroom was packed to the brim, with every seat occupied and people standing silently at the back. The Bullocks, the Chandlers, the hospital staff, and others were among the crowd.We were directed to our designated seats.When Byron, Jocelyn, and Hazelyn were escorted into the courtroom, I felt Beatrice's body tremble slightly before she relaxed again.I embraced her, offering support. Finn wrapped his strong arm around her as well.Byron, now with his once jet-black hair shaved short and turned white, looked noticeably thinner and worn out. Gone was his former arrogant demeanor.As he entered the hall, his eyes scanned the room, eventually locking onto Beatrice's face. His mouth opened, and his gaze was filled with complexity.I sensed Beatrice take a deep breath, resolutely withdrawing her gaze and fix
Only Hazelyn struggled to look at Beatrice in the courtroom.Beatrice shot her a smile of triumph tinged with arrogance. Hazelyn looked deflated as her face sank. In the end, she was defeated.As they were escorted away, everyone surged toward Beatrice, but no one spoke; they simply shook her hand in solidarity.There were still some documents that Beatrice needed to sign at the courthouse, and we remained by her side throughout.Beatrice left her current assistant from the Keller family to handle the remaining affairs.Once everyone had left, Beatrice looked at me. In a hoarse voice, she said, "Take everyone back to my place.”I looked at her, somewhat puzzled. "What about you?"She glanced at Finn, her eyes pleading. She said, "Finn... accompany me to the cemetery.""Sure." Finn didn't hesitate, stepping up to her side and offering his support.Theo quickly added, "We'll all go with you."Beatrice didn't refuse. She simply scanned her classmates before silently turning and
The person on the other end of the line asked how to deal with Byron’s body. It seemed that the execution was done.Back at the Keller family's residence, Beatrice abandoned her usual cold demeanor and forced a smile at everyone. "Give me a little time. Everyone needs to stay here tonight, and no one should leave."Then she instructed the butler to arrange for the evening meal."I'll excuse myself for now," she said, hurrying upstairs.I exchanged a glance with Ivanna, and she turned to the others, saying, "Feel free to make yourselves at home. We really need to stay with her today. None of you should leave, alright? Chloe and I will go upstairs to check on her."Then she looked at Theo and said, "Take care of everyone, Theo."When Finn saw me and Ivanna going upstairs, he seemed to relax a bit before immediately calling Theo and the others over.I had stayed here before, so I was relatively familiar with the layout. I quickly found Beatrice in the study. She was holding a photo
Beatrice accepted the glass, tears welling in her eyes. She looked up at me, her voice trembling slightly. "Yes, I still have family," she whispered, nodding rapidly.After finishing the milk, she wiped her face with a shaky hand. "I'll go wash up and be right down."Beatrice placed the cup on the table and stood up unsteadily. She walked toward her room, radiating a deep sense of loneliness.I followed her and caught a glimpse of Finn approaching from the other end of the hallway. Together, the three of us entered Beatrice's room.She was curled up on the sofa, fast asleep. Dark circles rimmed her eyes, a testament to the emotional turmoil she must have endured.Ivanna exchanged a knowing look with me. We both understood that Beatrice needed this rest. "Let her sleep," I murmured. "She needs a good night's rest."Finn gently lifted Beatrice and carried her to bed, adjusting the thermostat before quietly leaving the room.Once he left, Ivanna and I followed suit, leaving Beatric
Finn gazed at me and whispered, "Before Byron faced his execution, he left a message for Beatrice.""A message... for Beatrice?" I was taken aback. "Just before the execution?"Shocked, I turned to Finn, then involuntarily glanced toward the hall. An inexplicable chill creeped up my spine."Yes. Her assistant gave it to me, and it felt serious. I thought it would be best for you to have it," Finn said, extending the USB drive to me once more.I hesitated as I accepted it. It was a plain black USB drive, but it burned in my hand.It seemed Byron had been desperate to convey something to Beatrice, despite her rejection.The law had its protocols, and they would have fulfilled his requests before execution. Whether that was a blessing or a curse, I couldn't say.But as I met Finn's eyes, I murmured, "Who did he think he was to leave a message for Beatrice?”Though I said it, I also understood the desperation of a dying man.After all, he was her father.But for Beatrice, it woul
I knew someone would have handled the funeral arrangements even though Beatrice had refused to be involved."Beatrice’s assistant had him buried here in Haven Cemetery. I don't want the details. Those two bodies remain unclaimed, so they'll probably end up in unmarked graves," Finn said.As I thought about Hazelyn's final struggles, I couldn't help but scoff. "She got what she deserved."Regaining my composure, I turned to Finn. "How's production going at the factory?"Finn seemed lost in thought, still caught up in our previous conversation. When I asked about production, he seemed taken aback.Then, he grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, I zoned out there for a moment."I smiled faintly. "I've taken on a few more projects recently, and they’re all big ones. There’s been a surge in orders too.""No problem. We added two more production lines, and the new automatic security doors are also available online. They're top-of-the-line. You should check them out when you have time," Finn said
Our laughter ceased abruptly as we turned around and realized that our men had left us alone earlier. It was late, and evidently, both men couldn't bear to wait any longer and had come to urge us to return to our respective rooms.I exchanged a glance with Ivanna, stuck out my tongue playfully, and quickly got up. We both pretended to be obedient wives and hurried off to bed.The next day..We all slept in until nearly noon. I stretched lazily as I got up and noticed Atlas working away in the room.Feeling guilty, I quickly got out of bed and nestled into his arms. Yawning, I asked, "When did you get up?"He set aside his laptop, looking at me like I was a lazy cat. "Did you sleep well?""Yeah, I guess so," I replied with fading enthusiasm. Then, I said, "I want to head over to Jaxford after breakfast. Since we’ve secured phase two of that project, we’ll need a substantial amount of materials."Jaxford has made a new automatic security door, and I plan to use it for projects in
Brenton immediately responded, "Of course, that's great! Who wouldn't want food, drinks, and a private plane to travel in? Yes, all of you?His words instantly brought laughter. "Sure! It's like we're taking an early vacation!"Judy chuckled and said, "If Michelle finds out about this, she'll be jealous. She posts about every little thing in her life on Instagram. Taking a private jet can let her brag with her friends!"This caused another round of laughter.Just then, the butler informed us that lunch was ready, and Beatrice invited everyone to join her for a meal.The Keller family's cuisine was exceptional.I told everyone during lunch, "After eating, feel free to explore. Gerby is known for its beautiful scenery!"Theo immediately volunteered, "I can be the tour guide! What about you guys?""Beatrice and I have some errands to run. Those who don't want to go out can take a nap. Rest up, and we'll have a fun evening later.""Alvin just called and said he'll come to pick us