Twisted Ties of Love
Chapter 309

Seaside... Not only did they cremate Izabella's body, but they also took the ashes to the beach. What were they trying to do...

The staff member was baffled as he watched the man in front of him.

Brett let go of the staff's hand weakly. His proud figure seemed to collapse at this moment...

Lucas asked, "Are we really going to scatter the ashes into the sea?"

Presley nodded, sitting on the seaside rock, caressing the urn in his hand.

Three years ago, when Izabella was diagnosed with stomach cancer, this kind of ending seemed to be destined.

The sea breeze blew on his face, and Presley's dry eyes started to well up again. He carefully cradled the urn in his arms as if it was a priceless treasure. "She said that after she died, she wanted to donate her usable organs to those in need, and the rest should be cremated and scattered into the sea..."

Even in death, she wanted to save people with her own body. Why was fate so unfair to such a good girl?

Lucas squatted aside, a surge of sorrow welling up inside him.

Presley had a bitter smile on his face, recalling how he had advised Izabella not to worry about what would happen after her death.

He thought that in such an advanced era of medical science, with so many experts dedicated to cancer research, Izabella's condition would surely improve. Even if she couldn't be completely cured, she could live a few more years.

However, in these three years, despite significant progress in cancer research, Izabella passed away before he could bring her to get treatment...

It seemed that this tragedy was destined from the start, no matter how hard they tried, Izabella couldn't escape her tragic fate. Looking back at his persuasion back then, it was ridiculously absurd. "Izabella longed for freedom, but she was trapped in the Salotti family since birth." Presley said disdainfully, "Do you think she really wanted to take over the hot mess of the Salotti family business? She was only eighteen at the time and had to grow up prematurely, dealing with people decades older than her, always on guard."

"Do you know she hasn't had a good night's sleep in a long time? She took sleeping pills, from one to two. Her body was originally healthy, but because of your negligence, her stomach gradually worsened into gastritis and eventually turned into stomach cancer.

"As the son of a wealthy family, you can live happily and carelessly in the Salotti family, living a wastrel life outside. No matter what happens, there's the Salotti family to take the fall for you. Your father still adores you.

"I also have the right to choose a profession I like, to become a doctor.

"Only Izabella..." Presley choked up, "Her favorite was the violin; she wanted to be a violinist."

But when he saw Izabella's body, he found that her fingers had no nails, and the marks on those fingertips were clearly not burned off.

What had Izabella gone through over the years? Those hands of hers should have been playing the violin.

Lucas lowered his head, listening to Presley's murmurs. These seemingly light words, however, felt like stabs in his ears, the pain spreading throughout his body, and even his prosthetic right hand was trembling.

"Is it sad or fortunate to get someone to complete what you couldn't in life after death?"

In the winter of J City, it got dark by seven in the afternoon. The sea breeze seemed to carry a cold breath, numbing the cheeks. As Presley's voice fell, the biting sea breeze suddenly softened, as if a hand gently stroked his tear-streaked face.

Presley's face stiffened for a moment as he looked at the urn in his arms, his heart filled with bitterness. Was that you, Izabella...

Tears fell uncontrollably. Although the wind was cold, it didn't chill his tears. Presley choked up and said, "Izabella, I remember what you told me, to scatter your ashes into the sea after your death, to follow the current and see the outside world, I've always remembered..."

Lucas lifted his head and asked, "When are we going to scatter the ashes into the sea?" They had been sitting here for over an hour.

"Just wait a little longer, waiting for someone to come, to collect a bet."

"What bet?"

Presley shook his head, not answering. Only he and Izabella knew about this bet.

At 7:14, Presley heard the sound of an engine.

"Someone's coming." Lucas realized. He stood up, his body already cold, his legs numb. As he stood up, he stumbled, almost falling.

Lucas had good eyesight; he recognized Brett before he even got out of the car. He was deeply afraid of Brett. After all, it was because of him that the Salotti family had trouble. His father's death and Izabella's death were all related to him.

He was useless, only able to rant in his heart when facing the enemy, and could only hide away in reality, not even daring to utter a word.

"It's... it's Brett. Is he here to steal the ashes? Scatter them into the sea quickly, or it'll be too late..."

Presley's lifeless eyes suddenly sharpened. Watching Brett get out of the car, he stood up with the urn in his arms.

"Presley!" A voice called out before the figure even got close, "What are you doing!"

Presley carefully held the urn, raising his hand slightly when he heard Brett's voice.

