Chapter 427
Ruth sat behind her desk, hunched over a stack of numbers. Her pen scratched across the page as she tallied the last line. A soft knock broke the quiet.
“Come in,” she said, rubbing her eyes with two fingers.
“You look busy, Ruth,” a familiar voice said. “Ever think about hiring someone to help you p>
Her head snapped up. “Alex p>
He stepped through the doorway, grinning.
“Alexander!” she cried. Her face lit up like sunrise. She pushed back her chair and wrapped him in a warm hug. “I’ve been waiting for you. Feels like forever p>
“How’ve you been?” he asked, pulling back with a smile.
“See for yourself,” she said, gesturing around the office.
“The new place for the children-perfect. Everything turned out better than I dreamed. Thanks to the loan you helped us get, we made it happen. The kids are happy, Alex. Really happy p>
“Good to hear that,” he said, patting her shoulder gently.
“Alex, walk with me. You’ve got to see how much this place has changed. The new orphanage—it’s more than I ever imagined p>
They walked through the hall together, passing rooms filled with laughter.
Outside, the field was alive with the sound of children playing-bare feet kicking up dust, bright faces turned toward the sun. Joy hung in the air.
Ruth stopped beside him, studying his face. “So, Alex,” she said softly, touching his cheek, “you’ve decided to leave, haven’t you p>
He froze. “How did you know that? I haven’t told anyone p>
She smiled, her eyes calm and knowing. “Son, I’m old enough to see it when someone’s about to go. Sit with me for a minute p>
They found a wooden bench under the shade of a tree. The children’s laughter carried on the breeze.
“Your eyes,” Ruth said gently, “they’ve changed. I see peace there… and letting go. Did Josephine hurt you that much p>
Alex blinked. “Excuse me?” His voice wavered.
“I know you love her,” Ruth said. “And I believe Josephine loves you too. But life “she sighed, looking off toward the field— “life has its own cruel plans. She ended up with Charles Kingston p>
“Love isn’t something you can force,” Alex said, eyes fixed on the open blue sky. “The world’s wide, Ruth. Half the people out there are women. I’ll manage to find someone p>
Ruth smiled softly. “Good. That’s the right way to think p>
Alex’s voice dropped. “Is she happy p>
“I don’t know.” Ruth sighed, her face turning serious. “Charles makes her do whatever he wants, and she does it because she calls it love. Folks say love is blind. I say it’s damn foolish sometimes p>
Then she glanced toward the gate. “Speak of the devil… there they are p>
Alex turned. Charles and Josephine were walking up the path toward the new orphanage gates.
The children spotted Josephine first-they ran to her like bees to honey, laughing, shouting her name, wrapping around her legs.
She bent down, laughing with them, sunlight in her hair, that same warmth that used to melt Alex from the inside out.
He watched her, smiling without meaning to. She looked happy. Maybe that was enough.
He was heading to Prussia soon-a place few people from this country ever reached. This was it.
The last farewell.
“Alex!” Josephine called out, her face bright with surprise. “I didn’t know you were here! Where have you been these last few days? How’s Los Angeles treating you p>
Alex stood, brushing the dust from his coat. “Hey, Josephine. I came to say goodbye. I’m leaving for another place. The clinic-it’s yours now p>
Her smile faltered. “How long will you be gone?” she asked quietly.
There was a tremor in her voice. She already knew the answer she didn’t want to hear.
“Years, maybe,” Alex said. “I don’t know. Just following where the work takes me p>
Her eyes glistened. “You can’t she whispered.
Before she could say more, Charles cut in sharply. “You cannot!” His voice
cracked through the courtyard like a gunshot.
Everyone turned. Ruth. Josephine. The children. All eyes locked on him.
Charles blinked, realizing he’d gone too far. His face stiffened.
“I mean,” he stumbled, forcing a smile, “since Alex is leaving so far away… we should prepare a little farewell gift, shouldn’t we p>
Josephine fought to steady her voice, forcing a faint smile. “You’re right, Charles. That’s a good idea,” she said softly. “We should give Alex something before he leaves p>
The words cut into Alex like a thorn pressed deep under the skin. He felt the sting, but he swallowed it down. If she was happy-truly happy-then that was enough.
Their roads had split. She’d chosen hers, and he had to walk his own. Somewhere far away, beyond her reach.
He let out a long breath and smiled the quiet, tired smile of a man who’s already made peace with the pain. The kind a man wears when he knows there’s no turning back.
After great pain, a formal feeling comes.
“I’ll grab something real quick,” Charles said, turning away.
“Me too,” Josephine added. She looked at Alex, eyes soft but uncertain. “Please wait here. There’s something I want to give you. Ruth, could you help me p>
“Alright, alright,” Ruth sighed, following Josephine out with a curious look.
