Chapter 5
The scheduled upload was a recording of my “final words”. It was also my farewell to my sham of a
marriage.
As the video continued to rile the public into a frenzy, I sat in an apartment in an unfamiliar city, far away
from my past.
There were no Riveras here, nor was there a Randell-only a small quiet room and a glass door that led to
the balcony.
I started my new life under a new identity. I said goodbye to my past self who always had to tread carefully and had suffered neglect in the name of love.
No one knew where I was hiding, and no one knew that I had already made peace with the idea of growing old alone.
When I first moved to this city, I refused to engage with anyone. I used as few words as possible when it
came to grocery shopping, renting the apartment, and even paying the utility bills.
People found me aloof and strange, and they eventually stopped trying to talk to me, which was exactly
what I wanted.
With my savings, I opened a small art studio that specialized in teaching children how to draw.
Previously, I had thought that my talent would destine me to stand under the spotlight at art exhibitions
and earn countless applause and admiration from people.
But now, I only wanted to draw simple lines in peace and teach innocent children.
A month later, Eric Dunlop, the staffer at the company that helped me fake my death, informed me that
Randell was looking for me.
“Looking for me?” I scoffed before I continued coldly, “I’m already dead. Why is he still looking for me?”
“He’s been to your gallery and has even tried reaching out to your former friends. But don’t worry. We have
strict protective measures in place. He won’t be able to find anything,” Eric reassured me.
“According to our information, he spiraled into deep guilt and pain after the incident. The police told him
that the currents in that area were too strong, so there was likely no possibility for survival.
“He’s been back to the site many times looking for leads, and he even had people investigate your whereabouts, but all to no avail.”
I listened quietly as I lightly tapped my fingers on the table, as if I were listening to a story that had nothing to do with me.
Eric paused before adding, “Ms. Julia, your Twitter post and that video have become his worst nightmare. Those scheduled posts of yours exposed his coldness and neglect, and caused him to lose all dignity in
the eyes of the public.
“His reputation is completely ruined. Everyone now knows that his heart was never with you, but with May
instead.”
I chuckled lightly as my gaze fell out the window.
His reputation was ruined? Well, that was his own fault.
He kept treating our marriage like a joke, and now, he was finally facing the consequences.
“What about May?”
“The painting you showed in your video was enough evidence. The art exhibition revoked her admission and stripped her awards, and she’s even under investigation for fraud.
“Her husband divorced her, and even the Riveras are ashamed of her, too.”
I let out a faint hum of acknowledgement and didn’t ask any more questions.
Eric continued, “Randell and May’s relationship has completely soured, too. May insists that she had
nothing to do with you jumping overboard, but Randell blames her for everything. The only reason he
hasn’t done anything to her is because of his relationship with the Riveras.
“Anyway, the bottom line is that Randell is feeling very regretful right now.”
I fell silent for a long time before I finally smiled and shook my head.
“Then let him spend the rest of his life in regret.”
