Chapter 1813


    In a daze, Felix''s chest was pressed firmly against her back.


    Carol could feel his forehead resting on her shoulder, his breathsing in heavy gusts. It was


    anger, the kind of breathing that came with rage. It seemed as if he could bite her in his fury.


    Seeing him like this only deepened her pain; she remembered how pristine he appeared when she


    first saw him at BlueSky Bar. Amidst the surrounding muck, he stood unblemished, and even if it


    was all a facade, the memory still made her heart flutter.


    Now, the man leaning against her back and growling felt like a stranger, not the one she had fallen


    for at first sight. She buried her face in the pillow, tears streaming down in silence, not making a


    sound.


    It seemed Felix had released everything, as he got up and left without bothering to clean her up.


    Carol listened to the bathroom door swing open, heard him shower, and emerge. She heard his


    footsteps approach the wardrobe; he opened it and pulled out a clean suit.


    He left, the car engine revving outside, his destination unknown. Maybe he was off to see Listina.


    Utterly exhausted, Carol dragged herself to the bathroom to clean up, and as shey in bed, a


    message pinged on her phone from Listina, saying Felix was taking her to stargaze.


    Too weary to care, she simply closed her eyes.


    In the middle of the night, her phone rang again - this time, it was the prison. Abner had fallen


    gravely ill and wished to see her.


    Carol quickly dressed and rushed to the prison.


    Abner looked as though he had aged twenty years in a matter of moments, his once proud


    demeanor gone. Her heart ached, and in that moment, she wished to end it all with Felix.


    "Carol," Abner called out from behind the ss, and let out a sign.


    She had wanted to visit him, but Felix, using his influence, had made sure she couldn''t.


    This time it was Abner who took the initiative to contact her, which was their first encounter since


    Abner''s incarceration. She tried to speak, but her voice failed her.


    "Head to North America, find a friend of mine. Don''t stay in Greenfield, and don''t worry about me."


    "Dad!"


    Disbelief filled her eyes, but Abner''s face remained stoic.


    "I once saved his life; he''ll take you in as his goddaughter. You''ll live well."


    "Dad, I don''t want that; I''ll take you with me."


    Abner, seasoned by life''s storms, managed a slight curve in his lips.


    "Carol, you''ve never really known hardship. That Brown boy showed you the harsh realities of life all


    at once. When you begged me to let him into the Miller Group, I hesitated, but youpletely fell


    for him. I''d always hoped you''d find someone of equal standing, someone with no ulterior motives.


    With your nature, you''d livefortably, but I saw ambition in his eyes. Ambition isn''t bad, but I


    never thought it would be directed at the Miller Group."


    "Dad, I''m sorry; it''s all my fault."


    Carol''s tears began anew. She had thought herself past the pain, but memories sliced through her


    heart like a knife.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Abner raised his hand, longed to stroke her hair as he had in the past, but the imposing ss wall


    made it impossible, and his hand fell back in defeat.


    "Carol, you can''t beat him. Let go early. I''ve arranged an escape for you, anticipating a day like this.


    Leave the country soon; don''t stay here."


    Carol had not mentioned she and Felix were getting married; Abner would have vehemently


    opposed it.


    But seeing how frail he had be, how could she simply walk away? Even if it meant a bitter end


    with Felix, she would stay in Greenfield!


    Abner coughed, rising abruptly, "Carol, promise me, don''t be with him."