The wind over the sea was unpredictable, like a whirlpool. When Presley opened the urn, the wind that was originally against him suddenly changed direction.

Brett's pupils trembled violently. He instantly understood what Presley was about to do next. He froze, not daring to get closer. He didn't even realize his voice was choking, pleading softly, "Presley, don't... I beg you. If you have any grievances, take them out on me. Don't touch her. Give her back to me... give her back to me..."

Who would've thought the big shot president of the Windham Group would actually need to beg. But this wasn't Brett's first rodeo; now he'd always put Izabella before his own safety.

Suddenly, the world went eerily silent. The only sound was the mournful howl of the sea breeze, as if it was crying.

"Brett, I gave her to you seven years ago. Not this time though." As Presley's words hung in the air, Brett was left dumbstruck, like a deer in headlights. He watched the white powder, carried away by the sea breeze.

"No!" He bellowed as Presley tossed the remaining unburnt bone fragments into the sea.

The roiling sea didn't even ripple. In that moment, Brett felt as though it wasn't Izabella's ashes being thrown away, but his heart.

Brett stared at the turbulent sea and suddenly made a mad dash forward, as if to jump in. But quicker than him, Liam and the driver pinned him down.

"Ahh-" Brett struggled like a cornered beast, but to no avail. He was pinned to the ground, his eyes still fixed on the dark sea.

Time seemed to stand still, everything around him faded, his world plunged into darkness, filled with endless despair.

His ears were ringing, Izabella's ashes were scattered by the wind, torturing him with unbearable pain.

The love of his life was gone, and he couldn't do a damn thing about it.

Tears rolled down his cheeks without warning, the strong seaside wind unable to dry his eyes. His throat let out a gut-wrenching cry, Brett looked desolate.

Presley, holding the empty urn, was laughing so hard he was shaking, "She's gone, she's free, and you can't hold her down anymore."

Lucas stood by, one moment looking helplessly at Brett, the next nervously at Presley. He couldn't tell if it was Brett that had lost his marbles or if it was Presley.

Brett bit his lip till blood trickled down, he coughed a few times, his face pale, eyes even more bloodshot.

Reaching up to grab the hand pressing on his shoulder, he coughed up blood, the pain tearing at his heart.

His broken heart felt as if it was being stabbed with countless nails. He stood up, his eyes cold as ice, glaring at Presley.

"Let go!"

Liam shivered, the driver looked worse, the two exchanged a glance, understanding the message in the other's eyes. They released Brett's shoulders but kept a close eye on him, fearing he might try to jump into the sea again.

Brett moved towards Presley, the gap between them closing with each step.

"Presley, the Felton family will pay for this!" His breath was as sharp as the night sea breeze.

Unafraid, Presley threw the urn at Brett, a move no one saw coming.

"President Windham!"

Brett didn't dodge, the urn hit his forehead. If it was a little lower, he would've lost an eye.

Blood flowed into his eyes. The eyes that were already sore now stung even more, and his vision was blurred.

Brett swayed, his bloodshot eyes staring at people like a demon straight outta hell.

Lucas was trembling, trying to make himself invisible, hiding behind a rock.

Presley stood tall, the wind at his back as if pushing him forward.

He locked eyes with Brett's terrifying face, pointing a cold finger at him, "Brett, this is how you drove Izabella, who only had eyes for you, to her death!"

"Brett, live with her death on your conscience till the end of your days. Remember, every Christmas from now on is her memorial day!"

A twisted smile appeared on Presley's face, "She has no grave, no tombstone. She wanted her ashes scattered in the water, to drift with the current, to be free even in death. You don't even have the chance to cry at her grave!"

Nine years ago, on Christmas Eve, Izabella saved Brett's life, a moment etched into his memory. But nine years later, the same Christmas Eve became Izabella's memorial day.

In an attempt to keep Izabella, Brett did many wrong things, even made her lose her memory, and later crippled her legs, trapping her in a wheelchair.

He thought that way Izabella would never leave him, but the ones who truly wanted to leave can't be held down. He couldn't keep Izabella, not even her ashes.

His body felt like it was being slowly cut by a blunt knife, a pain he had never experienced before, reminding him he deserved it. Brett's body swayed, the world seemed to spin and fade, the pain was too much he collapsed to the ground.

-"I'm going to make Brett fall for me. I bet he'll regret it after I die, he'll lose sleep, he'll be restless, he'll never get over it for the rest of his life!"

Presley looked up at the starless sky. Izabella, congratulations, you won your bet.

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