Chapter 1848

Holden carried Melon as they disembarked.
Suddenly, one of the car doors flew open.
Ariana emerged, her eyes locked on the small figure in Holdens arms.
Mom! Melon shouted.
Arianas composure crumbled.
She rushed forward, enveloping Melon in a tight embrace.
Tears flowed freely as she held him.
Let me look at you, she murmured, pulling back to examine Melon.
Are you hurt? No, Mom, Im fine.
You dont need to worry about me. Melon, with his small hand, reached up to wipe her tears away.
Please dont cry, Mom.
Youre going to make me start crying, too.
Ariana managed a teary smile, squeezing his hand.
Alright, sweetheart, I wont cry anymore.
The entire Fredrick family had come, along with Sonia and Adrian.
Holden had notified everyone when he found Melon-everyone except Ariana, who had been too weak to leave the hospital.
Holden had originally planned to surprise Ariana by bringing Melon directly to the hospital, but Ariana had learned the news in advance and rushed here with the others.
This was a moment of pure joy for everyone present.
Sonia and Catalina were in tears, overjoyed to see Melon safely return.
Just then, Shawn and his men carried a body covered by a white cloth from the ship.
Whos that? she asked.
Holdens reply was solemn, Its Moss body.
Ariana stood rooted to the spot, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at Holden.
Moss is dead? Yes, Holden confirmed.
After a beat, he added, He killed himself by taking pills.
Arianas expression morphed from shock to utter bewilderment.
In the days since Melons kidnapping, she had conjured countless scenarios of Moss demise-a car accident, torture at Zaydens hands, or a brutal confrontation with Holden.
But never had she imagined that someone as cold and self-serving as Moss would choose to end his own life.
The suddenness of Moss suicide left Ariana speechless. For a moment, she wondered if she had misheard.
It wasnt just Ariana; Adrian and the others were equally stunned by the news.
Rodney was the first to react, his face crumpling with joy as tears welled in his eyes.
After more than two decades, the villain who had wrought so much harm to his family was finally gone.
Though he felt a twinge of disappointment that Moss hadnt died by his hand, he took solace in the thought that Moss death might bring some peace to Amiri and Emilia in the afterlife.
With trembling hands, Rodney lifted the white cloth covering Moss body, eager to see the face of his nemesis in death.
But as the cloth was removed, his gaze was drawn not to Moss face but to the jade bracelet in Moss hand.
Recognition flickered in Rodneys eyes.
He gently pried the bracelet from Moss grasp, examining it with growing intensity.
A heavy silence fell over him.