Chapter 557: The Truth of the Matter (7)
Yuna Sullivan’s words were a stark reminder to Master Lockwood—a reminder of what a fool he had been all these years, how utterly blind to have been deceived for so long.
It would be a lie to say his heart didn’t ache. It took every ounce of his strength just to remain standing here, facing this venomous viper of a woman...
Only after the captains had searched every room did they finally withdraw.
All the servants stood silently in the room, not daring to make a sound, while on the floor, a woman lay half-sprawled, weeping inconsolably.
Julius Lockwood sat on the sofa, his hand gripping his cane tightly. He waved, gesturing for the servants to throw the woman out.
"No! Master Lockwood, I know I was wrong! You can’t throw me out! You can’t!" Yuna Sullivan cried out in anguish.
As if he hadn’t heard a thing, Julius Lockwood used his cane to push himself up. He walked toward the stairs with heavy steps, each one making him seem utterly desolate and pitiable.
If you looked closely, you would see that the once iron-willed, resolute Master Lockwood had suddenly aged twenty years. He looked like a man in his late seventies or eighties—just as lonely, just as pitiable.
Watching Master Lockwood walk away, Yuna Sullivan struggled to lunge after him, but everyone held her back, refusing to let her get a single step closer.
"Master Lockwood! Please, I’m begging you, spare me and our son! He’s your son, too! The son who has called you ’Father’ for more than twenty years! Master Lockwood, Master Lockwood, I’m begging you..."
Julius Lockwood’s steps faltered for a second, but only a second. ’He called me Father for over twenty years,’ he thought. ’But he’s a wild wolf, an ungrateful beast that can never be tamed.’
’It’s over. This family has fallen apart. It fell apart the moment Penny left...’
The moment Yuna Sullivan was dragged out the front door, Master Lockwood collapsed, tumbling down the stairs.
Scene after scene flashed before his eyes—memories he had sealed away for over twenty years, memories he had never dared, nor ever allowed himself, to recall.
The images before his eyes suddenly froze, settling on the day he returned from the military...
’If only I had listened to her explanation back then. If only I hadn’t turned and left. If only I had trusted my wife... perhaps things never would have ended up like this.’
’Too late. It was all too late. He had destroyed his family with his own hands...’
Having tumbled down the stairs, Julius Lockwood lay on the floor, staring up at the ceiling. A smile touched his lips—calm, yet sorrowful.
Blood pooled beneath his head, but he no longer felt any pain.
His eyelids grew heavy, slowly, slowly closing...
The sight horrified the servants in the room. They rushed toward Master Lockwood, crying, "Master Lockwood! Master Lockwood!"
"Quick, make a call!"
"Master Lockwood fell down the stairs! Call someone, quick...!"
The voices around him sounded so distant, so far away. He thought he saw a figure materialize on the ceiling. As he focused, he realized it was Penny, whom he hadn’t seen in over twenty years.
She was as captivating as she was in her youth; time hadn’t left a single trace on her face. She gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and smiled warmly, her voice soft and intoxicating. "Julius, you’ve come..."
He slowly raised a hand, but before he could speak, he saw a vision of his younger self. Clad in a military uniform, his face was an indifferent mask, revealing no emotion. "Yes," the young man said. "I’m here."