Chapter 978
Brent had specially selected a spot under a tree for Ethan so Ethan could lean against the trunk for
support.
Ethan was visibly weak now.
He was like a candle with wax slowly dripping from it. When the last drop of wax was spent, that was
when the light would go out.
The mountain breeze picked up. Ethan felt his mind becoming a little clearer.
He spoke slowly.
“Brent, the thing I regretted the most in my life was agreeing to Marina’s unreasonable requests and
taking out my anger toward the Fordhams on Liv.
“If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t have suffered so much.
“We wouldn’t have to be separated from each other, and our family wouldn’t have to be apart. It can’t
even be called a family at this point.”
Brent said, “Mr. Miller, you had your reasons. Please don’t say that.”
“Hah, reasons. In the past, I deceived everyone with that excuse, including myself. But no one would hurt
others just because they had reasons.”
Ethan said softly, “When I was a child, I hated my father. I swore that if I had someone I liked in the future,
I would treasure her, spoil her, and love her.
“I swore that I would give her a happy family. But in the end, I hurt her deeply while claiming that it was
love.
“I repented, but time won’t turn back, and Liv won’t forgive me, either. I deserved this ending. I can’t blame
it on anyone else.”
People would have an unusual clarity of mind when their lives were ending. Because they couldn’t see the
future, they would become extra aware of the past. 1
He leafed through his memories like an old man repetitively counting and wrapping his money with a
handkerchief that had turned white from one too many washes.
“Alright, there’s no point in saying these things anymore. I deserved this. Liv was right when she said that
we won’t meet each other ever again.
“In the end, I’m leaving without my wife or my children to see me off.”
Brent held Ethan’s hand. The joints on Ethan’s hand were well-defined, and his hand was the slender hand
of a grown man. But it trembled violently like an old man’s.
“You still have me, Mr. Miller.”
Kelvin had followed them. “And me, too.”
“Yes, I still have you brothers to see me off. I don’t think I have any regrets anymore.”
Ethan chuckled. Now that death was upon him, he grew kinder and more sincere.
“I should have died a long time ago, but Kurt gave me another chance at life.
“Now, I should go and keep him company. I owe him an apology. In the end, I didn’t carry out my promise
to him.
“I couldn’t take good care of his family. His son died even before he was born, and his precious Marina
also had her legs broken.
“She is now bound to a wheelchair for life.
“Now that I think about it, I’m such a useless man. I never did anything right. I didn’t keep my promise to
my brother, nor did I take good care of my family.”
Brent said, “No, you’re the best boss in the whole world. You’re the hero of the nation.
“If you hadn’t risked your lifetime and again to protect this country, it wouldn’t be as peaceful as it is now.
“Mr. Miller, if there’s another chance at life, I still want to work for you and protect you for life.”
Ethan gripped his hand.
“You’re such a silly man. Why can’t you make a better wish? Haven’t you had enough of this drifting and
wandering?”
“No. I’ll do everything as long as I can be with you. Don’t die, Mr. Miller.
“I’m so clumsy. If you aren’t around to keep me in check, I’m bound to make lots of mistakes!”
“Mr. Miller, if you die, that bastard Yale would laugh his head off. After fighting for so many years, he still
won in the end. We were so close.”
“Mr. Miller, hang in there. That miraculous doctor might be back soon. You have to stay alive and give the
letter to Mrs. Miller in person.”
Kelvin’s voice was getting further. Ethan had lost his senses.
In his daze, he felt like he heard someone saying, “Mr. Miller, look. The sun is rising.”
It seems Ethan only ever married Olivia to take revenge for what happened to his little sister. While Olivia is plagued by her sickness, he holds her chin and says coldly, “This is what your family owes me.” Now, she has no family and no future.
Her father becomes comatose after a car accident, leaving her with nothing to live for. Thus, she hurls herself from a building. “The life my family owes will now be repaid.” At this, Ethan, who’s usually calm, panics while begging for Olivia to come back as if he’s in a state of frenzy …
