Broken Oath: I Left, He Regretted-Chapter 91: A Belated Apology and Remorse

Timothy Xavier’s pupils suddenly contracted, as if struck by lightning, frozen in place.

The face that once bore a ruthless expression instantly lost all color, marred with fine cracks.

I hadn’t anticipated that today, Timothy would bring me here, asking me to swear on our child, to vow that I didn’t harm Naomi Sawyer.

Yet, we happened to encounter the esteemed Master Clarity.

After Master revealed my miscarriage, the temple plunged into deathly silence, and I could almost hear Timothy’s heavy breathing.

I looked at the golden Buddha, a self-mocking smile curling my lips: "Timothy Xavier, do you want me to swear on our first deceased child, or should I swear on the second? As long as you let the Ellison Family go, I’ll do as you wish!"

He trembled violently, his thin lips moved slightly, but he couldn’t utter a single word.

Master Clarity sighed softly from the side, his gaze resting on Timothy Xavier with a trace of regret: "Patron Xavier, I’ve known you for many years, and I’ve seen you immerse yourself in Buddhism, thinking you had already understood the word ’compassion.’ But to speak such words to your own wife and curse on a deceased child is far too cruel."

The master paused, his voice taking on a solemn tone, "Buddhism speaks of cause and effect; how can you expect a good outcome from such a malicious cause you planted today?"

Timothy Xavier said nothing, only turned around in a daze and walked towards the door.

I thanked Master Clarity and slowly followed him.

After all, it still depended on him to let go of the Ellison family’s matters.

As we reached the stone steps in front of the temple gate, he suddenly stopped.

Timothy Xavier’s gaze swept inch by inch over the blue-grey stones on the steps.

But the bright red trails from that stormy day would never appear before him again.

Timothy’s fingers trembled slightly at his side, he looked at me, his cold eyes turning red: "Zoe, that day... it hurt a lot, didn’t it?"

I tugged at the corner of my mouth, trying to smile, but tears surged forward instead: "Timothy Xavier, did you know? That day I knelt in the rain, feeling the small life slowly peel away from my body. I tried to hold him, but couldn’t grasp anything..."

"Zoe, I..."

His voice was raspy, as if sandpapered, "I didn’t expect... it would be like this."

I gazed at the mist-covered mountain peaks in the distance, my voice as soft as the wind, "He stayed with me all the way to the mountain’s summit before he finally left me completely. I think maybe he felt, with a father like you, it was too painful."

"Stop talking." His eyes reddened further, as if they were about to bleed, "Zoe, stop talking..."

The pain from that day seemed to surge back again, engulfing me densely, I said, "You can’t even bear to hear it, can you? But all of it is something I truly went through that day! When I knelt on these stone steps, I kept wondering, what kind of hatred do we have, for you to treat me this way?"

He stood frozen in place, cold and stern features spreading lines of pain.

I walked down the mountain, each step felt like treading on the child’s blood.

Soon, Timothy Xavier caught up to me, suddenly grabbing my hand.

He looked at me fixedly, as if making a decision, and said to me, "Can we... live well together from now on?"

I looked at him calmly, and said, "Timothy Xavier, some wounds fester into your bones and never heal! Do you really think we can ’live well’?"

Timothy’s fingers abruptly loosened, retracting as if scalded.

He looked at me, a flicker of helplessness in his eyes, and finally, without saying another word, silently walked down the mountain.

I stood in place, watching his figure disappear at the end of the stone steps, and only then did I slowly close my eyes, the numb, dull pain in my heart began to spread again.

At this moment, Master Clarity came over and stopped beside me.

"I’m sorry, Benefactor Ellison." His tone was heavy with guilt, "I didn’t know that Patron Xavier’s wife was you. I always thought it was that benefactor named Naomi Sawyer."

I smiled self-deprecatingly, and said, "It’s okay, it’s normal that you didn’t know. Few people know about my relationship with Timothy Xavier."

Master Clarity sighed, his gaze extending far and wide, took the initiative to explain to me, "Three years ago, Patron Xavier came to me, saying his beloved was ill and had grown apart from him, and he was in pain. So he wanted to seek my help to let his loved one escape from suffering.

