Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Shielding his eyes from the sun, Pierre looked up briefly and then focused on finding Corey.
Corey was watching the scene from a nearby car. Seeing Pierre approach, he smirked. “You’re here.”
Pierre asked, “What can I do for you, Mr. Hampton?”
Noticing the love bites on Pierre’s neck, Corey realized his sister had thoroughly been charmed by him.
Corey crossed his legs and nodded toward the rooftop. “There’s a desperate pregnant woman on the ledge. Thought you’d appreciate watching this with me.”
Pierre scowled. A desperate pregnant woman on a ledge? Such grim entertainment was typical for Corey, but involving him seemed peculiar.
Glancing upward again, Pierre couldn’t make out the person’s face due to the building’s height, but his heart tightened. “Who is she?” Pierre asked. “Do you know her?”
Corey replied, “You should know her.”
As he spoke, the crowd erupted in screams.
Pierre looked again and saw the pregnant woman falling rapidly. Within moments, there was a resounding crash. Blood splattered across the pavement, throwing the crowd into a frenzy.
Pierre gasped, his breath catching in his throat. Now, he could clearly see the face of the person. It was Talia.
Talia had been a pivotal figure in Pierre’s life. During their passionate, youthful romance, as Pierre focused solely on his career, Talia taught him how to love, value himself, and embrace life.
After the tragic incident with Aitana, when Pierre was teetering on the edge of despair, it was Talia who pulled him back. Back then, she seemed endlessly vibrant, as if immune to sadness, pain, or defeat. But if she could rescue him, why couldn’t she rescue herself? Pierre stood immobilized, staring at the face distorted by the fall, frantically trying to reconstruct the shattered pieces in his mind, as if doing so could resurrect Talia, convincing himself it was all an illusion-merely a nightmare.
Emergency teams hurried to manage the aftermath. Pierre remained there, ghost-like, bewildered and numb.
“Not sad?” Corey’s voice broke through, taunting. “You’re so cold-blooded toward your ex-girlfriend.”
Pierre slowly turned, his gaze icy as it met Corey’s. “Was it you?”
It was the first time Pierre had lost his composure in front of Corey.
Corey’s laughter grew louder. “Didn’t she jump right in front of you?” Unable to contain his fury, Pierre seized Corey by the collar. His arm pressed against Corey’s throat, threatening. “Why did you kill her?”
Corey fought against the hold, his strength matching Pierre’s. “Shouldn’t you be asking yourself? You know what happened that year in Terriland.”
Pierre’s eyes narrowed to slits. When Aitana died, it was equally horrifying. Her heart had been torn out, her body drenched in blood, lifeless in his arms, never able to open her eyes again.
Knowing she could never evade Corey’s cruelty, and to protect Pierre, Talia had chosen to end her own life.
Slowly, Pierre loosened his grip.
Pierre felt as if his heart was being crushed, but he stood resolute, masking any sign of vulnerability.
Corey, having seen enough, straightened his tie. “It’s settled then. The trouble with my sister is finally over. Go back and take good care of her.”
Pierre’s fists clenched at the sight of Corey’s complacent smile.
As the car pulled away, Pierre disappeared as well. Throughout the afternoon, the internet buzzed with the news of a pregnant woman’s suicide. By evening, Corey received a call from Marlon, who was inquiring about the woman’s background. Corey answered dismissively.
When the conversation turned to Pierre’s ex-girlfriend, Marlon asked, “Is Pierre your bodyguard? The last time Caden was here investigating, he mentioned that Pierre had a sister involved in illegal organ trading with us, but it didn’t match up with Gemma.”
Corey’s face tensed, and he sat bolt upright. He abruptly ended the call and hurried to the villa.
Bursting through the villa doors, Corey found Pierre and Gemma enjoying soup. Corey stormed in, overturned the table, and shoved Gemma aside, firing a shot at Pierre. The bullet grazed Pierre, striking him near the heart.
Pierre clutched his chest, staggering backward.
Gemma lunged at Corey, trying to seize the gun. “Corey, have you lost your mind?”
With a grim expression, Corey restrained Gemma. “Stay out of this.” The bodyguards quickly escorted her away.
Silence enveloped the living room as Corey advanced toward the wounded Pierre, his teeth clenched. “Quite the performance, Pierre. You used Alicia to get close, all to avenge your sister, didn’t you?”
With the gun pressed against his temple, Pierre remained still, fearless. He had been expecting this confrontation. Mockingly, he said, “You think you’re clever. Why don’t you guess if the soup your sister just had was poisoned?”
Corey scoffed. “If you were really that cold-hearted, you would’ve acted on the first day. Besides, you’ve fallen for her now. Could you really go through with it?”
Pierre’s heart faltered. Every accusation stung, yet he couldn’t deny them. Indeed, he couldn’t bring himself to harm Gemma. Despite the pain Talia’s death brought him, Pierre still remembered to make soup for Gemma that evening, personally selecting the ingredients and preparing it.
Gemma’s smile that night left him without regrets, even amidst his sorrow.
Observing Pierre’s empty gaze, Corey mocked, “You hate me because your sister died by my hand, seeking revenge for my cruelty, right? But you don’t understand, I never coerced anyone. She chose to lie on that operating table. If not me, she would’ve sought out someone else with the same fatal outcome.”
Pierre’s blood loss increased, his body chilling.
Corey, recognizing the severity of the injury, knew Pierre wouldn’t last much longer. He holstered his gun with disdain. “I never regret the wrongs I’ve done because every life was a trade. Direct your hatred toward your sister’s greed, your own failures, the reality of poverty. Do you understand?”
