Staring at Bright's grim look, Hallie was so nervous that she firmly grasped her clothes. The creases on
her clothes indicated her nervousness.
'What will happen if I tell the truth?'
Bright definitely would kick her out of the Lee family, since Marley was the brother that he admired the
most. But, in his mind, she had hurt his brother and married his father with an ulterior motive.
"What? Do you still not want to tell the truth? Are you thinking how to make up an excuse?" Bright had
lost his patience, seeing Hallie keeping her mouth shut. "You are straining my patience. This is the only
chance. Don't hesitate. I won't give you another chance if I change my mind!"
Bright kept staring at her, as if he was seeing through her.
Hallie shivered when she met his eyes as cold as ice.
"I...I can tell you the truth, but please don't tell your father and don't put Zoe and Stefan in a difficult
situation." Hallie didn't want to get her children into trouble.
"You can't bargain with me." Bright laughed about her ridiculous request. "But I won't lay a finger on
them for your fault. I won't do anything to them if you play it straight."
Hallie felt relieved when hearing his words.
Pressing her chest and trying to repress her pain, she said slowly, "I didn't...push Marley. He jumped
from the building on his own... And it's true."
She stared at Bright seriously, showing her honesty.
"What do you take me for? What do you take my brother for? He jumped from the building himself? I
don't buy it. It seems that you won't tell the truth until I show you what I can do!" Bright didn't believe
Hallie's words. He grabbed the folder and turned away without taking a look at her.
"It's true that he jumped himself. But I did have something to do with his suicide." Hallie didn't stop
Bright but kept saying, "That day, we had a fight. I told your brother to let go of the past and live on.
After all, a woman like me doesn't deserve his affection and an excellent man like him deserves a
better wife and a better future.
But he kept pushing me. You know? I married your father. I didn't have the chance to regret. Your father
treats me well and I don't regret marrying him. Your brother asked me why I didn't believe he could give
me everything that Francis gave me and why I didn't believe he could bring me happiness.
Deep inside, I know he is an excellent and competent man. He is the son that your father values the
most. I'm only a divorced woman with a child. I'm ten years older than him. The gap between him and
me are not only status but also age.
I don't have faith in myself. Your father wouldn't agree on his marrying a woman like me. Even if we got
married, he will still be young when I get old. I wouldn't know how to live on my own if anything bad
happened to our marriage. Besides, I didn't know Marley is Francis's son when I first met him.
I admit that I wanted a stabler life so that my daughter and I could live more easily at that time. Your
father is older than me. He gives me a sense of security that your brother couldn't give. It's useless
even if your brother truly loved me.
I was young at that time. But when I get old... My mind was totally a mess and I said impulsively to your
brother that I wouldn't marry him unless he jumped from the building. Actually, I blurted the words out in
an angry rush. I never had the thought to marry him. I just wanted him to give up.
I've already been his stepmother. It would be a joke if he married me. I thought he would give up
rationally. I never expected he would jump from the building..." Hallie choked with sobs. Pain and regret
were the only emotions she could feel.
She was trying to hold back her tears, but she failed. Tears kept streaming down her face.
She wiped the tears, because she didn't want Bright to think that she was pretending to be sad.
"I know you don't believe it, but it's the truth." Hallie continued, "I regretted as soon as he jumped. I
regretted saying that! I never thought he would be so irrational. He has been lying in bed in the hospital
for many years. I felt guilty and scared, so I didn't visit him a lot.
I don't know how to face him or what to tell him. It's too late. Though I didn't push him, I was the reason
that he jumped. I pray every day, hoping your brother can wake up. I also worship at the temple every
month. I want to apologize to him when he wakes up...
I never want him dead because I loved him. I didn't have faith in myself, which led to our break-up. I
tried to refuse him, but it wasn't easy to be immune to his charm. I wanted to have a shoulder to lean
on when I felt tired.
It was my fault being so greedy. I wanted both bread and love. Bright, I know you look down upon me. I
look down upon myself too. Now that you know the truth, I will take the blame and leave the family."
Hearing her out, Bright had mixed feelings. "It's true that you didn't push my brother. But he has been
lying on the bed for years because of you. You've ruined his life. I can't forgive you. It's best for you to
leave."
Bright left after saying that.
'That is the answer I want?'
'My brother was such a loser that he was so irresponsible for his life just because of a woman who
didn't deserve his love.'
Marley could have a release by jumping from the building. But what he did left the pain to those who
loved him. It was so hurtful.
Hallie gave loose to tears and started wailing after he left.
She knew this day would come sooner or later. She didn't cry for having to leave the Lee family and
losing all she had got. Instead, she cried because she finally felt a sense of release. She had set
herself free.
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