âBesides, youâre aware of my youngest daughterâs condition, too. If we were to divorce, Iâd have to
send Shannon abroad, as far away as possible. I fear parting ways with her mother would be too much
for
Carrie to bear. Iâm worried that itâll exacerbate her illness.â Paul nodded in understanding,
acknowledging the complexity of the situation.
âI asked you to track the whereabouts of Justin. Have you found out where heâs gone?â Gregory
inquired. Sorry, Chairman Salvador. As you know, Mr. Salvador is quite adept at remaining undetected.
Heâs made it clear he doesnât want anyone to know where he is, so itâs been impossible to track him
down.â Paul responded, expressing a sense of resignation.
Gregory remained silent as he dialed Justinâs number on his phone,
After several attempts, Justin finally answered.
âItâs late. Do you need anything?â
âJustin, Iâ¦â
âIf youâre trying to convince me to attend the project meeting, s your effort. I wonât be going.â Justinâs
tone was icy, devoid of any trace of father-son affection in their conversation.
Gregory pursed his lips, his voice low as he asked, âJustin, are you free tomorrow? Iâd like you to
accompany me on an errand.â
âWhere to?â
To visit your mother.â
The words hung heavy in the air, plunging Justin into a silence that ssent shivers down his fatherâs
spine.
Though separated by the phone line, Gregory could still feel the chilllling frost emanating from his own
sonâs end of the conversation.
âAreeyyoujoking? Did you hear what you just said?â
âIâm goidoking, Justin. Iâm serious about it.â
Gregoryytootkaaddeep breath, feeling an unfamiliar sense of unease and shanne despite his position
as the leader of the Salvador Corporation.
âI know i havenâtâtodone enough over these years. Even though your mother is no longgerhhere with
us, I havenât fulfilled my duties as her husband. I havenât paid my respects to her or spent time with her.
Iâve truly been lacking.ââ
âLacking?â
Justin let out a bitter laughh hhis voice tinged with resentmen you saying that with just a fewwords, you
can erase 23 years of debt and pain? Do you, estteened Chairman Salvador, believe deserve that? Do
you think youuddeserve to stand before my mothe
Forget it. My mother has me byyhkeenside every year, and sheâs doin great up there. Donât delude
yoursshinto thinking you can go bother her again.â
âWhat nonsense is this? I am her husband, the one she once loved the most!â
Gregoryâs cheeks flushed with shame, but his pride would not allow his own son to trample on him. He
retorted with red eyes, like a child defending itself, âYou have no idea how deep her feelings were for
Why shouldnât I go see her?â
âEven if my mother once loved youâ¦
Justinâs voice trembled with anger, sounding hoarse and alarming. â
The moment she leaped from the balcony of Tideview Manor, she stopped loving you. Sometimes, I
truly believe that her choice to leave in such an extreme way, amidst all her pain, was a blessing.
Staying alive by your side, enduring your emotional abuse every day, watching you share a bed with
other women while pretending to be a dutiful wife. That agony is worse than death itself. Her love for
you was the greatest source of her suffering.â
In an instant, the horrific image of Maryâs tragic death flooded Gregoryâs mind once again.
He shuddered violently, his phone nearly slipping from his grasp. breath became heavy and sluggish,
alarming Paul, who hesitated interrupt the father-son dialogue.
âIâm not sure what has gotten in you to make such a request, but I want to make it clear that you have
no right to stand before my mother. Not now, not ever.â
After saying his piece, Justin did not wait for Gregoryâs response before hanging up the phone.
Gregory, feeling drained, broke out in a cold sweat, his complexion paling.
âChairman Salvador? Chairman Salvador? Are you okay?â Paul asked anxiously
âCould you please fetch me a glass of water?â Gregory requested weakly, feeling more depleted than
he had ever felt before.