Chapter 622

Sanford’s shoulders shook violently with sobs as he clung desperately to Liora’s hand, choking out through his tears, “Please… don’t leave me so soon. I’m not ready for this yet. I can’t lose you now.”

Liora said softly, “Sanford, you’ve truly grown up now. My only regret is I won’t be there to see you get married and have children. But I believe someone as wonderful as you will definitely find your own happiness.

“Thank you for staying by my side all these years. Having you with me has made me so happy. But I still owe you an apology. I’ve kept the truth about your father from you. I’m so sorry for the pain I’ve caused you.

“At least, before I go, I can finally tell you everything and let you know the truth. Now, I have no more regrets. Promise me you’ll choose a name you love and live happily for the rest of your life.”

Tears welled up in Sanford’s eyes as he nodded hard, struggling to hold himself together. “Mom, don’t worry,” he promised. “I promise I’ll live happily, just like you wanted.”

“My dear boy, your life is just beginning. There’s still such a long road ahead of you. I feel so ashamed. I don’t have much savings left for you. The medical treatments cost so much. Maybe you should sell the house if you need to…”

Liora’s words trailed off as her eyelids grew heavy. A sudden, overwhelming fatigue washed over her, draining the last remnants of her strength.

“Mom, don’t fall asleep! Listen to me,” Sanford pleaded, clutching Liora’s hand tightly. “Jonathan just gave me 3 million dollars. He said Irene shouldn’t have taken that money, so he returned it to me. You don’t have to worry about me being short on money.”

“Is that so…” Liora mustered her last ounce of strength, her eyes half-closed as she gazed toward Jonathan in the distance.

Jonathan’s tall, broad-shouldered figure gradually blurred before her eyes. For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw Yorick again, and in her mind, heard his firm voice. “I can’t accept your money. Take it back.”

She slowly tilted her head, her final gaze lingering on Sanford as she offered him one last, gentle smile. She looked at Sanford, desperate longing in her eyes, as if trying to etch every detail of his face into her memory.

And then, as the last vestiges of her strength ebbed away, the hand resting on Sanford’s cheek went limp and slipped lifelessly to her side.

“Mom? Mom!” Sanford’s gut-wrenching wails reverberated through the hospital ward.

Irene froze in her tracks as gut-wrenching wails echoed through the corridor. A sharp pain shot through her heart.

She walked forward slowly and saw Jonathan leaning against the door, while Sanford was crying his heart out, clutching Liora’s lifeless body.

Liora lay on the hospital bed, her eyes peacefully closed.

Irene steadied herself against the wall, her eyes suddenly welling up with tears. The woman she had hated for so many years was gone today. All the hatred she’d harbored for years was laid to rest in this very moment.

Yet the words Liora spoke to Irene before her death would forever remain a thorn deeply lodged in Irene’s heart.

At Liora’s funeral, Sanford decided to lay Liora’s ashes to rest in the family cemetery, where her maternal grandparents rested.

Footsteps echoed, drawing nearer. Sanford turned sharply, his guard up, only to see Werner, looking disheveled with a straggly beard.

Werner looked utterly drained, his head bowed low like a defeated rooster. He choked out, “How could your mother be gone so soon?” He never imagined he wouldn’t even get to see Liora one last time.

Sanford’s lips curled into a cold, mocking sneer. “You have no right to see her.”

“Son, you can’t blame me for this. If only your mother had told me sooner that she’d had you, I would have married her and taken responsibility. I never meant for things to turn out this way,” Werner said.

Werner told Sanford that, when he was young, he truly liked Liora. Back then, both families had even hoped to fix him up with Liora.

But unexpectedly, the moment Liora saw Yorick, she fell head over heels at first sight and became utterly devoted to him, unable to let go.

Werner admitted he couldn’t compare to Yorick in terms of looks, but Yorick was already married. Still, Liora became obsessed with Yorick, even secretly giving Werner money and begging him to set them up.

On the night Liora got drunk, she and Werner ended up together. The next morning, when he wanted to take responsibility, she looked at him coldly and said, “No need. To me, you’re just a friend. Let’s pretend last night never happened.”

Werner sighed, “That’s how it all happened. Back then, we agreed to forget that crazy night. I knew she went to Shaville to make a life for herself. I called her, not knowing she’d already had you by then.

“She never answered my calls. But when I texted her that Yorick had liver cancer, she panicked immediately. I always knew her heart belonged to Yorick. To her, I was just a friend.

“So I gave up on her. Plus, your grandfather kept pushing me to settle down. I’d been drifting around for years. It was time to settle down. I met Cathy, who melted my heart. We got married. I was determined to live a good life.

“When I saw you and realized your last name was Thomas, I couldn’t help but be suspicious. I watched your videos again and again. The more I looked, the more I saw myself in you. So I went to Shaville to confront your mother.”

“Enough!” Sanford spun around, his face cold as he stared at Werner.

“So this is your excuse for dodging responsibility? You knew all along I was your son, but you threatened my mom into keeping it from me. I actually thought you were a kind man. Turns out, you’re just a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Werner fell silent, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. Sanford’s every word had struck true, leaving him utterly speechless.

Sanford snapped, “Get out! You have nothing to do with me or my mom anymore.”

Werner took a deep, lingering look at the woman with a radiant smile etched on the tombstone. Memories of their youth flashed vividly before his eyes. ‘If only…‘ he thought. But there was no going back.

Werner never believed in karma, but now, he was a believer. “You’re right. I am nothing but a spineless man who ran from his responsibilities. Please take care of yourself. I hope you’ll live well.”

Werner’s footsteps faded away. Sanford’s eyes brimmed with tears as he gently caressed the gentle face on the tombstone. “Mom, if there’s afterlife, marry a man who only has eyes for you. You deserve a better life.”

The breeze stirred the white chrysanthemums before the tombstone, gently tousling Sanford’s hair. It was a warm breeze, carrying no chill at all. “Live happily ever after.” Liora’s final words echoed in Sanford’s mind.

From now on, he would be like the untamed wind–free to cherish himself and live his life to the fullest.