Elizabeth's POV:
I watched quietly as Austin and Anthony talked and found that the atmosphere between them was not
as tense as before.
This made me sigh deeply.
I hated Austin deeply.
After all, he had killed my beloved husband.
But admittedly, I was relieved to see that the relationship between the two brothers was improving.
Otherwise, Anthony would need to stay vigilant as long as Austin was alive.
He would never be able to rest easy.
It was good for Anthony and Austin to reconcile.
After all, they were brothers.
But thinking about my poor husband's fate, I couldn't help but shed angry tears.
"Take good care of Caroline, Austin," I said coldly.
"If it weren't for her and the baby, I wouldn't have spared your life.If you dare show even a hint of
rebellion, Caroline will be left a widow."
I didn't care that I was being harsh.
Austin needed to be warned.
"I have accepted defeat.Rest assured, I will not try to rebel or anything like that."
Austin lowered his head.
"From now on, I'll live with Caroline on the island in peace."
"Good.Austin, can you tell me why you killed your father?" I asked.
All the color drained from Austin's face and he tried to avert his gaze.
"Answer me, Austin!"
I demanded, raising my voice.
"Why? Why did you have to kill him? He is your father! How could you do that to your own father?"
Thinking about my late husband, depression overtook me and my knees buckled from under me.
Jennifer and Anthony both rushed to my side to support me, worry written all over their faces.
"I...The truth is, I didn't want to kill him,"
Austin stuttered, lowering his head dejectedly.
"Ever since I killed him, nightmares have plagued me every single night.I always dream that he wants
to kill me.You have to believe me.I never wanted to kill him.But he had always favored Anthony, which
made me jealous.I held a grudge against the both of them for the longest time.In the battlefield, I killed
him on impulse.I regretted it instantly!"
"You bastard!"
I pointed at Austin with a trembling finger.
"Your father's efforts to raise you were all in vain! He still cared about you, you know? He praised
Anthony in front of you because he wanted to motivate you! But that doesn't matter.You had no excuse
to kill your father!"
My voice cracked and I burst into tears, thinking about the time my husband was still alive.
I truly cherished those memories.
"I miss you so much, honey..."
I murmured in between sobs.
"It's true! I was wrong! I don't deserve your forgiveness! "
Austin shook his head and cried.
"I'm willing to die to show you how sorry I am, as long as you treat my child and Caroline well!"
"Forget it."
Hearing what he said, I didn't feel any better, but I managed to calm myself down a little.
"Anthony and the elders have made their decision.They won't go back on their word.You and Caroline
should atone for your sins on the island.Besides, your child is innocent.She doesn't deserve to be
fatherless.I will take good care of her."
"Don't be sad, Mrs.Jones."
Jennifer took out a tissue and dabbed at my tears gently.
"Everything's going to be okay."
"Yes, Mom.Things are much better now than before,"
Anthony added softly.
I held their hands and finally was able to stop crying.
Anthony was right.
The worst was over.
The future was looking bright.
Just then, I noticed Caroline's eyelids fluttering.
Great! She was waking up!
Caroline's POV:
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was that the sharp pain from earlier was now but a dull
ache.I couldn't believe that I was still alive.What about my child?
"Where's my baby?"
That was when I noticed that everyone was here, standing around the bed.
Austin was holding my hand.
Worried, I struggled to sit up.
"Caroline, you're finally awake!"
Austin hugged me excitedly.
"Don't worry.The baby is fine.It's a girl, and she's the cutest!"
"Thank God!"
Now that I knew the baby was safe, I heaved a sigh of relief.
"I'm sorry, Caroline.This was all my fault.It's because of all of my sins that God has punished you like
this!"
Austin kissed my hand, his face wrought with guilt.
"Honey, don't say that.God allowed me and our baby survive, didn't he?"
I said gently, stroking his hand.
"Thank you, Anthony, Mom, and Jennifer..."
I tried my best to sit up and bow to them.
If they hadn't asked the best doctors to help me, I might have been lying dead in a morgue by now.
Worse yet, the baby might not have survived.
"Oh! Don't try to get up.Your wound has just been stitched.Lie down first!"
My mother and Jenniferhurried to help me back into bed.
"You're my daughter.I hated watching you suffer like this," my mother said with a pained expression.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
How could I have hurt my own mother? How stupid and ignorant I was! How could I have been blind to
her love? And Jennifer, too.
She managed to forgive me despite everything I had done to her.
What a kind and open-minded girl! No wonder Anthony had fallen for her.
"Thank you, Jennifer.Thank you, Mom.I'm truly sorry for everything..."
My voice was hoarse.
I held Jennifer's hand and squeezed it gently.
"Jennifer, good luck to you and Anthony.I mean it.I hope you can succeed in removing the Love Curse."
Jennifer's eyes went wide with astonishment, but soon she smiled at me.
"The past is in the past.I'm just glad that you're willing to apologize to me.Thank you, Caroline."
Jennifer squeezed my hand back.
"I wish you and Austin happiness too."
"Well, let's allow Caroline and Austin some time to themselves.Mom, you've been up and about since
earlier today.You must be tired.Let's go back and rest."
Anthony helped Elizabeth to her feet.
Jennifer supported her from the other side, and together, the three of them walked out of the ward.
"Austin..."
When they were gone, I gestured for Austin to come closer.
He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at me expectantly.
"Babe, you have suffered a lot."
Austin had experienced an extreme vicissitude over the course of just a few days.
He had grown a dark stubble on his face, which made him look manly.
I touched his cheek and smiled from the bottom of my heart.
"Austin, is our baby beautiful?" I asked.
"Yes, she is.She is the cutest princess in the world."
Austin bent over and kissed my forehead.
"Thank you, Caroline.You gave birth to such a cute child for me."
"She is your child.Of course she is cute." I smiled.
"Caroline, I...I can't make you queen, nor can I give you wealth.From now on, we're going to have to
live as an ordinary couple.Are you mad at me?"
Austin looked at me nervously.
"Of course not! To be with you for the rest of my life is the best thing that could ever happen to me." I
shook my head.
"Austin, we both made mistakes.We're only here right now thanks to the merciful nature of both Mom
and Anthony."
"You're right."
Austin held my hand tightly, inching towards me slowly.
"I'm very grateful to them for saving you."
Then we began to kiss.
His lips were gentle and warm, which made me feel at ease.
"Honey, what should we name our baby?"
When we finally pulled away, I leaned against Austin's chest and asked the question.
"We can choose a name together,"
Austin replied with a bright smile.
Then we began to discuss potential baby names.
We expressed our opinions respectively.
In that moment, I realized that I was experiencing genuine happiness.
I realized that happiness didn't need to come from power or money.
Happiness was simpler than that.
It turned out that happiness was always within my reach.
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