Chapter 181
Across from the Concert Hall was a park. The park was huge—over a thousand square feet—with fountains, greenery, and a clear lake.
The moment they entered the park, Emma was dumbfounded.
"This park is so big. How are we supposed to find her?"
Josephine stood at the park entrance, her gaze fixed on a small path ahead. "Put yourself in her shoes."
Emma fell into thought, if she were Haven, utterly despairing at this moment, wanting only to leave this world in the most decisive way possible. The park had plenty of beautiful scenery and covered a vast area, but there was only one place where life could end.
"The lake!"
The moment she spoke the location, she saw Josephine already walking forward. Clearly she'd thought of it long ago. Emma hurried to catch up, she could only hope they weren't too late.
The scenic lake was a famous attraction not just in this park but in the entire city. The lake was large and deep. For safety reasons, railings had been installed all around it.
However, at this moment, when they ran to the lakeside, they saw Haven sitting on the railing.
Inside the railing lay her coat, bag, and phone. She wore only a thin sweater and white pants, sitting barefoot on the railing, swaying precariously, extremely dangerous.
Emma gasped, instinctively about to shout and call her back, but Josephine grabbed her. Emma immediately covered her mouth, not daring to yell, afraid of provoking Haven.
Josephine approached slowly, but Haven seemed to have sensed her. As they closed the distance, she suddenly turned around. Seeing Josephine, Haven froze, then tensed up, panic flooding her eyes.
"Don't come closer!"
Josephine immediately stopped. "Calm down, don't get agitated. I won't come over."
"How did you find me here?" Haven gripped the railing tightly with both hands, her body swaying on top of it. It made your heart clench just watching, afraid she'd accidentally fall.
Josephine stood still and said, "When I was on the phone with you, I heard music in the background. So I guessed you might be in a bad mood and wanted to come here to listen to music."
Emma looked at her in surprise. Haven clearly wasn't thinking straight and wanted to commit suicide, how could she phrase it as being in a bad mood and wanting to listen to music?
But she quickly understood.
Blatantly saying 'you want to commit suicide and I came to find you' was obviously inappropriate at this moment.
Sure enough, Josephine's calm attitude and deliberate avoidance of sensitive topics made Haven relax her guard slightly, though she still didn't come down from the railing.
"I know you won't let me off. Once the truth comes out to everyone, I'll be completely disgraced. From now on, no company will hire me. My future will be ruined. I have no way out." Her face showed no expression, but her eyes were filled with despair.
Emma didn't understand and said anxiously, "Why would you think that? No one ever said we'd make you bear all the responsibility alone. No one said your future would be ruined. We never even thought that way!"
Haven shook her head. "Don't lie to me anymore. Yesterday, Ms. Kennedy and Mr. Getty didn't come out all day. When you had the meeting last night, you didn't call me either. I know. I know everything..."
No one knew where she'd spent that night or what mental journey she'd gone through. She was now utterly dejected, looking completely hopeless.
She couldn't withstand the slightest provocation.
Josephine held back the agitated Emma, her gaze on Haven. "Haven, do you really think this setback is irreparable?"
Haven smiled bitterly. "This setback is enough to kill me."
"Then you're really pathetic."
Hearing this, not only did Haven freeze, even Emma's eyes widened in shock.
She'd thought Josephine was going to persuade Haven, but why did she suddenly start scolding her?
Josephine enunciated each word, "Your parents are still alive. Your sister still needs to go to college and needs tuition. Your parents worked so hard to raise you to this age, but you don't plan to repay them at all. You encounter one setback and want to give up your life, give up on them. Can you really face your parents after doing this?"
Haven's face was pale, her long hair lifted by the wind, unable to hide her reddened eyes. "I don't want to be like this either! But I have no way out now. My future is ruined. Without work, going back will only burden my parents. I'm worthless, stupid, idiotic—I can't do anything right..."
She stared at the ground, muttering to herself. Rather than speaking to Josephine and Emma, these words were more like she was speaking to herself.
Something seemed off about her mental state.
Emma thought to herself, could just one workplace setback really make her this delusional?
Josephine softened her tone. "Haven, you've worked under me for a long time. You should understand me. You know what kind of person I am."
Haven certainly knew. "You're the best supervisor. You take care of every one of us, whether it's work or life. You're good to everyone."
"Then why can't you trust me this once?"
Haven stared blankly at Josephine. "What do you mean?"
"Do you remember what I said to you at the office door yesterday?"
Haven remembered, she hadn't forgotten.
Josephine continued, "I said I wouldn't push you out to take the blame. I promised you the only punishment would be deducting your pay. I always mean what I say, If I say it, I'll definitely follow through. Do you agree with that?"
"I agree..." Haven murmured. In all their time working together, Josephine had never lied to them. What she said, she always did.
"Then trust me . If you're not even afraid of death, what else is there to fear?"
Haven lowered her eyes, inner struggle written all over her face. Josephine glanced at Emma and gave her a look.
Emma ran a few steps to the side, drawing Haven's attention, then shouted loudly, "Haven, don't do something so foolish! Nothing is more important than your life. Only by living do you have infinite hope. If you jump today, you can escape, sure; but what about your parents? What about your sister? Have you thought about how heartbroken they'll be when they see your cold, lifeless body?"
Images of her father, mother, and sister flashed through her mind—all those beautiful, happy memories now became chains binding Haven tightly.
She gripped the railing desperately, feeling no hope, not wanting to come down, yet unable to bear jumping.
Just then, Josephine, who had quietly approached, lunged toward her.
But rescue happens in an instant.
Haven saw someone coming to grab her. Her mind hadn't figured things out yet, but her body was already falling toward the lake.
The descent was fast. In an instant, she left the railing and plunged toward the lake.
"Haven!"
Emma cried out, covering her eyes, unable to watch. But after waiting a long time without hearing a splash, she cautiously separated her fingers and opened one eye.
She saw Haven's entire body hanging outside the railing, while Josephine lay over the railing, one arm gripping Haven's wrist tightly.
She managed to say with difficulty, "Emma... help..."
Clearly, Josephine was about to lose her grip on Haven, who was sliding downward.
Emma rushed over to help pull her up.
By the time they dragged her back inside the railing, all three were exhausted and collapsed on the ground.
Emma was covered in sweat from exertion. She looked at Haven. "Do you still want to die?"
Haven, having just experienced that terrifying moment, still hadn't calmed her racing heart. Her mind was full of lingering fear. Actually, the impulse to commit suicide was just a momentary thing. Once that moment passed, the courage never returned.
"Not anymore."
Hearing her answer, Emma breathed a sigh of relief.
Josephine stood up from the ground and gently rubbed her shoulder. "Let's not talk here anymore. It won't be good if we attract onlookers. Let's go back to the office first."
Emma helped Haven stand. Just then, a car drove into the park.
Cedric got out with his people, his face was expressionless. Emma and Haven didn't dare meet his gaze, both lowering their heads like children who'd done something wrong.
Two bodyguards behind Cedric escorted them into the car. Cedric looked at Josephine. "Quite impressive." He complimented flatly.
But Josephine could tell this wasn't praise. "Why are you being so passive-aggressive?"
"I saw everything just now. You're very impressive." Cedric walked up to her, looking down at her. "Did you think about what would happen if you hadn't held onto her and had been pulled into the lake instead?"
Josephine was at a loss for words.
When saving someone, who had time to think about all that? She'd acted purely on instinct.
Even though the railing had sore painfully into her stomach, she'd gritted her teeth and held on.
"I remember you not being able to swim." Cedric's voice was heavy and cold.