Johanna watched coldly, a wicked smile curling at theers of her lips. Suddenly, a thought <b>crossed </b>her mind, and she tumed to Imogen to add, “Don’t worry, <b>Ms. </b>Russell Once you’re <b>dead</b><b>, </b><b>I’ll </b><b>make </b>sure your son joins you in the afterlife!”
That one sentence struck at Imogen’s deepest<b>, </b><b>most </b>sensitive <b>nerve</b>!
Archie gave Johanna a helpless nce, his eyes filled with affectionate indulgence. “Didn’t we agree to wait a little longer before dealing with the child? He still <b>has </b>his use. Just hold out a bit longer. Once we’ve firmly taken control of the Russell family, then-”
He never had the chance to finish his sentence as a knife suddenly pierced through his chest, impaling him!
In the midst of eiciating pain, Archie regained his senses. Looking down, he met Imogen’s icy gaze. Hereyes.. She could see <b>again</b>?
Archie was shocked. In that briet moment, he quickly recalled Imogen’s unusual behavior recently, and now…
“You can see? When did you regain your sight? You knew all along, didn’t you?” His words <b>came </b>out with great difficulty, but he had already lost <b>all </b>strength Slowly, his body began to slide down until he copsed to his knees with <b>a </b>soft thud.
giving her
“Yes, I’ve known for a while, Imogen replied as she twisted the knife deeper into his body, her eyes never leaving his. Blood sttered across her face, giving an almost eerie look, but she was smiling.
“Archie, you deceived me for so long, so it’s only fair that I deceive you once, don’t you think? Oh, and by the <b>way</b><b>, </b>you shouldn’t me <b>me</b>. After all, this <b>is </b>the result of your own stupidity, isn’t it?” she repeated his words <b>back </b>to him.
The blow was fatal, and blood continued to flow <b>from </b>his body, Archie’s body slid further down, losing all strength.
Imogen removed the belt from her neck and discarded it. Her voice, though slightly raspy from being choked, still held an unmistakable tone of satisfaction. “Turns out your blood is warm, after all, I thought it’d be <b>cold</b>,” Imogenmented. She then startedughing in <b>a </b>daze.
Everything had happened in the blink of an eye.
Johanna finally reacted with <b>a </b>scream.
<b>She </b>rushed to Archie’s side, panic <b>and </b>agony written all over her face as her voice broke into <b>sobs</b>. “Archie, don’t sleep! Don’t <b>close </b>your eyes! Wake up, please wake <b>up_</b>”
stimes before. His gaze was filled with
Archie<b>, </b>clinging to thest of his strength, reached out and gently touched <b>Johanna’s </b><b>face</b><b>, </b>just as he had done countless ti bendemess.
“<b>Don’t </b><b>Don’t </b>cry. Go… Go <b>find </b>Mr. Carrell. Go with him. You’ll survive…” He used thest of his energy to speak those words before closing his eyes, his <b>faint </b><b>breath </b>finally ceasing.
Johanna’s mind went nd she felt as though her entire world had shattered. All that remained was the painful, anguished scream.
“Archie! Archie!”
Imogen stood quietly, watching this scene.
It was truly <b>a </b>touching sight
Archie’s <b>final </b>words were not filled with anger or curses but concem for Johanna. He was more worried about her falling into Imogen’s hands than about his own death.
Even as his breath lett him, he couldn’t let go of his thoughts for Johanna. His final nce at Johanna was full of affection, reluctance, and love.
If Archie had spent all his lies, schemes, and maniptions on Imogen, then all his genuine feelings, his true heart, and his love were reserved for johanna alone.
Chart?n 217