NovelNext Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Drake's eyes reddened as he stared at her. "Narissa, do you have any idea how long we've been looking for you? How could you do this to me and your brother?"
Evan's face turned pale, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Narissa, I know you're angry with me. I didn't know everything at the time. If I had, I would've never treated you the way I did. But now I've sent Liora and her mother to prison. Please, for Dad's sake, come back. He's been waiting for you all this time."
Narissa remained unmoved, even as Evan continued to speak, explaining how her father's devastation had led him to excessive drinking and depression, ultimately causing him to develop stomach cancer.
"Narissa, I'm begging you, come back home. Give me a chance to make things right. You have no idea how many times I've dreamed you were dead these past two years. It's all my fault. I promised Mom I'd take care of you, but I failed you. I'm so sorry."
Hearing her silence, Drake stepped forward but was quickly stopped by a group of people. His frustration was palpable, and his voice was full of urgency. "Narissa, I know you must be disappointed in me, but you have to understand—it was that woman who seduced me. That's why I made that mistake."
"As long as you come back, I swear I'll treat you well, even with the child you're carrying," Drake added, his desperation evident.
Narissa almost laughed, her anger rising. "I never asked you to find me. When I was abroad, I nearly died because of you. If you had any conscience, you wouldn't have come looking for me."
Both of them were taken aback by her words, their faces reddened with shock and shame. Evan closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before steadying himself and speaking again. "Narissa, is this what you really want?"
Narissa's smile was cold, but her eyes sparkled with joy. "Of course I'm happy. It would be even better if you two could disappear completely from my life."
Evan and Drake were stunned, unable to process her words.
Drake's expression darkened, his rage barely contained as he glared at Dion. "It's all because of him. He's the one who's poisoned your mind, turned you against your family."
He was about to lash out, but Evan stopped him with a firm hand. Closing his eyes, Evan sighed deeply. "Drake, enough. As long as Narissa is happy, nothing else matters."
Turning his gaze to Dion, Evan's tone grew serious. "While I'm not around, you need to take care of my sister. If you ever hurt her, you'll pay for it."
Dion's lips curled into a slight, mocking smirk. "I will take care of my wife. Don't worry about it."
Drake looked at Evan in disbelief. "What are you doing? Didn't we agree to bring Narissa back?"
Evan's face turned pale at Drake's words, but he smiled bitterly. "But Narissa doesn't want to come back. She says she's happy, so from now on, I won't interfere. If he ever dares to hurt her, the Sterling family will make sure he regrets it."
Not long after, Elowen passed away. On his deathbed, he left most of his fortune to Narissa. A video of his final moments was leaked shortly after his death.
In the video, Elowen appeared frail and broken, his face a map of age and pain, eyes filled with tears. "Narissa, I remember when you were just a little girl. Your mother loved you so much, but I failed to care for you. It's my fault, my mistake."
He passed away with his eyes still open, tears lingering in his gaze. The video was widely shared, and soon, people began to harshly criticize Narissa, calling her cold-hearted and ungrateful for not being there in his final moments.