Chapter 398

Chapter 398
Joseph finally gained his freedom. The shackles that bound him were no longer on his wrists. Although weak, he got out of bed, dragging his feet but walking steadily, holding the young nurse as a shield.
Her body trembled so much that she could barely stand. The cold metal of the blade pressed against the thin skin of her neck. Fear was etched in her eyes.
“Where is Marlon's room?” Joseph asked, his voice deep and hoarse.
The doctor hesitated. The day before, he had been the one who had fetched Marlon so that Carol could visit him. Now he knew there was no way to lie. Joseph knew Carol was there, and he also knew she hadn't come to see him. It burned inside him.
Reluctantly, the doctor gave him the room number. Joseph grabbed the nurse's shoulder even tighter and dragged her down the hall.
Behind them, two police officers followed at a measured pace, guns drawn, but not daring to approach. The fear that he would hurt the hostage kept them restrained. One of them had already called for backup, but they knew that everything could end in seconds.
With each step, the nurse cried harder. She had seen his face on the news and knew about the crimes he had committed. She knew that men like Joseph did not hesitate to kill.
“You are not allowed to cry!” he roared, feeling the tears run down the hand that was holding her. “I hate this!”
She bit her lip, stifling her cries, trying to control her sobs. She didn't dare make a sound.
They arrived at the room. Joseph pressed the blade against the young woman's neck and ordered:
“Knock on the door.”
Her trembling hand touched the wood. Three faint knocks echoed.
Inside, Carol's mother opened the door, unaware of the scene that awaited her. When her eyes met Joseph and the nurse in his possession, her blood ran cold.
“He's still alive...” she whispered, horrified. “A demon!”
She tried to close the door, but Joseph was faster. He pushed violently and entered, dragging the hostage with him.
In the room were Marlon, still lying pale, Carol sitting beside him, and Carol's mother.
“Joseph, you scoundrel!” Carol's mother shouted indignantly. “What do you want? Go away!”
Joseph didn't hear her. His eyes were fixed only on Carol. With each passing second, it seemed that she was the only thing in the world capable of piercing his coldness.
“Carol...” His voice faltered, but he regained his composure. “I need to talk to you.”
Carol didn't back down. She looked at him coldly and contemptuously.
“Do you still want to continue this game?”
“It's not a game,” Joseph insisted. “I only beg one thing: give birth to my child.”
“Joseph, you're dreaming!” Carol's mother retorted, enraged.
He ignored her.
“Carol, if not for me, do it for our child. The previous child... you know. Stella only survived because...” He paused, breathing heavily. “This time, don't deny me.”
Carol stood up, letting go of Marlon's hand. Her mother tried to stop her, but Carol shook her head.
“He no longer has the strength to hold me back.”
She took a few steps until she was face to face with Joseph.
“You know there's no way out, don't you?”
He bit his lip but didn't answer. He knew. He just wanted his son to outlive him.
Carol laughed without humor.
“You're selfish, Joseph. You want me to give birth to a child who was born of rape. You want me to carry the weight of a nightmare forever. What right do you have?”
“You will love him,” Joseph said with conviction. “Even if you don't want to admit it, he is also your son.”
“My son?” she laughed bitterly.
“No, Joseph. This child is just a living reminder of what you did to me. I will never want it. You think about continuity, about a family name... But what about me? Who thought about me?”
Joseph's eyes narrowed.
“Are you going to kill my child?”
“I won't let it be born,” Carol said firmly. “I'd rather not live a life that is still connected to you.”
He became agitated, breathing heavily.
“Do you want me to kneel? Do you want me to beg?” he shouted. “If necessary, I will!”
“Do you think that will change anything?” she replied firmly.
Despair grew in Joseph. He pressed the knife against the nurse's neck, and a trickle of blood ran down. The young woman cried, but did not move.
“Shut up!” Joseph roared when he heard her sobs. “Shut up!”
Carol took a step forward.
“Joseph, calm down. Don't hurt an innocent person.”
“Innocent?” He laughed darkly. “Everyone is guilty.”
Suddenly, a loud bang cut through the air.
“Peng!”
The sound echoed through the room. Carol's eyes widened as she saw the hole in Joseph's forehead. He staggered, the knife fell from his hand. His body lost its strength.
Even as he fell, his eyes remained fixed on Carol. And finally, he fell without closing his eyes.
The nurse screamed and ran out in panic. The police stormed in immediately after, checking the body.
Joseph Malares was dead. The police shot had been fatal. There was no turning back.
Carol remained motionless, feeling a strange weight on her chest. She no longer loved him, but the brutality of that end still affected her. A cycle had ended.
As the body was removed, something metallic fell from his hand. Carol's mother knelt down and picked it up. It was a ring.
“I recognize this ring...” she murmured in surprise. “It's the same one he gave you.”
She held it out to Carol.
“Here. It's yours.”
Carol took a deep breath, but her eyes hardened.
“No. That ring goes with him. I don't want anything of his in my life.”
She turned to Marlon, who was waiting for her with open arms. He welcomed her with a firm hug.
Carol clutched the ring in her hand, but soon let it go.
“I want all my memories of Joseph to disappear. I don't want to carry anything of his with me anymore.”
And for the first time in a long time, she felt free.