After asking about his life, I found that although he was a titan in the business world, he was full of deceit, indirectly causing many deaths, even leading to the ruin of competitors’ families. Hence, I advised him to now lead a life of abstinence and devotion to Buddhism, to atone for his sins.

He truly did so, and has always been doing well. But had I known, the beloved person was not his wife, and his wife was treated this way by him, I definitely wouldn’t have let him do that."

Although I don’t know what exactly happened between Timothy Xavier and Naomi Sawyer?

I only lament the years wasted on someone unworthy.

I nodded slightly, and said, "Thank you for telling me this."

Master Clarity pressed his palms together devoutly, saying, "Amitabha, I have already made prayer flags for your poor child and will ensure a proper send-off."

I suddenly found it all so ironic and sad.

It seemed like everyone else cared more for our child than Timothy Xavier did.

Only he, the biological father, was always outside our world.

After bidding farewell to Master Clarity, I took a taxi home.

That evening, I received a call from my father.

His voice was barely able to contain his excitement, "Zoe! Timothy Xavier has relented! He said the losses of Xavier Group don’t need to be repaid immediately, he’s given us some leeway... Though your brother hasn’t been released, it’s already a huge concession!"

My grip tightened around the phone, my throat felt a bit tight, and after a while, I said softly, "That’s good. How’s Mom doing now?"

"The doctor said she’s fine after stomach pumping, just a bit weak, so don’t worry."

Mr. Ellison paused, his tone carrying a slight confusion and unease, "Zoe, honestly tell Dad, did you... did you agree to some condition with Timothy Xavier? Otherwise, why would he suddenly back down?"

Looking out at the dark night, my voice was as light as a sigh, "Perhaps... he still has a bit of conscience."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, my father eventually didn’t ask further, only repeatedly told me to take care of myself.

After hanging up, the room returned to silence.

All I received for the excruciating pain I went through was a belated, insignificant shred of his conscience.

The cost of it was so heavy that even breathing felt tiring.

Not long after speaking with my father, the assistant director of the production crew called, his tone full of helplessness.

"Miss Ellison, there’s a situation with Serena over there. She says the figure skating training is too hard, she really can’t continue, wants a stand-in for all the ice scenes. As per your instructions, we told her they must be done by the actors themselves. She left the set in a fit of anger, and now she’s already gone back."

I didn’t expect Serena to have so little resolve.

I thought that for the chance to reclaim her fame, she’d seize the opportunity to give it her all.

In the end, she couldn’t bear a bit of hardship, couldn’t endure any suffering.

This kind of woman, truly deserved to be stepped over by Raina Ainsworth in the entertainment world.

I said to the other side, "Don’t cater to her. Tomorrow, if she doesn’t return to the set, treat it as a breach of contract. As for the new scenes I added, removing them won’t affect the development of other scenes."

The assistant director paused in surprised, then responded, "Okay, I’ll go speak with her now."

Within half an hour, the news came from the set: Serena would rather pay the penalty than continue ice skating, and had already left with her assistant.

What a woman, wanting fame but unable to endure hardships!

...

The next morning, Mr. Ellison said that Mrs. Ellison was fine and had already returned home to recuperate.

After getting my car fixed, I drove to The Ellison Family home.

Although The Ellison Group has momentarily gotten through the crisis, the issue with my brother is the real reason Mrs. Ellison was distraught.

So, I still wanted to go back and persuade her, at least to stop doing such extreme things.

I didn’t expect Timothy Xavier to be there as well.

In the living room, my parents were talking to him, visibly tense.

Mrs. Ellison still looked pale, but forced a smile in response.

"Zoe’s here." My father noticed me first and hurriedly stood up.

Timothy also turned his head, his gaze resting on me, pausing before he explained: "I came to see my mother-in-law."

The term "mother-in-law" rolled off naturally, as if he had never turned The Ellison Family upside down, never sent my brother to the detention center.

I truly marvel at his hypocrisy.

Mrs. Ellison looked at Timothy and said, "Timothy, if you’re busy, there’s no need to come specifically. Zoe is here, and after all, Declan has caused such trouble for Xavier Group, we’re just not able to help much..."

Mr. Ellison echoed repeatedly: "Yes, Timothy, don’t let us hold you up."

They cautiously flattered him, their tone carrying a hint of appeasement.

