Chapter 620
619
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“ When Teresa married me , I was the only man in her life . Even if we hadn’t gotten married , given her character , she would never break up a farly , the certainly wouldn’t play the innocent victim for sympathy , ” Jonathan declared emphatically .
“ So how could someone I care about ever be like Liora , a woman who tried to come between you and my dad ? ”
Irene shook her head helplessly . “ She doesn’t love you . She was never sincere with you . I still remember , right after your divorce , you came home drunk , collapsed on the bed , and sobbed . Do you have any idea how that made me feel ? ”
Jonathan turned away . “ That’s between her and me . As for our marriage , she never wronged me . ”
Irene shook her head resignedly . “ Forget it , you’re already divorced . There’s no point in my holding anything against her anymore . But you absolutely cannot remarry her . She’s only after your money . That’s why she keeps stringing you along . ”
Jonathan was about to retort when his phone suddenly rang . He answered . It was Sanford , After hanging up , Jonathan told Irene that he needed to go to the Thomas residence . “ You don’t have to see Liora if you don’t want to . I’ll go alone . ”
“ Wait a moment , ” Irene said . She gathered her things from the table . “ I’ll go with you , ” she told Jonathan .
At the Thomas residence , Liora sat alone in the courtyard , her frail body swaying precariously .
Vivid memories flooded back . The towering locust tree still stood in the yard , its flowering season long past , with scattered petals from spent blossoms dusting the ground .
Liora was still lost in thought when Jonathan and Irene arrived . Her gaze fixed intently on Jonathan .
For a fleeting moment , it was as if she saw Yorick standing before her . But the illusion lasted mere seconds . As Jonathan walked over to Sanford , it dawned on her that the one who had passed away was long gone .
Just as Liora was about to bring up the past , Irene beat her to it . “ I’ve already told Jonathan everything . ” Irene had no qualms about repeating the whole thing right in front of Liora .
Sanford’s expression darkened as he listened to Irene . He couldn’t believe that Liora had been that obsessed with a married man back then . He turned to Liora , his voice tight . “ Mom , is what Irene said true ? ”
Liora was stunned . She never expected Irene to be so upfront about what happened back then . She didn’t deny it . Since Irene was being honest , she’d be
honest too .
Back then , Irene laced the wine with poison , intending to kill Liora . But it was Yorick who ended up drinking it . Although he was rushed to the hospital in time for emergency stomach – pumping , he still suffered some lasting effects .
“ Back then , Yorick pleaded with me not to hold you responsible . Out of respect for him , I kept this secret . If Sanford hadn’t been detained and nearly dragged to court by Jonathan , I wouldn’t be using this against you now . ”
This was precisely why Irene had prevented Jonathan from pursuing charges against Sanford earlier , when he was about to sue Sanford for defamation .
Haunted by the fear that Liora would expose her poisoning attempt from years ago , Irene buried her guilt and resentment deep , pulling strings to ensure Sanford was released after just a few days in detention .
“ Mom , what happened next ? ” Sanford pressed , his eyes fixed on Liora . “ If the one you loved was Yorick , then how did you end up having me with
Werner ? ”
Liora let out a deep sigh . Back then , after Yorick regained consciousness , she realized how much her inappropriate advances So she decided to leave his world behind and never look back .
C
urt him and his family .
That night , as she left Nareigh , Liora drowned her sorrows in alcohol once again . The agony of unrequited love felt like having her bones scraped clean .
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In her drunken haze , she seemed to glimpse a tall figure . Clinging to the man , she caressed his face and sobbed , “ Yorick , I’m sorry . If there’s an añorlife ,
I’ll make sure to meet you
before Irene does . ” And then she pressed her lips to his .
She thought it was all just a wild , uninhibited fantasy where she indulged every desire . To her horror , Liora woke to find Werner lying beside her Only then did the horrifying truth dawn on her . She was so drunk that she mistook Werner for Yorick .
Werner also woke up , rubbing his temples with a wry smile . He turned to her and apologized , saying he was also very drunk last night .
Liora blurted out , “ I was drunk too . Lo
s just pretend last night never happened . I have no interest in you , and I certainly don’t need you to take responsibility for me . Anyway , I’m leaving Nareigh for good . I won’t be coming back . ”
“ Why ? You’re doing fine here , aren’t you ? ”
“ I have to leave . Otherwise , I can’t face Yorick . Only by leaving can his life get back on track , and I can finally put him behind me . ”
Werner sighed heavily , “ If you’re really leaving , I should return your money . I’ve let Yorick down . I never should have taken your money and sold him out so many times . ”
Liora shook her head . “ Keep it . That amount means nothing to me . You’ve always helped arrange those ‘ chance encounters ‘ with Yorick . If anything , should be thanking you . ”
Werner said apologetically , “ Please , take it . After what happened between us last night , I just can’t help but feel guilty . ”
Liora said , “ It’s Yorick you should really feel guilty about . His health isn’t great . You ought to look after him more . ”
Werner asked , “ Why isn’t Yorick’s health great ? ”
Liora hesitated and then said softly , “ I’d rather not say . ” She dressed and left for good . In her carelessness , she had forgotten to take her contraceptive pills .
That reckless night ultimately led to her conceiving Sanford , though she remained blissfully unaware of this fact at the time .
Her father’s health had been failing . He wanted to hand her the full reins of the family business , seeing it as her proving ground . She was already planning to relocate the company to Shaville for further development .
Not long after leaving , Liora began feeling distinctly unwell . Then , with a jolt , she realized she hadn’t had her period in two months . A hospital checkup confirmed she was pregnant , leaving her utterly panicked and bewildered .
Liora knew exactly who the father was . The baby could only be Werner’s , since she’d never been intimate with Yorick .
Liora wanted to terminate the pregnancy , but it felt like fate was punishing her for her past mistakes . The doctor warned her that her uterine lining was dangerousty thin . If she went through this abortion , she might never be able to conceive again .
Liora wrestled with whether to keep the baby . Ever since she left Nareigh , she’d vowed never to marry , not in this lifetime .
The man she loved was married to someone else . Worse still , she was the reason he drank poison and suffered lasting health complications . As an emotional purist , she could never bring herself to marry someone she didn’t love .
She
hosp
secret , m
ery day I
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