Chapter 180 Each Has Their Own Fate

Ronald's motive for suicide.

It seemed almost too straightforward, even completely unexpected.

I had originally thought the last two bullets would be for any two among me, Alan, and Frank.

After all, the two people most deeply involved in this matter from twenty years ago until now were Frank and Alan, followed by me. 

If it weren't for me, perhaps everything would have continued according to Ronald's plan.

I never expected that Ronald's last two bullets would be for Howard and himself.

Benjamin and Leonard had discussed it many times, analyzing it seriously from a criminal psychology perspective, but they couldn't come to a conclusion.

Finally, Alan, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly said, "Maybe he was just tired."

Leonard and Benjamin exchanged puzzled glances, not understanding what he meant, but the case was closed, so they didn't pursue it further.

But I understood what Alan meant. Ronald was indeed tired.

Whether it was Frank, Erica, Ronald, or Howard, they had all been living on sheer willpower for over twenty years, driven by promises, friendship, love, family, and a vague sense of justice, all revolving around Ronald and ending because of him.

Loving someone is exhausting, and so is hating someone.

So, what if Ronald hated his fate and the entire world?

Laura ultimately gave her blood to Frank, dying beside Frank and Alan. 

Whether it was good or evil, right or wrong, she completed her transcendence and transformation.

Ronald, rather than being filled with hatred for fate, was desperately resisting the fragility and baseness of human nature.

He succeeded and failed by his own hand, ultimately falling to human nature. 

Zoey didn't call him "Dad." At that moment, the loneliness washed over him, eroded by time and history. Ronald was weary, exhausted.

Ronald's last words were, "I give you a daughter."

He shot Howard in the back, ending all their grudges.

Then, Ronald used the last bullet on himself, giving an explanation to himself, to Erica, and to everyone.

What weight this explanation held, whether it was effective, was unknown. 

Everyone present had their own thoughts, some perhaps clapping in relief, others unable to speak. The feelings were for them to understand.

But this case, spanning over twenty years, like the long winter covering Silverlight City in snow and frost, was slowly beginning to thaw.

With Ronald's two gunshots, Howard and Ronald fell.

Zoey, overwhelmed by the shock, fainted on the spot. 

Ruben was the first to rush over, holding her and shouting for a doctor.

Alan and I grabbed Howard, preventing his unconscious body from falling off the rooftop. 

Erica held Ronald, collapsing to the ground, letting the blood stain her white suit, looking somewhat like Laura.

I shouted loudly, and the doctors from the ambulance downstairs rushed up, with Leonard and Benjamin leading the police in quickly.

Ronald had already lost all signs of life and was pronounced dead on the spot.

Laura and Frank had exchanged all their blood, and the massive transfusion caused their bodies to reject it. They had lost all signs of life before the doctors even arrived.

Frank sat motionless in his wheelchair, not reacting to the gunshots, holding Laura tightly, not letting go despite the medical staff's persuasion. 

Alan walked over, spoke softly with the medical staff, then quietly squatted down to accompany them.

Howard's breathing was weak, but he still had a pulse. 

Watching Zoey and Howard being rushed away by the ambulance, I stood on the rooftop, feeling an unprecedented emptiness and confusion.

A week later.

The week dragged on. When I got home, the first thing I did was open the bedroom door.

The familiar scent filled the air. Instead of the passionate lovemaking you see on TV, my spouse and I just fell asleep, holding hands tightly, not letting go.

We slept until the next afternoon, our stomachs growling with hunger.

I checked my phone and saw several missed calls from Leonard, Benjamin, and Cindy. I hadn't answered because I was too exhausted.

I returned the calls one by one. They were just checking on Alan and me.

When I called Benjamin, Cindy was there too, and I heard a baby crying in the background. Cindy had given birth!

Benjamin laughed, "There's a lot to do at the company, but Leonard gave me half a day off because the baby was born. Nancy, remember what you promised me?"

"Yeah, of course."

I wouldn't forget. Before going to the rooftop yesterday, I promised Benjamin that I would name their baby.

"Let's call the baby Safety. Peace and safety are the most important things."

Alan nodded in agreement.

On the other end, Benjamin and Cindy repeated the name and laughed.

"Since his godmother named the baby, it's special. Safety it is! By the way, when are you two going to have a baby? A daughter would be great, she could marry my son."

Alan shook his head, and I smiled, joking on the phone.

Benjamin had work to do, and Cindy needed rest after giving birth, so we ended the call after a brief chat.

Then Alan and I went downstairs to eat. 

Alan had planned to cook for me, but his stomach growled, so we laughed and decided to get Mexican food from downstairs.

As we ate, I shared my experiences from the past few months.

Alan listened, serving me food, occasionally feeling guilty and wanting to apologize. 

I gave him a look, and he raised his hands in surrender with a wry smile.

No words were needed between us. Over ten years of marriage had built a mutual understanding. A word, a glance, and all misunderstandings were resolved.

In the following days, Alan and I visited Harmony Hospital.

Tammy had been awake for a while, taking care of George, who was recovering well, though he often sneaked off to smoke, getting caught several times.

Bob couldn't say anything, and when he did, George would scold him. 

So, Tony and Tom were called in, but even the three sons couldn't stop George, each getting scolded in turn.

Finally, Lally stepped in, and George put down his unlit cigarette, muttering, "Sons are nothing. Listen to the daughter-in-law, see how nice it sounds."

Alan and I shared a knowing smile, leaving George and Lally blushing and at a loss for words.