Chapter 10 +25 BONUS " Zoey , I have nothing to explain . I'm just a worthless man . You must want revenge , right ? I'll give you the chance to do it with your own hands . Kill her , and I'll take the blame for you . As long as I can atone , I'll do anything . " Come on , Zoey , " Gary said . I stepped back and said coldly , " There's no need for that . Once my hands are stained with blood like yours , they'll never be clean again . I want to win with dignity - clean and fair . " With that , I pulled out my phone and spoke into it . " You can come in now . " A loud crash followed as the basement door was forced open . A squad of policemen stormed in , and among them was Charles . The moment he saw me , his eyes reddened . He wrapped me tightly in his arms . " Zoey ! You're safe ! I was worried sick about you ... " My heart warmed , and for the first time , I hugged him back . " I'm fine , Charles . " I had already sent all the evidence to the police , but with so much destroyed , a conviction was impossible without a direct confession . That was why I risked everything to lure them into confessing live . Seeing the two of us holding each other , Gary struggled against the officers restraining him . Despair twisted his face as he shouted at me , " Zoey ! I don't ask for your forgiveness , but please , wait for me , won't you ? Don't fall in love with someone else ... I looked at him with the calm detachment of a stranger . " Gary , I don't hate you anymore . " Gary's eyes lit up , even as he was pressed down to the floor . He still stared at me with desperate hope . " Then ... will you still give me a fair chance ? Can we start over ? " I shook my head . My voice was steady . " But I don't love you anymore . No one will stay in the same place waiting forever , Gary . The man I loved - the one whose heart held only me - died long ago , buried across 999 lifetimes . " The man you are now is nothing but a stranger to me . You need to accept the punishment you deserve . " I walked away , hand in hand with Charles . Behind me came the sound of Gary's heart - wrenching sobs , but I never once looked back . In this life , I never would . Later , Charles and I stayed in Pereem , pursuing the work we loved . We designed a gown that stole the spotlight at a major fashion show and won international acclaim . On the day we received our award , I heard that Lucy , who had long been sentenced to death , was executed . As for Gary , who was serving life in prison , he ended his own life that very day . I stood in silence for a long time before looking up at the sky . Dad had always told me that he would be the brightest star above , watching over me . Dad , did you see ? I avenged you . In a haze , I thought I saw a star twinkle , as if smiling at me . So , I tightened my grip on Charles ' hand and smiled too . I would live the rest of my life clean , honest , and unafraid .