Chapter 19 19
I had completely lost hope in him and decisively returned to Evrord with my sister Rosalie and the others.
After returning to Evrord, I didn’t involve myself in the affairs of the group. I never had a knack for business management, and now that the group had grown so large, every decision was deeply entangled in a web of interests. So, not getting
involved was the best choice.
I planned to take a six–month break, focus on studying for exams, and continue my studies at the Evrord Academy of Fine Arts. For the past three years, I had been completely focused on Theo, and my own aspirations had come to a halt.
Time flew by, and six months passed quickly. During this time, I occasionally heard news about the Lewis Group. The Lewis Group was severely damaged and could no longer support the Brown Group. As a result, Cecilia’s father’s company
soon went bankrupt.
The scandal involving Cecilia at the banquet spread like wildfire, and she was expelled by her family. After much difficulty, she eventually moved into the Lewis family home. Although she had no official status, for Cecilia, it was a place to live, especially since she was pregnant with Theo’s child.
However, the internal structure of the Lewis Group was cumbersome, and the power struggles were intense. Theo had initially planned to use the underwater project to integrate and streamline the group, but now that he had lost this opportunity, the other directors refused to show him any respect. With others coveting his position, even without Rosalie and Jasper getting involved, the Lewis Group was on the verge of collapse.
Theo had no choice but to attend various social gatherings, trying to secure some funds for the Lewis Group. However, with the Sunrise Group making announcements, most were unwilling to get involved with the problematic Lewis Group. Desperate, Theo took a risky gamble and collaborated with some shady companies.
Unexpectedly, he soon got entangled in some illegal activities and was taken in for questioning. By the time he was released, the Lewis Group’s stock had plummeted to worthless shares. The Lewis Group announced bankruptcy, and many of the family’s assets were sold off, including their ancestral mansion.
Saul took the remaining funds and fled abroad with his mistress and their illegitimate son, leaving Theo to deal with the aftermath. To survive, Theo had to swallow his pride and look for a high–paying job. After all, Ivy was bedridden out of anger, and there was a pregnant woman at home; money was needed for everything.
Rumor had it that Theo even debased himself to a rich woman for work. But he contracted a disease and passed it to the rich woman. In her rage, she had his legs broken. The injury damaged his nerves, and he would never walk again. Coupled with his illness, his life was completely hopeless.
Cecilia, terrified, fled but suffered a miscarriage and severe bleeding during her escape. Already ill, she didn’t last long and passed away shortly after.
Rosalie intentionally had someone tell me all this. She hadn’t intervened in Theo’s affairs but had always kept an eye on him. Hearing about his downfall, I felt a bit of pity and sadness.
I went back to Mecpus with Rosalie. She arranged for Ivy and Theo to be placed in the same nursing home. When I saw him,
The moment he saw me, he said, “Thea, I was wrong. It’s true that you see who really cares in times of trouble. Now that everyone has abandoned me, only you are willing to come close and help me.”
“It was Rosalie who helped you,” I replied.
Rosalie said, “Dying too quickly would be too easy for him.”
“Can you give me another chance?” he begged.
I leaned down and looked at him. “No, seeing your legs makes me nauseous.”
I returned the needle that had once been used against me to Theo. I was never truly a good person; I couldn’t be free of resentment, nor could I let bygones be bygones.
Theo’s moral bottom line was extremely low. If it weren’t for Rosalie and the others backing me, my fate wouldn’t have been much better.
One sentence left him on the verge of collapse. Sympathy? None!
This time, it was his turn to sink into his own suffering alone.
I turned and walked away, heading towards my bright future!
[The End]