A few quiet minutes passed. The air felt heavy, almost expectant. Then Charles
came back alone, his boots crunching over the gravel.
Alex studied him-one look was enough. Trouble was walking straight toward him.
“Alex,” Charles said, stepping closer,
his voice almost too calm. “I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I’ve been thinking these past few days. My parents they made mistakes too. I want to make it right. Can you forgive me?” s
He extended his hand.
Alex eyed him warily, then nodded. “Sure,” he said, extending his hand. Charles reached out-but in a flash, his other hand came up, glinting silver.
The blade slammed into Alex’s chest.
“Die!” Charles shouted, face twisted with madness. “I’ll inherit the Guise will and the Paris’s state! It’s all mine now p>
Knowing Alex was about to leave for good, Charles couldn’t stand it. The thought of losing the Guise’s will and the Paris’s state to him burned too deep.
He had to kill Alex to claim the Guise inheritance for himself-before Alex was gone forever.
But nothing happened. The knife didn’t sink deep. It stopped like it had struck
stone.
Charles stared, eyes wide. The handle trembled in his grip, the blade frozen halfway.
Alex looked down, almost calm. “What the hell are you doing, Charles?” His voice was low, cold. “Are you trying to kill me p>
Charles growled, pressing harder, veins bulging, teeth clenched. “Why won’t you die?! This isn’t possible p>
Alex didn’t flinch. The steel bent slightly against his chest. His body felt unmovable-like iron forged in fury.
Then Alex’s hand shot up. He caught Charles’s wrist, gripping it tight. Slowly,
deliberately, he twisted the man’s arm and knife back toward him.
Charles gasped, eyes bulging as the blade turned, inch by inch. “No… wait p>
“You weren’t supposed to try to kill
me p>
but said quietly, his voice cold
but steady. “I already forgave you. But now time for you to leave this world for good p>
belongs to s
He tightened his grip on the knife and slowly pushed it deeper into Charles’s
chest.
Charles gasped, eyes wide in disbelief. His body trembled under Alex’s strength, completely powerless.
He could feel the blade driving through flesh, inch by inch, until it pierced his
heart.
“You… you ” Charles stammered, choking on his own breath.
But it was too late. The knife was buried deep.
Alex stared down at him, expression grim. “Goodbye, Charles. If there’s another
life after this, learn to be grateful. Don’t chase greed again p>
The breath left Charles in one sharp exhale. His knees buckled. He stumbled backward, eyes locked on Alex’s face-full of disbelief, fear, and something that almost looked ke regret. s
He hit the ground hard.
He didn’t say a word. Didn’t have to. The silence was enough.
From across the courtyard, a scream ripped through the air.
“NOOO!” Josephine’s voice shattered the silence.
She dropped the small wrapped gift she’d been carrying-it hit the ground hard,
rolling in the dirt-as she ran toward them.
Her hands shook as she saw Charles lying there, lifeless, the knife still glinting from his chest.
“Charles!” she cried, falling to her knees beside him. “No, no, please don’t leave me, please p>
Ruth came running behind her, horrified. She quickly waved the children away, her voice trembling. “Get back! All of you, go inside p>
Josephine’s sobs grew louder, raw and broken. “Why, Alex?!” she screamed through her tears. “Why did you kill him p>
Alex stood silent, his shadow stretching long across the dust. “Charles Josephine whispered, clutching his body, rocking him as if he might wake. “Please don’t go… please p>
Alex finally turned away. His face was hard, unreadable.
“Wait!” Josephine’s voice cracked. She looked up at him with eyes that burned- no longer soft and kind, but dark with rage and heartbreak.
“You killed the man I love. I can’t fight you, Alex. You’re too strong. But I swear-” her voice trembled, rising― “I hate you. I hate you to my bones p>
Alex shook his head slowly. “Hate me if you want,” he said. “But I did it for you. He was rotten to the core p>
Josephine laughed then—a broken, hysterical sound between sobs. “For me?” she cried. “He was my life, Alex p>
Her hand reached for the knife still lodged in Charles’s chest. Before anyone
could stop her, she yanked it free.
“Josephine!” Ruth screamed.
But Josephine didn’t hear her. Tears streamed down her face as she lifted the blood-stained blade, her voice breaking.
“If I can’t be with him… then I’ll follow him p>
The knife plunged into her own heart.
Alex froze too stunned to move. His mind went blank, his body rooted to the
ground as the life drained from her eyes.
She fell forward, collapsing on top of Charles’s body. The two of them lay still,
their blood mingling in the dust.
The courtyard went silent except for the distant cries of children.
Alex stood there, hollow and stunned, watching as Ruth fell to her knees beside
the bodies, her sobs echoing through the orphanage yard.