Chapter 460
The world was taken by surprise by Carla’s end.
“She really became infamous, even in death,” Sanya said quietly, letting out a deep sigh.
No one had expected it to unfold the way it did. But Clifford made sure that Carla’s final moments were seen by everyone. The videos, captured in real time from the hidden cameras implanted on the decoys who impersonated Rain and Sanya, were broadcasted across every platform around the world.
Rain sat in silence, her fingers curled tightly around a cup of untouched tea. “I feel bad for those two women,” she murmured. “They took our p>
“Don’t be,” Sanya replied gently. “William told me he warned them clearly about how dangerous the mission was. He said they knew the risks. They volunteered anyway p>
She paused, her voice lowering. “Still… no one thought Carla would snap that fast, just kill them like that before the rescue team even got in p>
Rain’s chest tightened, the weight of it all sitting heavily on her shoulders. “They died to protect us p>
Sanya nodded solemnly. “They were brave p>
A long silence followed before Sanya finally spoke again. “It was Alexander’s plan all along, wasn’t it p>
“Yes,” Rain confirmed. “Feeding Tim information, letting them think they had the upper hand, it was all part of the plan. Lure them into making a move, expose Carla for who she really was, and capture Tim in the process. Hitting two birds with one stone p>
Rain stared out the window, her reflection blurred against the glass. “That’s why everything was recorded. Every word she said. Every violent act. They wanted the truth out there. No more hiding behind lies p>
“And now the whole world knows,” Sanya said. “There’s no erasing that p>
The silence returned, heavier this time, woven with sorrow, justice, and the cost that came with both. The silence soon broke when Aunt Melanie walked into the living area, dressed in a simple black dress, her expression composed but heavy with emotion.
Rain and Sanya both turned toward her, surprised.
“Aunt Melanie?” Sanya blinked, standing up. “Where are you going p>
Melanie smoothed down the front of her dress and offered a small, tired smile. “I want to see my brother… one last time p>
Rain slowly rose from her seat. “He’s still my brother,” Melanie said softly with a faint smile. “No matter what he’s done. I just… I need to look and see him p>
Sanya exchanged a quiet glance with Rain, neither of them knowing what to say. There was a long pause before Sanya whispered, “Do you want us to come with you p>
Melanie looked at both girls with grateful eyes and smiled faintly. “No. I need to do this alone.” She picked up her coat, straightened her shoulders, and walked to the door. Just before she stepped out, she turned back to look at them.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “For surviving. For staying kind… even after everything p>
Then she was gone.
The door closed gently behind her, leaving Rain and Sanya in a silence that felt both heavy and strangely hopeful.
“She’s strong,” Sanya whispered. Rain nodded. “Stronger than most p>
At the prison where Tim was held captive, the visiting room was quiet except for the occasional shuffle of guards and the low murmur of other conversations behind glass partitions.
Melanie sat on one side of the thick glass, her hands folded tightly in her lap. She looked older than she had the day before. Grief had a way of aging people overnight.
Across from her, Tim was led in, handcuffed and wearing the dull gray of a prison uniform.
He looked up, surprised to see her. For a moment, he just stared. Then he slowly sat down, his eyes bloodshot and weary.
“Mel he said, his voice hoarse.
She picked up the receiver, her fingers trembling. “Hi, Tim p>
He hesitated, then picked up the phone on his side. “Why… why are you here p>
Melanie stared at him for a long, quiet moment. Her voice came out soft, almost fragile. “I just wanted to see my brother one last time p>
Tim swallowed hard. “You came to blame me p>
“No,” she whispered. “No, Tim. I came to say something I should’ve said a long time ago p>
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall just yet. Her voice cracked as she continued. “If only you let go of that grudge… if you had just moved on from the past… maybe things would’ve turned out differently. Maybe Carla would still be alive. Maybe you and I, we could still be a family p>
Tim’s jaw clenched, his face tightening in pain.
“You had her,” Melanie said, her voice rising just slightly, raw with emotion. “You had a daughter who could have loved you more than anything. But instead of healing, you fed her poison. You turned her into a weapon against ghosts that should’ve been buried years ago p>
“I did it for her!” Tim snapped, pressing his palm against the glass. “For Carla! For Lydia p>
“No,” Melanie said softly, a tear finally slipping down her cheek. “You did it for your pride. Your anger. You let those things raise her in your place. And in the end… it destroyed both of you p>
Tim’s shoulders trembled. He lowered his head, eyes fixed on the metal table between them, his voice cracking.
“I didn’t mean for it to go this far. I never wanted Carla to die. She was the only one I had left… the only part of Lydia I had.” He swallowed hard.
Melanie’s expression softened with quiet pain. “But you still lost her, Tim. Not because the world took her away… but because you pushed her too far. Why didn’t you stop p>
He had no answer.
“I think about Mom and Dad,” she went on, her voice quieter again. “About what they’d say if they saw what we’ve become. We could’ve been sitting at one table. Sharing stories. Laughing. Living. Carla should’ve had that. We all should have p>
“I know,” Tim choked out, his voice barely audible. “I know p>
Melanie looked at him through the glass, her eyes full of sadness. “I don’t hate you, Tim. I don’t think I ever could. But I’ll never understand why you chose vengeance over love. Why do you let it blind you p>
Silence stretched between them.
Finally, Melanie said gently, “This… this was the last time I’ll see you. I just wanted you to hear it from someone who still cared. You could’ve chosen peace. You still can… even now. But I won’t be around to remind you p>
She stood slowly.
Tim looked up at her, broken, hollow. “Mel p>
“I hope you find what’s left of your soul in here,” she said, placing her palm lightly against the glass one last time. “For Carla. And for Lydia p>
Then she walked away. Tim pressed his forehead to the glass as she walked away. For the first time in years, he wept. Alone.