“Briana,” Edward said, spitting out each word. “I should’ve finished you off from the start. I should’ve just kept that useless Charles around.”
Briana said coolly, “Does it even matter now?”
There was no such thing as a second chance or should’ve in this world.
“I was going to let you enjoy a few more days of comfort, but you just had to make the first move and go after Shepard,” Briana said, her face expressionless. “So don’t blame me for what happens next.”
Edward demanded, “Go ahead, do whatever you want. I did it all myself. Just leave my wife and daughter out of it.”
“First, I’ll deal with you. Then, it’s Sophia’s turn,” Briana replied.
Edward’s chest rose and fell sharply. He gritted his teeth and gave Sophia a meaningful glance.
He was urging her to find a way out, or maybe, reach out to Wrenley.
Sophia was Wrenley’s granddaughter. There was no way Wrenley would just sit back and watch.
Edward knew he was finished, with zero hope left. So he had to make sure Sophia was safe, no matter what.
Briana walked up slowly, watching Edward, who was groveling.
“You never thought you’d end up like this, did you?” she said, bending down. “You were so full of yourself back then. The moment my parents died, you took over Lane Group, became the chairman, and grabbed all the assets for yourself.
“Honestly, I always suspected you had something to do with that car accident. But I was just a kid back then, powerless and with no way to dig up any clues. As time went on, it only got harder to find out the truth.
Briana paused for a moment. “If Sophia hadn’t acted so recklessly this time, I never would’ve connected the dots between my parents‘ accident and you. The way it was done was just too similar, too familiar. It gave you away.
“Of course, maybe Sophia acted on her own, without even consulting you. After all, you’re too sly to make such a mess of things.”
Edward stared at Briana, his eyes bloodshot.
“All these years, haven’t you ever had nightmares?” Briana asked. “Don’t you ever dream of my parents coming for your life? Can you really sleep peacefully at night? Can you live with your conscience?
“Those were my parents, your own family. They cared for you, supported you, always thought of you first, and took care of the whole family. And what did you do, Edward? You stabbed them in the back.”
Briana never imagined someone could be so utterly devoid of humanity.
Edward spat. He said, You think marrying Shepard makes you something? I’ve lived longer than you, seen more than you ever will. Your only advantage is the Carter name. If it were just you, you’d never beat me in this lifetime.”
He thought that would get under Briana’s skin.
Too bad, he totally miscalculated.
Briana just smiled, didn’t even blink. She said, “So what if I rely on my husband? That’s perfectly normal, isn’t it? If I’ve got a husband to lean on, why wouldn’t I? You think you can guilt–trip me with that? You’ve got it all wrong.”
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“Exactly,” Charles said as he stepped forward, backing her up. “Briana’s got the talent, and she was born to have a husband like Shepard. That’s something you’ll never have, no matter how jealous you are.
Charles snorted right back. “You think you’re the only one who can spit? You’re at death’s door and still acting tough.”
Sophia stood off to the side, stunned and motionless.
Edward caught sight of her and shot her an urgent look.
‘Why are you just standing there?‘ Edward thought anxiously.
“Dad…” Sophia said, her voice shaking.
“Go,” Edward said. “Get out of here. Stay alive, no matter what. You hear me?”
Sophia sobbed, “But what about you, Dad?”
“I… I…” Edward stammered, his voice barely holding together, lost and desperate.
He staggered to his feet, looking hollow and dazed, like he wasn’t even really there anymore.
No one could tell what was going through his mind.
No one had a clue what he was about to do.
Suddenly, he spun around and charged straight at the artificial rock formation nearby.
He was trying to end it all.
Charles yelled, “Edward. Stop!”
But Edward just rushed even faster.
Charles and Briana were too far away to intervene.
Just as Edward was about to crash into the rock, Sophia leaped forward, blocking his path with her own body.
Edward slammed right into Sophia.
The force of the collision made Sophia cry out in pain.
Then, a mouthful of blood sprayed from her lips.
It splattered all over Edward’s face.
Edward stood rooted to the spot, paralyzed with shock.
“Sophia, you…” he stammered, his voice breaking, barely able to get the words out.
He was shaking so badly that he could hardly keep himself upright, his words all tangled up and incoherent.
Sophia dropped to her knees in pain, clutching her chest as blood kept pouring from the corner of her mouth, dripping down onto the floor.
“Dad,” Sophia said, her voice shaking, “you can’t die. Even if you have to pay for what you did, they won’t sentence you to death. You have to stay alive. That way, I can still see you once in a while.”
Edward threw his head back and howled in agony.
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“Sophia, I’m too old for prison. That would be a fate worse than death for me. I wouldn’t last a day in there. I’d rather die and get it over with. But you… why did you have to get in my way?” he said.
To Edward, death was the only way out.
“Dad, how could I ever let you die right in front of me?” Sophia replied, blood bubbling at her lips. “I just can’t.“.
As soon as she finished speaking, the bodyguards rushed forward and pinned Edward down.
They weren’t about to let him try to kill himself again.
At the same time, a couple of guards grabbed hold of Sophia, too.
Shepard wheeled himself over to the two of them.
“If you two have anything to say, you can talk it out in prison,” he said, his tone icy and detached, as if everything unfolding before him was just a movie and had nothing to do with him. “Not a single charge will be spared.”
With that, Shepard waved his hand.
The bodyguards escorted Edward and Sophia out, taking them straight to the station.
It was all over.
The scene fell silent, as if nothing had ever happened.
Only the battered car and the bloodstain on the ground remained, proof of the chaos that had just unfolded.
Charles let out a long, relieved sigh. He called, “Briana.”
“What’s up, Charles?” Briana replied.
“Let’s go pay our respects to Mom and Dad tomorrow,” Charles said.
“Sure,” Briana nodded. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
Now, they could finally bring some peace to their parents‘ souls.
It had taken so long, but now they finally knew who the real killer was.
“Honestly, if Edward hadn’t raised someone like Sophia, none of this would’ve ever come out,” Charles said. “If Sophia hadn’t tried to kill you with that car crash, we never would’ve suspected Edward for what happened to Mom and Dad back then.”
Edward thought he was clever all his life, but in the end, it was Sophia who brought him down.
It just went to show how much kids could make or break one.
Charles was honest with himself. He said, “Briana, I know I’ve put you through a lot over the years.”
“Charles,” Briana replied, “you’re a good guy, truly kind–hearted. You’d never hurt anyone on purpose. Even when you got into trouble, it was never anything so bad I’d have to visit you behind bars.”
