I told myself it was okay, that he was just in too much pain.
He didn't want to see me, and perhaps if I left for a while, he would cool down?
So I first went to Cornelius's company. Since his parents' death, he had not returned.
The company was now full of internal power struggles, unable to operate normally, and likely vulnerable to outside threats.
I started working tirelessly day and night, investigating all the recent problems. After thoroughly clearing up the issues, I barged into the offices of several senior executives.
"Carlee! You better think about the consequences of offending us. You're just a little girl, you can't handle it!"
"Call me Mrs. Gentry," I said coldly, "I'm just cleaning up a few issues for the Gentry family. Do you really think the Z Group can't run without you?"
After managing everything, I didn't feel any relief.
Cornelius... I missed him so much.
I couldn't stop, even though I was often unable to stand, it was still better than the constant pain in my chest.
One day, I overheard a young girl at the company gossiping behind my back.
"How did the company become hers? I heard Cornelius has hated her for a long time, even avoiding the company just to get away from her, yet she's still here acting like the CEO's wife..."
The gossip was louder this time.
I walked up to her, grabbed the file in her hand, and said:
"It wasn't easy for you to get into this company, right? Too bad you don't care about your work, and you won't last long here, will you?"
She looked at me, fear in her eyes, but also defiance.
I turned and tossed the file into the trash, calmly instructing the nearby manager, "Fire her."
Yes, it hit a sore spot.
I didn't expect Greta to come to the company before Cornelius did.
The gossip that had finally quieted down began to spread again.
In Cornelius's name, Greta ordered some coffee for the entire company.
She said, "Something happened at home with Cornelius, he's in a terrible mood, and I've been the one keeping him company."
She continued, "Even though Cornelius isn't here, he still asked me to check in on everyone, he knows how hard you all are working."
She saw me and pretended to be surprised, shouting, "Sister Carlee, what are you doing here?"
She played the role of the lady of the house perfectly.
I never considered her a threat because I knew Cornelius was just using her to get back at me.
What kind of woman would he even care about?
But she shouldn't have come here to provoke me alone.
"Security! Who let her in?"
I shouted, "No unauthorized personnel are allowed on the seventeenth floor, do you not understand the company policy?"
The security guards quickly rushed to remove Greta.
She stared at me in disbelief: "Carlee, are you crazy? How dare you treat me this way? I am..."
"What are you?" I looked at her coldly, "Just a toy for my husband. What makes you think you have the right to stand here?"
Greta, who must have never been insulted like this, twisted her beautiful face in anger.
"Carlee, you slut! Cornelius will..."
Greta was shrieking as she was escorted out.
I glanced at the crowd watching, my expression so cold that no one dared to say another word.
At dusk, I arrived at Cornelius's parents' grave.
The soft light of the setting sun shone on the tombstone, the photo of their warm, kind smiles.
"Dad, Mom..."
I could never bring myself to ask for forgiveness.
Even though Charlie kept telling me it was an accident, if it weren't for me, this family would have been peaceful and intact.
Night had fully fallen when it suddenly started to rain.
I still knelt in front of the grave.
But after a moment, the rain seemed to avoid me.
I looked up, and there was Cornelius, holding a black umbrella, leaning toward me.
I couldn't make out his expression, and he didn't look at me.
He stood still, saying nothing.
All the emotions I had buried under my work these past few days came rushing out like a flood. I shakily reached out to touch his coat.
"Cornelius..."
He seemed to laugh, a faint, inscrutable laugh.
"Carlee, they're dead. Who are you pretending for?"
His voice was so close, yet it felt like he was miles away from me.
I had already lost control, unable to hold back my sobs.
"If I could, I would rather it was me who died, even if I had to die ten times, a hundred times..."
He crouched down, and I finally saw the face I had longed for day and night.
He had grown thinner, his features sharper, and those beautiful eyes no longer held the light they once did.
"Cornelius, let me stay with you, please?"
I humbly hoped to see a glimmer of mercy for me in his eyes.
Cornelius's cold fingers touched my face.
"Carlee, I don't blame you anymore."
"I just can't see you anymore."
"Let's get a divorce."
When I heard those final words, the nightmare I had relived countless times finally came true.
I opened my mouth, but the tears flooded out, as if the dam had broken.
I didn't even have the right to refuse.
"I'm willing... to wait! You said you would always stay by my side, can you…"
Before I could finish, I suddenly lost all strength and fell into darkness.
In my last moments of consciousness, all I could remember was Cornelius's heartbeat thundering in his chest.
"Carlee!"
"!"
