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Novel Catalog
Chapter 99
Gale’s voice was unwavering, her eyes even more so. There was a quiet, fierce resolve in them that shook Shawn to his core.
Shawn stood frozen, stunned by the intensity in her gaze. Her eyes—so clear and determined—had the effect of making him flustered, something he rarely allowed to happen.
Gale spoke calmly, almost too calmly. “I still have my life. This is my only and last bargaining chip.”
Shawn’s heart raced. He felt an unfamiliar wave of panic. His voice faltered as he tried to suppress it. “Do you know what you’re talking about?”
“Yes,” Gale responded, her eyes locking with his, her gaze unflinching. “Shawn, there’s too much between us. Too much resentment, too much hatred. It will always be there, and it won’t disappear as long as I stay by your side.”
Her words were like a confession, heavy with years of unspoken pain. “You hate me, hate my father for killing yours, hate me for carrying another man’s child… But the truth is, the child was conceived before I married you. From the beginning to the end, I’ve been the victim.”
She lowered her gaze, as if the weight of the truth was too much to bear. “I don’t know what I did to deserve this life. Before I met you, I was a girl with a bright future. I was happy. I was free.”
Gale paused, taking a shallow breath. “Forget it. I don’t want to say more. Shawn, I’ll use my life. I will end this, okay?”
Her voice was detached, almost as if she were discussing something as simple as the weather. But there was a quiet resolve in her words. She was ready to die. Life had become too painful. Too exhausting. She couldn’t save herself, couldn’t save her parents, and could only bring pain to those around her. She had become a burden.
Shawn’s hand shot out, gripping her chin roughly. “You dare!” he hissed, his voice a low growl. “Your life is mine, not yours!”
His grip tightened, forcing her to meet his gaze. “I decide whether you live or die.”
He was panicking. His voice trembled with barely contained fury. “Gale, I won’t let you die. You can only live by my side!”
Gale chuckled, a hollow, mirthless sound. “Are you afraid?”
Shawn’s lips pressed into a thin line, and his eyes darkened. Yes, he was afraid. But why? Was she so important to him?
“You’re afraid that after I die, there will be less fun. No one will let you bully them anymore.” Gale’s smile was bitter. “I’m your punching bag, aren’t I?”
Shawn’s face contorted with rage. “Shut up! Don’t joke about your death!”
Gale’s smile faded, and she took a deep breath, her voice growing softer but no less firm. “I have to. Shawn, I’ll use my life to end all of this. After I die, please, let me go. Let everyone return to their normal lives. If you insist on believing the Warm family killed your father, then I will use my life to atone for his death. In this way, all hatred will dissipate. Is that okay?”
Shawn trembled, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. He had never seen him like this—shaking, vulnerable. It hit him harder than anything else she had said.
“No!” His voice broke, desperate. “Gale, I won’t allow you to die!”
Gale stood calm in front of him, unwavering. The roles had reversed. Where once she had been the humble one, he was now the one pleading.
“But Shawn, only then can the hatred in your heart be relieved, and everything can end,” she said quietly.
“It can’t end!” he shouted, his voice cracking with emotion. “Unless my father is resurrected!”
“The dead can’t be brought back to life,” Gale replied gently.
She unbuckled her seatbelt. The sound of it clicking in the stillness of the night was sharp, final.
Shawn’s hand shot out in a panic, grabbing her wrist. “Gale, you’re dead… Have you ever thought about your child? Don’t you want to give birth? Don’t you want a child anymore?”
Tears blurred Gale’s vision for a moment, but she wiped them away, her voice steady. “I don’t have the ability to protect my child.”
With a single, fluid motion, Gale pried his fingers off and opened the car door. Without another word, she ran out, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Gale!” Shawn called after her, his voice filled with desperation.
She didn’t look back. The night air rushed past her as she sprinted forward, her hair flying behind her, her dress billowing like the wings of a bird. She looked like an ethereal spirit against the backdrop of the dark night sky.
Shawn got out of the car in a blur, chasing after her with every ounce of his strength. He couldn’t let her go, couldn’t lose her.
Gale’s destination was clear. She ran toward the artificial lake, less than one hundred meters from the garden. The deep, dark waters reflected the night sky, and Gale knew exactly what she planned to do. She was going to jump.
Temperley Hall was perched in the midst of serene landscapes, surrounded by mountains and rivers, making it one of the most luxurious estates in Sea City. But the lake was deep, and Gale couldn’t swim. This was her escape. Her only way out.
Shawn’s heart raced as he saw where she was heading. “Gale, no!” he screamed, his voice frantic.