Chapter 591 Farewell
Celeste rushed into the bathroom, her eyes red and swollen. She splashed cold water on her face, but it couldn't cool the burning jealousy in her heart. Suddenly, she slammed her fist into the mirror, and the cracks reflected countless shattered versions of herself.
"Why?" she muttered, staring at her bloodied hand. "I've been by your side for ten years, but I'm nothing compared to a woman who loves someone else?"
Outside, the sound of an argument broke through the silence. Celeste wiped away her tears and looked out the window, seeing George standing by the iron gate. The autumn wind whipped his disheveled coat, and his three-day stubble made him look like a desperate, cornered beast.
"I've told you so many times!" Celeste almost lunged at the gate, the shadows of the bars casting sinister lines across her face. "Haven't you done enough to ruin Ms. Stuart's life?" Her voice twisted with cruel satisfaction. "Seraphine's body hasn't even been cremated yet..."
George grabbed the iron bars, the veins on his hands bulging, startling Celeste. But when she saw the pain in George's eyes, a sense of shared sorrow suddenly washed over her.
"Let me see her." George's voice was rough, like sandpaper scraping. "Just five minutes. I've found new clues."
Upstairs in the bedroom, Emma was mechanically sketching Seraphine.
"Emma, how about we go back to Sunterra next week?" Michael knelt in front of her, gently holding her cold hand. "I've arranged for a new house in Harmony City. It has lavender fields; you'll love it."
Emma's vacant eyes finally focused. She looked out the window at the familiar figure and softly said, "Let me see George one last time."
Michael's smile froze. "What?"
"There needs to be an end." Emma stood up, a sickly flush on her pale face. "I need to tell George that I never want to see him again."
Under the sycamore tree in the garden, leaves swirled between them. Emma wrapped herself in a thin shawl, her once lively eyes now lifeless pools.
"Emma." George tried to step forward, but her retreating movement stung him.
"Don't call me that," Her voice was colder than the autumn wind. "From the moment you lost Seraphine, we were done."
George's Adam's apple bobbed violently. He handed her a manila envelope with trembling hands. "I know you hate me, but please look at this. The guards who executed Anna's death sentence all disappeared within three months."
Emma didn't take the file, but her peripheral vision caught the top photo. In the morgue, Anna's body was missing the distinctive diamond bracelet on her wrist.
"You think making up these ridiculous stories will lessen your guilt?" Emma laughed hysterically, her laughter tinged with sobs. "Seraphine is dead! She'll never call me 'Mom' again!"
George grabbed her shoulders. "I reviewed the surveillance footage many times. The trafficker wasn't the real culprit; he was framed. And Seraphine went with him willingly."
"Enough!" Emma shoved him away. "I'm going back to Sunterra with Michael next week. I never want to see you again!" She turned, tears finally breaking free. "If there's a hell, I curse you to suffer there forever!"
George stood still, watching Emma stumble back to the villa. He noticed Michael glaring from behind the second-floor curtains. When their eyes met, Michael flashed a sinister smile and made a throat-slitting gesture.
"Of course." George clenched his fists and pulled a crumpled note from his pocket. It had been anonymously sent that morning, with coordinates leading to the hill behind the prison where Anna was executed.
He took one last look in Emma's direction and whispered, "Emma, hold on until I find the evidence."
Inside the villa, Emma curled up in the bathroom corner, letting the hot water wash over her. George's words coiled in her mind like a venomous snake: Why did the guards disappear? Why was Anna's bracelet at the crime scene? Why did Seraphine go with the trafficker willingly?
Emma closed her eyes, water droplets rolling down her lashes, indistinguishable from tears.
"Mom, why does that woman look so much like you?"
Seraphine's innocent voice suddenly echoed in her mind, piercing her heart.
Wanda?
Emma's eyes snapped open, her fingers gripping the edge of the bathtub tightly. Wanda had once kidnapped Seraphine, and Seraphine had mistaken her for Emma. Could it be...
She stood up abruptly, water splashing everywhere, her heart racing.
Wanda and Michael seemed to have some connection.
Outside, Michael gently knocked on the bathroom door, his voice almost sickeningly sweet. "Emma, are you okay? Do you want me to take you for a walk?"
Emma took a deep breath, dried herself off, and put on a loose white dress. She opened the door, and Michael stood there, his face showing just the right amount of concern.
"No, I want to be alone." Emma's voice was soft, almost ready to vanish into the air.
Michael reached out to touch her shoulder, but she subtly avoided him. His eyes darkened for a moment, but he quickly returned to his gentle demeanor. "Alright, rest well. Call me if you need anything."
Emma nodded and walked towards the studio.
She sat at the easel, picking up a brush and mechanically sketching Seraphine's outline. Each stroke felt like a knife cut, but she couldn't stop.
If she drew it perfectly, would Seraphine come back?
The doorbell rang.
Emma didn't move until she heard Lucas's cheerful voice. "Mom! Grandma brought me to see you!"
Her hand paused, leaving a jarring mark on the paper.
Sophia led Lucas into the studio. Lucas wore adorable overalls and clutched a teddy bear. His bright eyes were just like Seraphine's.
"Mom!" Lucas ran into Emma's arms, his little face nuzzling her arm. "I missed you!"
Emma stiffly hugged him, her throat tight.
Sophia stood nearby, her eyes red, gently reminding, "Lucas, remember what I told you?"
Lucas nodded obediently. "I know! Don't mention Seraphine, don't make Mom sad."
Emma's heart clenched painfully.
Lucas looked up, his small hands cupping her face. "Mom, can we go to the amusement park? I want to ride the carousel!"
Emma didn't know how she agreed.
She just mechanically followed Lucas and Sophia to the car, mechanically walked into the amusement park, and mechanically watched Lucas run around excitedly.
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