I know they’re afraid, afraid that if Timothy gets upset, he’ll tighten the newly loosened situation again.

After all, The Ellison Family’s lifeblood still lies in his hands now.

I placed the thermos on the coffee table, not looking at Timothy, I just said to Mrs. Ellison: "Mom, I’ve made pigeon soup for you, have some while it’s hot."

I served soup to both my parents but deliberately didn’t serve Timothy.

Mrs. Ellison’s hand holding the soup bowl trembled slightly, feeling a bit awkward, she said: "Zoe, why don’t you serve Timothy a bowl too?"

I glanced at him and said, "Did you forget? He’s a follower of Buddhism, doesn’t eat meat."

Timothy calmly said to Mrs. Ellison: "Right, I don’t eat this, you have more to boost your health."

Even so, his gaze remained on me, with a kind of indescribable complexity.

Knowing that we don’t really welcome him, Timothy showed no intention of leaving.

Mr. Ellison had no choice but to try and find topics of conversation, to which Timothy occasionally responded once or twice, but mostly he stayed silent, watching me.

Although Timothy is a calm person, he doesn’t have much patience.

Clearly, Mr. Ellison’s topics didn’t interest him.

So, he spoke with a very indifferent tone: "Dad, Mom, I have some words I wish to speak to Zoe alone."

Mr. and Mrs. Ellison exchanged a knowing glance: "Alright, you two can talk in the study."

Like this, I went to the study with Timothy.

As the door closed, Timothy walked to me, his tall figure casting a shadow.

His voice was deep: "I went home and thought about it all night yesterday. I owe you an apology. Whatever compensation you want, I will do my utmost to provide."

I looked up at him, my eyes calm: "Can you give Doris back to me?"

His brows furrowed deeply: "Zoe, I said..."

"You said Doris isn’t my daughter!" I interrupted him, my voice suddenly rising, "You’ve already made me lose a second child, do you still want to make it so Doris and I can never recognize each other?"

Timothy was silent for a long time before speaking: "Doris truly isn’t your daughter. Furthermore, Serena is soon going to take her overseas."

My heart tightened.

Indeed, Serena just left the film set yesterday, and today Timothy started arranging her to accompany Doris abroad.

I shook my head and said, "Timothy, you can’t entrust my daughter to someone like Serena! If Doris continues with her, she’ll become full of lies, scheming and malicious! She’ll be corrupted!"

Timothy’s tone no longer held regret, instead it carried a touch of faint reprimand: "Your prejudice against her is too strong! Serena has raised Doris since she was young; she would never harm her."

"Is that so?"

I tugged a cold smile at the corner of my mouth and said: "Too bad, Serena doesn’t deserve your trust."

Timothy asked, "What do you mean?"

"Don’t you want to know how Naomi Sawyer died? Maybe she can give you an answer!"

I shared the doubts I’d held all along: "That day, after I picked up the earring, I went to this brand’s store to verify, only to find that the earring belonged to Naomi Sawyer. Later, I went to the hospital in Westmere where she stayed and heard from the nurses there that Naomi Sawyer’s relics were all kept by her mother and sister.

If this earring was a personal belonging of Naomi Sawyer, did Serena and her mother never notice it was missing?

But judging from your reaction when you saw the earring, they seem to have told you nothing."

After I finished speaking, Timothy’s gaze was like a deep, bottomless cold pool, leaving people guessing as to what he was thinking.

He didn’t speak for a long time, but clearly had listened to what I said.

After a while, he suddenly took out his phone and called Serena.

"Come to The Xavier Manor this afternoon."

His voice was emotionless, yet carried an undeniable command, "You come alone, don’t bring Doris."

Whatever was said on the other end of the line, he simply "Hmm"ed and hung up.

"You’re coming back with me."

He turned to look at me.

I frowned, instinctively wanting to refuse.

But perhaps this is the only chance to uncover the truth, the last hope to stop Serena from taking Doris abroad.

I didn’t speak, which was taken as agreement.

Since Serena has a list of relics, she surely knows Naomi Sawyer’s earring is missing, yet she has hidden it from Timothy for so long.

I’m very keen to see how Serena will explain herself.

I even think Naomi Sawyer’s death is definitely inextricably linked to her!