Asa told me all this in the basement.
My reaction and Annie's were virtually identical
which was no reaction at all.
When Walker saw that Annie wasn't speaking, he whispered urgently, "Maya is dead, no one will come between us anymore.
So... will you come back with me?"
Annie smiled.
She sat down at the edge of the cliff.
The sea wind blew her red dress, making her look like a vivid flower blooming at the cliff's edge.
Without the slightest hesitation, Annie said, "No."
The sea wind whistled between them, and the dozen meters felt like a vast distance.
Perhaps because of the strong wind, Walker's eyes reddened.
This was the first time I saw the always aloof Walker showing vulnerability.
I said, "Yes." He said, "Baby, I know I wronged you. Are you willing to die rather than forgive me?"
Annie raised her eyes.
Her gaze was calm:
"Walker, there's nothing to forgive or not forgive.
I was your wife for three years and enjoyed many benefits. In that sense, I should thank you." Annie spoke as if addressing a stranger politely.
Walker began to cry.
I said, "Yes." He said, "Maya said something to me before she died.
She said you and she are the same kind of person.
So, those three years were all a lie, weren't they?"
It was a question without context, but Annie understood.
Walker was asking if she had never loved him.
Everything was just deception and performance.
The word "yes" came to Annie's lips several times, but she never said it.
Finally, she smiled, and her tears fell into the wind.
"How could that be, Walker.
I'm not a professional actress, if I could act that convincingly, it's because I truly loved you."
Walker's expression changed in an instant.
His face was as pale as porcelain, as if it might shatter at any moment.
Annie smoothed her skirt, her eyes filled with the light of memories:
When I first came here, my family made me attend a ball. I didn't know anything and was terribly embarrassed.
The dress was tampered with by my stepmother and stepsister, and it ripped during the ball.
No one helped me, everyone was waiting to see me fail."
Annie looked at Walker, "Only you took off your suit jacket and offered it to me, then asked if you could invite me to dance.
Every girl there envied me that day. My stepmother and stepsister were so angry their eyes turned red."
Annie wiped away her tears with a smile, "So when I found out I was going to marry you, I was really quite happy. I told myself it didn't matter if you didn't love me enough, I'd just love you more. As long as you didn't abandon me, I'd stay with you."
Walker swayed in the sea breeze, and if not for the bodyguard supporting him, he would have fallen.
Annie didn't look at Walker.
She looked out at the endless sea, her voice gentle.
"Walker, do you know? Xia Yan is my best friend, I always wanted to do everything with her.
We agreed to go together, but after she told you about my accident, I still had a fleeting thought in that moment.
Annie looked back at Walker, her tears trailing in the wind.
I thought, if you heard I was in the hospital and came running to me,
then I wouldn't go. I'd give all the money I prepared to Lillian and stay with you."
Blood trickled from the corner of Walker's mouth. There had been rumors for years that he had stomach cancer, but they had never been confirmed.
Annie didn't notice.
She looked up at Van, who was suspended.
So, I won't go with you, and it's not because of Maya or Van.
Killing him today won't change anything, because I don't love him that much.
I simply don't love you anymore."
It was the final verdict.
Hearing those words, Walker seemed to have his soul sucked out.
He turned around and slowly walked away.
His shirt billowed in the sea wind, empty.
Bodyguards followed him.
"Mr. Lin..."
Blood gushed from Walker's mouth, followed by another gush.
He collapsed backward.
"Mr. Lin!!"
Amidst the chaos, Annie took the opportunity to rescue Van.
She spotted Asa's car and me sitting inside.
"Lillian!!"
Annie was frantic. She knew what had happened and rushed over to save me.
Asa didn't give her a chance.
He held me in his arms and told the driver, "Turn around."
The car sped away, leaving Annie far behind.
