must’ve had the worst luck in the world to cross paths with you!”
“Shameless! Vile! Filthy! Why don’t you just drop dead? What’s the point of repenting now? Are you putting on another act? You and Lisa Evans are made for each other. Why don’t you both go win an award for it!”
“Just die already! Join Nicole in the afterlife! Regret means nothing now. If you had any decency, you wouldn’t have betrayed her
in the first place!”
One by one, people lined up to berate him. The stream continued for a full day and night, with Tristan silently enduring it all. He kept his head down the entire time, not saying a single word in response.
The number of viewers climbed steadily, nearing one million.
Finally, Tristan broke his silence.
“I know I was wrong. Nothing I do can ever make up for the pain I’ve caused Nicky. But please, everyone, I beg you. I miss her so much. I refuse to believe she’s gone. If any of you know where she is, please tell me. I’ll pay whatever you ask–name your price. I’d even give up the entire Ford Group if it meant finding her!”
As he finished, he knelt before the camera, pleading to the audience.
“Please, I’m begging you. Help me!”
Someone in the comments scoffed.
“He sounds sincere, offering his entire fortune just for news of Nicole.”
1/3
“Ha! Even if Nicole were alive, we wouldn’t tell you where she is. Why let you hurt her again?”
+15 Bonus
“Ladies, let’s all scam him. I gave him fake leads before and made a lot of money off him! Scumbags like him deserve to suffer.”
Shortly after, the livestream was reported and promptly shut down.
Tristan knelt on the ground, weakened by days without proper food and the overwhelming strain he had endured. Eventually, he
collapsed unconscious.
As he fainted, he dreamt of Nicole.
It felt so real—she was right there beside him, cooking an entire table of dishes for his birthday.
They walked along the beach, and she picked up a seashell, whispered something into it, then handed it to him.
When he asked what she had said, she threw her arms around him and laughed.
“I love you, silly! I love you, Tristan!”
He lifted her in his arms, spinning her around and around, their laughter echoing across the shore. Eventually, they both fell onto the sand, still laughing, their happiness uncontainable.
s gone.
The memories were vivid, but the woman he loved was
When Tristan woke, senior executives from the company had come to see him.
“Mr. Ford, why are you doing this to yourself?”
“Exactly. If you ruin your health, what will happen to the company?”
“Mr. Ford, it’s already too late for regrets. Why didn’t you think of this before?”
For the past two years, Tristan had indulged in his affair without restraint. Now, his regret served no purpose. It was far too late.
Tristan said nothing, staring blankly at the ceiling.
“Mr. Ford, at least have something to eat.”
Someone tried to feed him soup, but he couldn’t swallow a single bite, and it all spilled out.
Seeing him like this, the group shook their heads in resignation.
“Let’s go.”
“What about the company? Who’s going to manage things now?”
“We’ll have to handle it ourselves. Look at him, does he look like he can focus on anything?”
The room fell silent again as Tristan slowly got up from the bed. He picked up his phone, intending to start another livestream.
Suddenly, a message came through–a clear, frontal photo.
Chapter 36
“Mr. Ford, I’m at a coffee shop in Sutherland right now. Is this the woman you’re looking for?”
