MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

"We've divorced," Joanne said simply.

Savannah gasped, at a loss of words.

"Padgett's accident has nothing to do with Ethan, but I can't live in the Rowe family as the wife of the murderer's son. I feel guilty for Padgett every day in the Rowe family. Ethan knew my mind and agreed. I know you've always been a little resentful of me because you think I've been favoring and defending the Rowe's. In fact, I really don't care if I'm the wife of a rich man or not. The happiest days in my life are the period of time when I was with you and your father. I hope your father won't blame me for living so many years with the family who had killed him." Joanne wiped her eyes as she whispered.

Savannah seemed to see the strong soul under Joanne's weak appearance.

Mom really loved dad.

It never changed.

After more than ten years and knowing the truth of the accident, she could leave the Rowe family without hesitation and tell her ex-husband in her way that her heart had never betrayed him.

Her divorce with Ethan was about two families, and she must have taken a lot of effort to persuade her father, the master of the Morton family.

But she did it anyway.

Dad, your life had been worth it.

Even if you could never come back, you are still in mom's heart.

Savannah recovered herself and asked, "mom, where do you live now? Back to Morton's house or?"

"Let's talk about this later." Joanne gently held her hand and said, "I'll take you to Royal Villa first. Ethan wants to see you. He wants to apologize to you personally for what his mother had done."

Savannah paused and gave a wry smile. Could apology help?

But she still nodded at her mother's look of expectation.

They got into the car. In a short while, they arrived at Royal Villa.

Savannah followed Joanne into the house.

In the living room, Ethan had been waiting for a long time. He got up from the sofa when he saw Savannah coming in.

"Savannah..."

Savannah looked at Ethan, shocked.

The man was much thinner than before, almost out of shape. His eyes had sunk in, and under them, there were dark rings.

His tall body even reeled a little the instant he rose. Fortunately, the housemaid next to him supported him in time so that he was able to regain his balance.

It was normal for him, the head of the family, to be a little haggard from his recent worries, but he looked more than tired.

Ethan waved for the maid and other servants to leave.

The living room became quieter. Joanne and Savannah sat on the sofa opposite Ethan.

"Savannah, I don't know what to say, but I didn't know what my mother had done until I found the police officer who was bought over after your father's car accident. Yes, she hired someone to break the brakes on your father's car and caused your father's death. After that, she bribed the police officer to hide the truth of the accident. I know it cannot be excused, and an apology will not atone for the sin my mother once committed, but I really don't know what to say other than sorry. I hope you're a little more satisfied with what the Rowe family had suffered these days and that you can let go of the hate and not let your mother worry about you." Ethan said sorrowfully. He looked whiter after making a long statement.

"Ethan, talk slow," Joanne whispered.

Ethan looked worried when Savannah did not respond. He staggered to her and fell to his knees in front of her!

"Ethan!" Joanne, shocked, tried to help him up, but Ethan gently pushed her away.

"My mother is blamed for your father's death. Savannah, I'm sorry... I'm really sorry..." Ethan looked at Savannah, pleading, "as her son, I can't fling off such responsibility. We deserve this punishment, and I won't say no, even if you want my life.Now Lionel is going to jail, and Charlotte is blind, my mother is worse than death in this situation... She was crushed with grief after she heard about Charlotte. She collapsed in bed and talked to herself every day, crying that there's a ghost around her… And my company also has difficulty in recovering from poor performance. I know, these are our retribution. I only hope you can forgive us and let bygones be bygones."

"I can't forgive those who killed my father in place of him," Savannah said after a long pause, "I'm sorry."

She didn't know if her father would forgive the Rowe family or not. The old woman who killed her father, however, had to live in fear for the rest of her life and would never be forgiven.

Ethan, though a little innocent, was the son of the sinner.

She could not be softened to say she would forgive them.

Ethan sighed with despair, and suddenly, his face twisted as if he were suffering from extreme pain. Then, he bent over and spat out a mouthful of blood!

Savannah stood up in shock.

"Someone!" Joanne cried as she went to him in a panic but apparently not surprised.

A maid hurriedly came over with some medicine and a glass of hot water.

Joanne helped Ethan sit on the sofa and fed him the pills adroitly, and then she pulled off a tissue to wipe his mouth.

Ethan took medicine. After resting for a while, he recovered his strength, looking much better.

"Don't be afraid, kid. I'm fine." Ethan drew a deep breath and said to Savannah.

"Are you okay?" Savannah came to her senses and watched the maid mop the blood on the floor away.

Joanne took a look at Ethan and sighed.

"Savannah," she turned to Savannah with sadness. "Ethan got liver cancer a few years ago. He recovered after a liver transplant and had been in a good spirit in the past few years. He handled the business of the Rowe group to Lionel and lived with me abroad, actually, also because it was helpful to his health. Since what happened to the Rowe family, one followed on another, he had been carrying everything on his shoulders and overworking… and his cancer recurrence. He's not so lucky this time. The cancer cells spread rapidly, chemotherapy and surgery are largely useless. The doctor said..."

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Dearest Lovies,

Today, a mass release day, as I promised earlier. Allow me to great you a prosperous new year. Xīnnián kuàilè. Gong Xi Fa Cai! 

Love Lots, 

Anna Shannel Lin