Chapter 10
“There are a lot of things you never imagined,” I replied coldly, hanging up just as I heard him whisper a faint “I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry“-truly the three most useless words.
He had caused the death of my baby and then taken my life. Did he really think those light, meaningless words would earn my forgiveness?
He could dream on.
After realizing I was also reborn, Benson stopped bothering me.
Though he probably didn’t have the energy to pursue me anyway.
Jason and Benson’s other colleagues, upon learning what Benson had done, couldn’t contain their disgust and reported him for abusing his authority and wasting resources to save his fake–depressed ex.
The argument that occurred in the hospital had also been overheard by curious bystanders who posted
detailed accounts online.
People love gossip, and Benson quickly became infamous on the internet.
Everyone ended up turning against him anyway.
Facing the pressure of public opinion, his boss–who had initially thought highly of Benson and planned to merely suspend him–fired him outright and put a permanent mark on his record.
He would never again strut around in that uniform, abusing his power like he used to.
I refused to let my past hold me back any longer.
After getting half the money from selling our house, I returned to my hometown and opened a small
dessert shop.
With its stylish décor and abundance of plants, it quickly became an Instagram hotspot in our little city.
It can’t be said that I made a fortune, but I definitely have enough to live on.
Within a few years, I bought a 600–square–foot apartment in town. Living alone with a cat and a dog, I had everything I needed.
The next time I heard about Benson, it was his mother calling me.
8.8%
t—hing Uim Burn
Chapter 10
Her voice trembled with tears as she begged me to see him one last time.
Apparently, after losing his job and our relationship, he had spiraled into a dark place.
He developed severe depression, locking himself away and drowning in alcohol daily.
A week earlier, his parents had physically dragged him out for a medical checkup.
Due to his reversed day–night schedule and heavy drinking, Benson–barely thirty–was diagnosed with late–stage liver cancer.
Perhaps feeling he was just a burden, or for some other reason, he had sent his parents away and set himself on fire in what used to be our home.
Though they managed to save him, he was hanging by a thread.
“Mom, is that her?” I heard a weak voice in the background.
The next moment, the phone was passed to Benson.
He was breathing heavily, as though each breath caused him pain.
“Olivia, I understand now… how much it hurts.”
“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.”
“Don’t come see me. I don’t want you to… see me like this.”
He rambled on for what seemed like forever, until he took his last breath. When his mother picked up the phone, she realized I had hung up long ago.
Getting mixed up with him again would only bring bad luck.
I leisurely watered my newly purchased succulents.
Vibrant, full of hope–this was my life now.
