Chapter 257: Grand Finale

Chapter 257: Grand Finale

Isaac sat on the edge of his desk, watching George.

His tone was light, as if he were discussing something utterly trivial.

George frowned.

"Jealous of me?"

"Yeah." Isaac smiled faintly, tilting his head back to take a sip of liquor. "My whole life, you've always been the one who shined brightest."

"Good family, good grades, good looks—no matter what it was, you were always first."

"Everyone revolved around you. Everyone watched you."

"I was always just the sidekick next to you."

"George's best friend, Isaac."

"Whenever anyone mentioned me, the first thing they thought of was always you."

There was a barely perceptible thread of pain in Isaac's voice.

"Then the Summers Group hit that crisis. You were down for a while back then."

"You know what?"

"I was actually happy."

"I even thought, finally, I could help you for once."

"And what happened?"

Isaac let out a bitter laugh and took another long drink.

"You married Charlotte."

"And just like that, you bounced back."

"The Summers Group didn't just survive—it came back bigger and stronger than before."

"You were still George, untouchable at the top."

"And I was still down here, looking up at you."

"That's when I decided—I was going to beat you."

"I was going to make you know what it feels like to fall from the clouds."

George stared at him in disbelief.

He had never known Isaac felt this way.

They'd been friends for over twenty years.

And this was why?

"Because of this?" George's voice came out rough.

"You think it's ridiculous?" Isaac gave a self-mocking smile.

"You've always been the one on top. How could you possibly understand how I feel?"

"If you don't believe me, fine."

Isaac waved his hand dismissively, unwilling to explain further.

He picked up his glass and looked at George.

"One last drink."

"To our dead friendship."

George looked at the glass in front of him but didn't move.

He stood up.

"Do what you want."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Just as his hand touched the doorknob, Isaac's voice came from behind him.

"George."

George stopped but didn't turn around.

"I'm sorry."

The words hit George's heart like a stone.

Then came the sound of a window being pushed open.

George's face changed. He spun around sharply.

He only saw Isaac standing on the windowsill, giving him a small smile.

Then his body leaned backward.

"No!"

George lunged forward but caught nothing but air.

He leaned out the window, helpless, watching Isaac fall.

A dull, heavy thud echoed from below.

George froze in place, standing by the window for a long, long time.

Until the police arrived.

---

By the time George got home, it was already dark.

Charlotte was sitting in the living room, waiting for him.

When she saw him come in, Charlotte stood up.

"You're back?"

George glanced at her but said nothing.

His face looked terrible.

Charlotte took his hand and led him to sit down. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

She'd already seen the news.

Isaac had jumped to his death.

George shook his head, his voice hoarse. "Nothing."

"Charlotte, let me ask you something."

"Do I never see the pain of the people around me?"

Charlotte sighed.

"I saw the news."

"Isaac, he—"

"He jumped right in front of me." George cut her off. "I couldn't do anything."

"Twenty years of friendship, and I never knew what was going on in his head."

"Am I really that much of a failure?"

Charlotte reached out and took his ice-cold hand in hers.

"This isn't your fault."

"No, it is." George shook his head, pain filling his eyes. "If I'd noticed sooner, things wouldn't have turned out like this."

He suddenly gripped Charlotte's hand tightly, his eyes filled with a panic she couldn't understand.

"Charlotte, I'm not sure."

"I'm not sure I won't end up hurting you again."

"Let's separate for a while."

Charlotte froze.

She looked at George as if seeing him for the first time.

After a long moment, she suddenly laughed.

"Fine."

She agreed without hesitation.

George was stunned.

He'd expected Charlotte to ask why, to get angry, to yell at him.

He hadn't expected her to agree so easily.

Charlotte pulled her hand back and stood up.

"Actually, I'm heading back to Serendia in a couple of days to report in."

"I've already booked my flight."

"Since you want to separate, perfect timing."

"I won't be coming back."

With that, she turned and headed upstairs.

She didn't look at George again.

George sat on the couch, watching her figure disappear at the top of the stairs.

His heart felt like someone had carved a piece out of it.

The pain left him gasping for air.

---

Over the next two days, Charlotte packed up her and Miranda's things.

George locked himself in his study, chain-smoking.

He didn't dare face Charlotte.

He was afraid that if he saw her, he'd take it all back.

He was afraid he really would hurt her.

Even on the day Charlotte left with Miranda and their luggage, George didn't come out of the study.

Hearing the front door close, his fingers clenched tight.

Charlotte was gone.

George shot to his feet and rushed to the window.

He watched the taxi carrying Charlotte and Miranda slowly pull away from the villa, and he couldn't take it anymore.

He couldn't lose her!

Hurting her, not hurting her—none of it mattered.

He couldn't live without Charlotte.

George grabbed his car keys and bolted outside.

He drove like a maniac to the airport and rushed into the international departures hall.

The screen showed that the flight to Starlight City had already started boarding.

George ran to the ticket counter, breathless. "Give me a ticket on the next flight to Starlight City! Right now!"

"Sir, the flight to Starlight City is about to close its doors."

"I don't care what class! First class! Business! Anything! Just give it to me now!"

Ticket in hand, George rushed through security as fast as he could and sprinted to the gate.

Good—they hadn't closed the doors yet.

He boarded the plane and, under the flight attendant's startled gaze, searched seat by seat.

Finally, in first class, he spotted a familiar figure.

George walked over and sat down in the empty seat beside her.

Charlotte felt someone sit down and turned her head.

"What are you doing here?"

George looked at her and gave a rueful smile.

"I was an idiot before."

"I said those things because I was afraid I'd hurt you."

Charlotte looked at him and let out a cold laugh. "Not worried anymore?"

"I figured something out." George looked at her seriously.

He pulled a folder out of his bag and held it out to Charlotte.

"What's this?" Charlotte didn't take it.

"All my assets." George said. "My shares in the Summers Group, all my properties, savings, investments—everything's in here."

"I already had my lawyer notarize it. It's all being transferred to your name."

"That way, if I ever dare hurt you again, you can just kick me to the curb."

"And then I'll be a broke nobody with no right to bother you ever again."

He looked at Charlotte, his eyes utterly sincere.

"Charlotte, I can't live without you."

"Don't leave me. Please?"

Charlotte took the folder and casually set it on the tray table.

She watched George, tense as a criminal awaiting judgment, and couldn't help but smile a little.

"We'll see how you do."

"I'll think about it."

Charlotte looked at his anxious expression, and finally reached out and took his hand.

"George, I can give you one more chance."

George's eyes instantly reddened.

Miranda poked her little head out from the side and happily threw herself at him.

"Is Daddy coming to Starlight City with us too?"

George held her close, then looked at Charlotte.

Charlotte didn't deny it.

George smiled.

The plane broke through the clouds, and sunlight streamed in.

This time, the three of them—a family—didn't let go of each other's hands.