---- Chapter 21 "Honey, please, let me explain..." Ella stammered. She didn't need to see the results to know Tara wasn't Joshua's daughter. Years ago, she paid a fortune to fake the paternity test. Joshua treated Tara as his own, making Ella almost forget the truth, She pleaded desperately, but Joshua punched her in the face. "Ella, you really think I'm a fool? You lied to me for years. | won't let this go." His eyes burned with a ruthlessness Ella had never seen. She stumbled back, terrified. "No, Joshua, | didn't mean to deceive you. | love you. Tara sees you as her real father," she said. Joshua's laugh was cold, his eyes bloodshot. He was blind to let her sweet talk fool him for so long, nearly costing Kathleen her life. With a wave of his hand, bodyguards surrounded Ella and Leo. "Beat them. Leave them alive," he said icily. The guards attacked. An hour later, Joshua signaled them to stop. Ella, battered and bloodied, crawled to Joshua, begging. "I'm ---- sorry. I'm sorry. Please let us go." Joshua kicked her away. "One more thing. Tell the truth, and I'll spare you." Leo, bruised and swollen, spoke timidly. "Ask anything. We'll tell you everything." Joshua pinned him under his foot. "Did you kill Kathleen's parents? When did you target me? How did you get out of prison?" Leo glanced at Ella, hesitant. Joshua smirked. "Don't talk, then. They'll beat you until you do." "I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!" Leo blurted out before Joshua's hand lowered. "Ella was pregnant with my child, but we couldn't afford it. She decided to pin it on you. You grew kinder to her, and she wanted more," Leo said, glancing at Joshua's darkening face, hiding nothing. "She wanted to be Mrs. Hayes. She got me to help stage a car accident. She promised to get me out. She did. She got me out and gave me money to start a small company. It was all her idea. | had nothing to do with it." Ella tried to stop him, but the guards pinned her down. "Leo, you animal! We planned it together, and you're blaming me?" she screamed. Joshua clutched his chest, reeling as if struck by lightning Kathleen was right. He was scum. ---- "Beat them harder," he ordered. No matter how they begged, Joshua showed no mercy. He handed all the evidence and recordings to the police. He arrived at Kathleen's door, disheveled, and knocked. "How do you know where | live?" Kathleen asked, her face filled with disgust. Joshua dropped to his knees. "Kathleen, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry .." he choked, words failing him. How could he beg for forgiveness? She'd never forgive him His actions were unforgivable. "Kathleen, I've sent Leo and Ella to prison. | had them beaten half to death. | swear, I'll make them pay for your parents," he said, sobbing as he banged his head on the floor, knowing his sins were grave. "Sweetheart, I'm sorry. | harmed your parents..." he began. Kathleen kicked him hard. "Joshua, if you feel any guilt, divorce me now." + Joshua wept uncontrollably. He could have grown old with Kathleen, but his greed and selfishness led to this. He had only himself to blame.