Chapter 257 I Can't Bear to See You Leave
She picked up the lighter, and with a click, the yellow flame engulfed the cigarette between her thin lips.
Raymond took a drag from the cigarette, the smoke swirling through his insides before slowly exhaling from his mouth and nose.
His handsome, indifferent profile was surrounded by swirling smoke.
His broad, dry hand held a phone as he stared at Margaret's message for quite a while, the first time he heard her say she had wronged him.
Raymond's previously agitated mood, caused by her false accusations, instantly improved.
But he didn't reply to Margaret's message.
She was the type who would become more unreasonable and ungrateful if treated too well. If he was too kind to her, she would become even more unrestrained.
Raymond turned off the phone screen, finished his cigarette, and continued to immerse himself in his new work.
He spent all his time on work because he found that investing his energy and time in work yielded results.
Since he took over the Hughes Group, its development speed had far surpassed what it was under Marlon.
Marlon preferred stable development, while Raymond liked innovation, exploring new fields, and had more drive.
In just over a year, the Hughes Group's scale had increased tenfold under Raymond's leadership. The number of employees had expanded from a few hundred to over a thousand, making it a true industry model.
Despite his hatred for Marlon and the Hughes Family, Raymond never considered changing the name of the Hughes Group.
He thought it might be because he was too busy and forgot about it.
In the Hughes Manor, Margaret heard Marlon's muffled sounds, quickly put down her phone, and walked over to him.
She saw Marlon pointing at the words on a white piece of paper, eagerly looking at the writing.
Margaret stared intently at the line of words, tears welling up in her eyes.
Marlon had written: [Margaret, Can you not go out?]
Of course, she knew that Marlon was referring to her plans to leave after the New Year.
Margaret didn't want to leave either, but her health had deteriorated to this point.
If she didn't leave and died at home, Marlon would be devastated; he wouldn't be able to handle it.
After much thought, Margaret decided that dying away from home was the safest option.
Seeing Margaret remain silent, Marlon struggled to write on the paper again: [I can't bear to see you leave.]
Her tears couldn't be held back any longer, falling wildly and smudging the words, which instantly blurred from the tears.
She couldn't bear it either, but she had no choice.
"Dad, I'm just going away for a while. Don't worry." Margaret wiped her tears, smiling as she looked up at Marlon, who was studying the writing.
Marlon looked at her with a complex expression, sighing.
He wrote on the paper: [It's my fault.]
He couldn't protect Margaret, watching her being pushed to the brink, and he couldn't stop it.
"Dad, don't think like that. It's not your fault. Because of you, Mom and I have lived so carefree all these years. Dad, in my heart, you are a remarkable person." Margaret half-squatted, holding Marlon's hand, smiling as she comforted him, "Dad, no matter what happens, you have to live well."
Marlon understood what she meant; she was telling him what to do after she died.
No matter what happens, meaning even if she dies, he has to live well.
But Margaret didn't know that she was his pillar. If Margaret died, how could he go on living?
"Dad, Mom loves you very much, she can't live without you, and I love you too. So please, with all your strength, overcome all difficulties, and live well Only by living can there be hope. If possible, I hope you can reconcile with Raymond. The Hughes Family will need his help in the future." Margaret felt the old hand in her palm instantly clench into a fist.
She knew Marlon was resisting Raymond.
"Dad, Raymond treats me very well. Don't listen to Mom's nonsense. I hope you all stop fighting and unite. Only then can I go on my business trip with peace of mind." Margaret advised against her will because she knew that if her parents didn't let go of their hatred, Raymond would never be good to them.
So if she died, all the grudges would dissipate, which was the best ending.
Marlon held the pen and wrote another sentence on the paper: [When will you come back?]
When Margaret saw this sentence, the corners of her mouth twitched, a clear sign of guilt.
She looked up again, forcing a smile, "That's hard to say. I'm going on a business trip. Raymond opened a branch and wants me to manage it. Once the branch is up and running, I can come back."
"Dad, you have to take care of yourself. I hope when I come back, I can see you talking again." Margaret told herself to hold it together, not to cry, not to make Marlon worry and suspicious.
Marlon didn't expose her lie but nodded and smiled, going along with her.
At night, Nancy was already asleep.
Marlon found a piece of paper and a pen, holding the pen and struggling to write a will.
As soon as he started writing, tears streamed down his face, falling on the paper and smudging the writing beyond recognition.
Marlon tore up the paper, crumpled it into a ball, and started writing again.
Over and over, he tore up the paper, crumpling it into balls, and soon the desk was covered with countless small paper balls.
Nancy turned over in her sleep.
Marlon didn't dare to cry out loud, not wanting to disturb Nancy's rest, so he waited until he had completely suppressed his emotions.
He picked up the pen again and wrote letters to Margaret and Nancy. He couldn't speak due to his language impairment, so he could only say goodbye to his family in this way.
His fingers still lacked strength, and after writing for a while, his wrist ached, and he couldn't hold the pen anymore.
Finally, on the second night, he finished the letter, then placed the envelope in the safe in the study, sobbing as he set the safe's password.
He thought that by the time Margaret saw this letter, he would have completely left this world.
He wanted Margaret to live, to live without burdens, to break free from Raymond's control.
Marlon was already fifty years old this year, having lived to such an age. He wasn't afraid of death; he just couldn't bear to leave his family. He just wanted to spend more time with them, to walk with them a little longer.
Unfortunately, he couldn't do any of that.
Marlon planned to talk things over with Raymond after the New Year.
He hadn't chosen a good husband for Margaret, and that was his responsibility. He would bear all the consequences.
Marlon stared with cloudy eyes, tears streaming down, sliding down his deeply lined cheeks.
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