Chapter 992 - 516: Death Wish (2)

How to explain to her? Tell her that he’s going to destroy the Hughes family’s business, that he’s been planning this for a whole decade, that Conny Hughes secretly switched his father’s medication back then, causing his father to leave him too soon? Tell her that Conny Hughes has always wanted to remove him and seize his shares.

But what does this have to do with her? This is his issue; why should she shoulder it for him? He doesn’t know if he’ll have the chance to explain to her, to seek her forgiveness. Joshua Hughes held her small hand tightly and lightly imprinted a kiss on her cold little hand, "Avery, if you don’t like it, I won’t want anything. I’ll take you abroad, and we’ll start over, okay?" He couldn’t risk losing her because that would be more painful than death. He owes her a lot—her innocence, her peaceful life, and even Lucas Yates’s eyes, so much that he doesn’t know how to repay her...

After bandaging her, the doctor carefully examined Avery Jane’s body, finding no severe external injuries. The hit to her forehead was not considered serious. But the anxiety and worry were written clearly in the eyes of the man beside her. So the doctor advised, "As of now, it doesn’t seem serious. Miss Jane fainted possibly due to emotional agitation and low blood sugar. If Mr. Hughes is still worried, you can take her to the hospital for a full check-up after she wakes up."

The rims of Joshua Hughes’s eyes were red, his heart fiercely twisted. Flashes of her desperate attempt to escape him crossed his mind, so frantic and scared. How did he push her to the point where she wanted to escape him? He clearly loved her so much.

She had never felt this way, never felt so miserable. Struggling in her dizziness, her entire being seemed to be sinking into a dark swamp, unable to move or struggle. She recalled that car accident a long time ago; he rushed over, hugged her tight—it must have been too painful. The violent collision rapidly sucked away all his vitality and breath. It all happened so suddenly and intensely; his face turned pale as she called his name, cried, and begged him to hold on. That gentle man raised his hand and touched her tear-stained cheek, saying to her, "Avery, don’t cry anymore. I’m sorry, my love might only accompany you this far. Someone will love you well in my place; you must live well." He studied medicine and used the best angle to protect her at the moment of impact.

The glaring red roses, the red dress that woman wore, all reminded her of the blood flowing from his mouth that day, and also the humiliation she can never forget. His urn was wrapped in red cloth, there in his office. He occupied her before Wenyard Cooper’s urn. The intense, sharp heartache terrified her; she felt she couldn’t breathe anymore. Her eyes couldn’t open; the suffocating sensation invaded her chest, severing all her sensory nerves, numbing the profound pain in her heart...

She didn’t wake up; her body remained cold despite the warm air. From the corner of her eye, tears slowly rolled down like a crystal, sparkling under the light’s refraction...

"Avery, don’t be mad at me; I didn’t mean it..." His slender fingers gently wiped away the tears at the corner of her eye. What could have made her eyes wet even in her sleep?

That guilt, that helplessness overshadowed him; his heart had been twisted by pain. Only heaven knew the shock he felt catching sight of her gaze. He wished he could exchange everything for time to turn back and prevent her from seeing this unbearable scene. Did he completely become a heartless person in her eyes?

He’s a fraud. Will she ever rely on him like she used to? Will she not listen to any further explanations from him? This time, it seems like his luck has run out because her little hand, even within his palm, seemed unwarmed. Even in sleep, she didn’t want his warmth...

Looking at his own ridiculous outfit, no wonder she was so upset and desperately wanted to escape. Today, the ceremonious look made her feel he valued this event highly—a refined bow tie, luxurious cufflinks, this ensemble made him loathe even himself. "Avery, I’m going to change my clothes." He stood up, unfastened the bow tie, and walked into the dressing room. He was going to change out of this damn suit to accompany her properly, waiting for her to wake up to explain things thoroughly. He changed into simple pajamas and got one for Avery Jane too—the maid’s outfit surely wasn’t as comfortable as silk pajamas.

Holding her ivory nightgown, he came out, looked up, and was startled almost to death; she was gone from the bed. The glass door leading from the room to the terrace had been opened. Joshua Hughes rushed out like a black panther. What he saw almost scared him out of his wits: she was standing on the edge of the carved balcony, the wind blowing her long hair, like the most beautiful flower blooming on a cliffside, dangerous yet irresistibly tempting to pick.

Avery Jane stood at the highest point, here could see the entire Hughes family, like the most beautiful fairytale castle. But so many vile things happened here, inhabited by the most terrifying man. But why her? Why was it her? How could he do such unspeakable things to her after she lost all her memories, deceiving her so thoroughly she almost drowned in all the lies he told.

"Avery..." His low, hoarse voice was still as rich and enchanting as ever. As his voice echoed, his tall, robust figure quickly approached. That voice was deeply familiar, once made her heart flutter, but now it was like a knife cutting through her heart.