Chapter 665 The Madness of Longing, Transcending Life and Death


    “I wouldn''t have just stood by and watched as Chloe burned to death if I had been at the hospital."


    Joseph''s voice remained steady, yet the paleness of his fingernails betrayed the intensity of his


    emotions. How could he have let her die if he had known? He longed to build a life with her, to


    create a haven where they could find sce.


    Emily''s eyes were swollen from crying, and her hatred was unconcealed. "Then where were you?"


    Joseph hesitated for a moment, then let out a bitterugh. "There''s no use discussing that now."


    Chloe would never know the truth, forever.


    Emily was filled with disappointment as she believed that Joseph was just making excuses and


    could not provide a proper answer. She said sarcastically, "Now that Coco is gone, you can openly


    be with Xavia. Will youugh yourself to sleep at night?"


    "I don''t have any feelings for Xavia."


    Emily remained unconvinced and smiled coldly as she strode away. As she exited the cemetery,


    she spotted a white Maybach parked across the street. Suddenly, the car window rolled down,


    revealing Noah''s youthful and fair face. He went straight to the point, saying, "Do you have a


    moment? There are some matters I’d like to discuss with you."


    "Okay."


    After Emily left, Joseph was the only one who remained in the lonely cemetery. Time lost its


    meaning as he sat there.


    When Lucas arrived at Fairlight the following morning, he discovered the files on Joseph’s desk


    were untouched. As the scheduled morning meeting approached, Joseph still had not made an


    appearance. Thepany''s top executives anxiously awaited his arrival, growing increasingly


    concerned. After an hour had passed, Lucas made the decision to visit Joseph''s residence to check


    on him. Whether it was the vi or the newly constructed mansion, there was no trace of Joseph to


    be found. Lucas sensed that something was amiss, and an unimaginable thought crossed his mind.


    Without hesitation, he swiftly drove to the outskirts of town.


    The winter days were short, and the nights were long.


    Lucas made his way to the cemetery, a ce that felt detached from the bustling city. The entire


    area was shrouded in a thick white fog and devoid of sunlight, casting a somber and gloomy


    atmosphere. He immediately spotted Joseph among the scattered new graves.


    In addition to Joseph, surrounding Chloe''s grave were several men dressed in regalia engaged in a


    discussion about rituals and prayers. Their voices resonated through the quiet air, creating a solemn


    atmosphere.


    Lucas rushed over. He noticed the frost on Joseph''s eyshes and eyebrows and the slight purple


    hue in his thin lips. Lucas was at a loss for words, pausing for a moment before finally asking, "Sir,


    didn''t you go homest night?"


    Joseph''s brows furrowed, and after a long silence, he said in a hoarse voice, "I did."


    "Then why are you here?"


    "I couldn’t sleep."


    As soon as he closed his eyes, the vivid image of Chloe being consumed by the mes flooded


    Joseph''s mind. Her cries of pain echoed in his ears, haunting him relentlessly. He had heard the


    belief that those who died a tragic death would not be granted reincarnation, but instead, they would


    relive their past suffering. Was his dear Chloe condemned to endure the torment of fire even in the


    afterlife?


    He did not know what to do, so he hired a group of shamans to perform funeral rites for her. It was


    his hope that through these sacred ceremonies, Chloe would be spared the anguish she had


    experienced in life.


    Joseph was unaware that it was all a figment of his imagination. He had not actually dreamt of


    anything. Having gone without sleep for several consecutive days, his body''s self-repair mechanism


    had kicked in after enduring intense mental turmoil. Deep within him, he felt apelling urge to do


    something for Chloe. Perhaps it was for his own peace of mind, or perhaps it was for her.


    At that moment, Joseph was unexpectedly consumed by thoughts of not wanting to live anymore.


    He never knew that longing could torment one to the point of madness, even transcending the


    boundaries of life and death.


    Lucas remained unaware of Joseph''s innermost thoughts, but as an observer, he knew that Joseph


    could not sleep simply because he could not let go of Chloe. Without uttering another word, Lucas


    retrieved his phone and texted the work group chat group that the early meeting for that day was


    canceled.


    He apanied Joseph through the solemn rituals, then drove Joseph back to the vi at the


    latter’s request. He expressed a desire to return to the vi as there were more warm memories for


    him there.


    Joseph sumbed to illness. In the middle of the night, a fever overtook him. His body temperature


    steadily climbed until it reached a peak of 39 degrees. Joseph was then swiftly transported to the


    hospital, where he was given IV fluids to alleviate his condition.


    Tyson came to the hospital. His gaze was filled with a mixture of emotions as he uttered, "I''ve seen


    the child, and he bears a striking resemnce to you." As he spoke, he presented a photo taken a


    few days prior.


    Joseph looked at the picture of the newborn baby, and his cold eyes flickered for a moment.


    The baby, pure and untainted, beamed with joy as its wide eyes stared into the camera without a


    trace of fear or rm. It bore a striking resemnce to the Chloe he had firstid eyes upon, akin to


    a radiant little sun. There were also features that were very much simr to his, so he did not think


    too much about it.


    Tyson contemted for a moment before suggesting, "Perhaps we should get Xavia to bring him


    over.”


    Joseph neither agreed nor declined, and Tyson took the initiative to contact her.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Xavia swiftly arrived, bringing the child before Joseph in under half an hour. She gently patted and


    caressed the child, radiating a maternal glow. "Look, Joe. He''s so adorable. I haven''t chosen a


    name for him yet. Why don''t you give him one?"


    Tyson chimed in, his words carrying a deeper meaning, "Yes, give him a name. Innocent children


    have the power to mend our wounded hearts. It’d be good for him to be by your side."


    The key point was that Joseph was deteriorating, and Tyson was worried that something would


    happen if things continued this way. Introducing a child as a means to divert his attention seemed


    like a viable strategy.


    Joseph''s silence persisted as he averted his gaze, fixating on the view beyond the window. His eyes


    turned frigid and detached as if impervious to any emotional disturbance.


    Sensing his indifference, Xavia squeezed the baby''s hand. The room was immediately filled with the


    infant’s piercing cries.