Corey signaled for Gemma to come forward.
His hands bloody, Corey’s presence was menacing. “Say goodbye to him.”
Gemma, seeing the man she loved drenched in blood, trembled violently. “Pierre…” She knelt beside him, desperately pressing on his wound, yelling to the onlookers. “Why are you just standing there? Take him to the hospital!”
Corey’s response was icy. “Save him so he can come after you? Didn’t you listen to what I just told him?”
Tears cascaded down Gemma’s face as she removed her coat to slow the bleeding. “Corey, please, save him. I beg you.” She cried incoherently, “Corey, please…”
Pierre’s ears rang with her voice. Struggling to open his eyes, he slowly reached out to clasp her wrist, calling her “Gemma” for the first time.
The clarity that came with the brink of death allowed Pierre to see her truly. Gazing at the woman he loved, his resentment dissolved. He wished only to comfort her, to declare his love, to embrace her once again. There was so much he still wanted to do. Yet, he feared that after his death, she would struggle to find peace.
Seeing Gemma’s tears, Pierre accepted his fate. Let her despise him, then.
Corey pulled Gemma to her feet, erasing the traces of Pierre’s touch. He rebuked his distraught sister. “Why do you demean yourself? What has he ever offered that makes you so devoted? Open your eyes, Gemma. I killed his sister. Do you really think he could love the enemy’s sister?”
Gemma’s head spun.
Another bodyguard entered and assessed Pierre’s condition, saying, “Mr. Hampton, he’s in shock. Even if we get him to the hospital, he’s unlikely to survive.”
Gemma’s strength faltered.
Corey caught Gemma as she collapsed but couldn’t maintain his grip, and she crawled back to Pierre, reaching out to feel his lifeless body.
Alicia and Caden were abruptly awakened by frantic knocking at the door. The sound was so intense that even Cade, their dog, began to bark furiously.
Caden quickly got out of bed, telling Alicia, “Stay here. I’ll check it out.” He hurriedly dressed and went to answer the door.
After Caden left, Cade dashed into the room, positioning himself protectively by the bed. Alicia could just make out the sound of someone crying. She stroked Cade’s head and decided to follow Caden.
At the door, Alicia was stunned to find Gemma kneeling there. Gemma’s white dress was smeared with blood, and she clung to Caden’s pant leg, her words tumbling out in frantic desperation.
Alicia rushed to help Gemma up. Through Gemma’s disjointed phrases, they learned that Pierre was in trouble and needed urgent help at the hospital.
This was the first time Alicia had witnessed Gemma in such a state of despair, her tears uncontrolled and a fresh cut on her neck still bleeding. Without hesitation, Alicia agreed to accompany Gemma to the hospital.
Caden took care of Cade and then grabbed a coat to follow them.
Gemma had fled. After Pierre stopped breathing in the villa, she had desperately demanded Corey take Pierre to the hospital. When Corey refused, Gemma, in a panic, grabbed a fruit knife and threatened to harm herself.
Reluctantly, Corey complied and took Pierre ahead, while Gemma ran to seek Caden’s help, knowing his skills with medical devices could be Pierre’s only chance. But it was too late.
By the time they arrived, Pierre was already being wheeled out of the operating room under a white sheet.
Gemma’s tears were relentless, her legs nearly giving out beneath her. Alicia supported Gemma, enveloping her in an embrace.
Seeing the despairing scene, Alicia realized all hope was lost. She gently covered Gemma’s eyes, overwhelmed by a surge of sorrow.
“Gemma, I’m sorry for your loss.”
The hospital corridors were eerily quiet at night. After the confirmation of Pierre’s death, Gemma quieted her cries, standing silently next to the gurney to bid her final farewell.
Just this morning, they had shared a kiss. She had been wrapped in his arms, dreaming of their future, playfully envying Alicia and Caden’s marriage, and had jokingly asked if he would marry her.
Pierre had nodded solemnly. Just hours before, he had lovingly prepared soup for her. Now, death had claimed him, leaving his body still and silent.
Corey stood a short distance away, observing his sister’s somber composure, not daring to approach. He understood the gravity of his error-it was unforgivable.
Hoarsely, Corey asked the doctor, “Is there really no hope?”
The doctor shook his head sorrowfully. “The gunshot wasn’t fatal by itself, but the internal bleeding was. During the emergency procedures, we found his internal organs had sustained severe damage, which hastened his demise.”
Corey was stunned.
The doctor sighed, adding, “He fought hard to stay alive. Had you brought him here just five minutes earlier, you might have had a chance to see him alive one last time.”
Hearing this, tears began to fall silently down Gemma’s cheeks. She tenderly wiped them from Pierre’s face, recalling how he had so often done the same for her. This final act of intimacy was heartbreakingly irreversible.
Alicia moved closer, wrapping her arms around Gemma. “Let him rest in peace, Gemma.”
Gemma shook with sobs against Alicia’s shoulder.
Through her sobs, Gemma said, “Alicia… Pierre only entered that fight to buy me a piano… It’s my fault. If I hadn’t been upset, he wouldn’t have felt compelled to make quick money…” Pierre had endured two days of brutality to earn four million, yet she had never played a single note for him.
Alicia soothed Gemma gently, patting her back until Gemma’s grief overwhelmed her, sending her into unconsciousness.
It was nearly dawn when Corey finally calmed Gemma. Fearful that Gemma would awaken to fresh sorrow, he turned to Alicia with a plea for her to stay a few days and help.
Alicia didn’t decline, but Caden was not pleased.
“You caused this mess, and now you expect Alicia to clean it up?” Caden’s frown deepened. “I don’t agree.”