Chapter 16
Rain streamed down Fabian’s face, blurring the line between tears and raindrops. His body trembled slightly, as if weighed down by unbearable pain.
He knew he had failed Amelia. He had failed the Porter family. But he couldn’t lie to himself anymore.
Fabian kneeled before Amelia’s grave for three days and nights, neither eating nor drinking. He didn’t even move an inch.
The cemetery staff tried to persuade him to leave, but he only shot them a cold glare. His voice carried an authority that left no room for argument as he said, “Get lost.”
After that, no one dared to approach him again. They could only watch from a distance, caught between confusion and concern.
On the third day, the rain finally stopped.
Fabian slowly rose to his feet. His legs were numb from kneeling for so long, but he didn’t seem to notice. He cast one last look at Amelia’s gravestone and whispered, “Mom, I’m sorry. But I’m going to let you down.”
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away. His figure looked lonely yet resolute.
The first thing Fabian did upon returning to the Porter residence was call off the wedding.
Matthew and Sasha were stunned to hear that.
“What did you just say?” Matthew’s voice was sharp with disbelief. “Call off the wedding? Fabian, do you even know what you’re saying?”
Fabian’s expression was blank. His tone was cold and firm as he said, “I said, I’m calling off the wedding.”
Sasha’s face went pale. Trembling, she grabbed Fabian’s arm and pleaded, “Why, Fab? Did I do something wrong? I swear, I won’t touch you again without asking first, okay? Don’t call it off.”
Fabian glanced at her and replied with a hint of guilt, “This has nothing to do with that.”
Sasha’s tears spilled over. Her voice shook as she asked, “It’s Valerie, isn’t it? You still can’t forget her.”
Fabian hesitated for a moment. Then, finally, he nodded. “Yes.”
Matthew’s face darkened in an instant. He slammed his palm against the table, and his voice rose with fury. “Fabian Porter! Have you lost your mind? She killed your mom! How can you still have feelings for her?”
Fabian clenched his fists. His nails dug into his palms.
In a hoarse and deep voice, he said, “I know. That’s why I kneeled at Mom’s grave for three days. I tried. I really tried, but I still can’t forget her.”
Matthew shook with rage. His hands trembled as he grabbed the whip from the table and lashed it across Fabian’s back. “You bastard! If you won’t wake up, I’ll beat some sense into you!”
The whip struck again and again, tearing through his clothes and leaving streaks of blood on his skin.
But Fabian never flinched. It was as if he couldn’t feel the pain.
“Can you forget her now?” Matthew roared.
Blood trickled from Fabian’s lips, but his answer didn’t change. “No.”
The whip cracked down again. “Can you forget her now?”
Fabian’s body shuddered, but his voice remained eerily calm. “No.”
Another Lash. “Can you forget her now?”
Fabian’s knees finally buckled. He collapsed onto the floor.
Blood soaked through his torn shirt. It trailed down his back and pooled beneath him.
But he still raised his head and locked his gaze onto Matthew’s. “I’m going to find Valerie. I don’t care if I have to tie her to me. In the next life, we can burn in hell together. But in this one, I’ll die without her.”
Matthew’s hand trembled violently. The whip slipped from his fingers and hit the ground.
His entire body swayed, and he looked like he had aged ten years in an instant. His voice carried only despair. “This is a curse. An absolute curse.”
Then, before anyone could react, his body lurched, and he collapsed.
“Dad!” Fabian shot up, ignoring the pain ripping through him. He lurched forward and caught Matthew in his arms. His voice shook with panic. “Call an ambulance? Now!” Sasha stood frozen. She was as pale as a ghost.
As she stared at Fabian’s back, her eyes were hollow with grief. She knew that no matter what she did, she would never have a place in his heart.
The ambulance arrived swiftly, and Matthew was rushed to the hospital.
