Chapter 11
610words
With my departure, the depressing fate she had tried so hard to escape ensnared her once more. Her father and the women he brought back tormented her. She lived every day in a living hell, but this time, there was no one left to shield her.
After losing my research, Kimberly's company plummeted overnight. To keep the business afloat, her parents turned their sights on her. They sent her to various men in exchange for funding.
Once proud and aloof, Kimberly fell from grace completely. On countless nights, she jolted awake from nightmares. She cried out my name over and over, hoping I would appear.
As for Natalia, her legs quickly relapsed into paralysis after I left. No matter how many renowned doctors she saw, they all told her the same thing—there was no hope she would ever stand again.
The shareholders who had once supported her all abandoned her and turned to Nadine. Having lost everything, Natalia was in a worse state than before. At times, she even had trouble procuring enough food for herself.
A few months later, the four women finally found an opportunity to gather again. They captured Irving and locked him in a basement. Then, they inflicted on him every bit of pain I had once endured at his hands.
When Irving was tortured to the brink of death, the four of them collapsed to their knees in anguish. They clutched my old photos as tears streamed down their faces.
Mavis sobbed, "Luc, I'm sorry about everything. Please come back. In this world, you're my only family."
As soon as she finished speaking, she spat out several mouthfuls of dark blood. Her breathing grew weaker and weaker.
Shiloh held a paper airplane we had folded together as children, with eyes reddened and swollen from constant crying.
She lamented, "Luc, didn't we promise to be friends for life? I broke that promise… and I lost you."
Every word she spoke tugged at her broken bones. The pain caused all color to drain from her face.
Kimberly's skin was mottled with bruises. No longer of any use to the Lyon family, she had been cast out and could only survive by selling her body.
"Luc, I've been barely clinging to life for just one reason. I want to see you one more time. Please come back," she pleaded weakly.
My engagement ring with Natalia slipped and dropped to the floor. She tumbled from her wheelchair and crawled on the ground desperately to grab the ring.
"Luc, we'll definitely get married, won't we? I'll wait for you forever," she muttered.
Her legs had become thin and skeletal, resembling sticks. They were horrifying to look at.
Just then, the videos faded away.
I let out a breath I'd been holding. Then, I smiled as I walked toward my mother and sister, who had just finished cooking.
"Look what I brought back. Where's Claudia? She loves Mom's cooking the most," I said jovially.
Behind me came the sound of light footsteps. Claudia Hutton walked in, carrying a huge cake.
"I went to get your birthday cake! It was so big that I barely managed to carry it back. Take a look. It's your favorite flavor. We remember your preferences by heart!"
Amid laughter and cheerful chatter, I blew out the candles and made a new birthday wish.
I wished for my family and friends to live safely and peacefully.
As for the people from that other world, I hoped they would fade completely from my memory forever.
