Chapter 21 Valerie suddenly felt exhausted , a weariness that came from the depths of her soul . She no longer wanted to argue with him , nor did she wish to be entangled with him any further . All she wanted was to end it all . " Theodore , do you think your life is that valuable ? " : " Do you think that by threatening me with your death , I'll be scared , I'll soften , I'll compromise ? " " You're wrong . " She met his vacant gaze and said slowly , " I choose the second option . " The light in Theodore's eyes was completely extinguished . " You ... what did you say ? Vallie ... please , don't be so cruel to me , okay ? " " I said , if you want to die , then go ahead ! " Valerie repeated , her tone even clearer than before . She added , " But don't die in front of me . I'm afraid you'll scare my child . " Every word was like a poisoned blade , piercing precisely into Theodore's already battered heart . So , even his death had become a disturbance to her . She walked away with such determination , so decisively , as if the man behind her , gambling with his life , was utterly insignificant . 0.00 % 09 450 Chapter 21 Theodore slowly closed his eyes , a bleak smile appearing on his face . Then , he pulled the trigger . Bang- ! A dull gunshot echoed . 1200 Vouchers Arnold pulled her and Andy tightly into his arms , covering their eyes . " Don't look ! Don't turn around ! " In the distance , police sirens wailed . Valerie leaned against Arnold's chest and let out a long , long breath . Theodore did not die . The bullet grazed his skull , taking half his life and also stripping him of his status as the heir to the Hewitt Group . He lay in the intensive care unit for three whole months . When he woke up , his life was spared , but he was left with severe aftereffects . The nerves in his right leg were damaged , causing him to limp , and his hands trembled uncontrollably , unable even to hold a pen steadily . More importantly , Gideon was completely disappointed in him . An heir who would risk his life for a woman and disregard the family's interests was a disgrace to the Hewitt family . After Theodore was discharged , all his power was stripped away . Gideon adopted a shrewd and capable grandson from a collateral branch , who officially became the new head of the Hewitt Group . 18.85 % 09.45 Chapter 21 1288 Vouchers As for Theodore , he was forgotten by the family and returned to live in the empty old Hewitt mansion . His only companion each day was endless silence . The verdict for Olivia was also delivered . With multiple crimes combined , she should have been executed immediately . But Olivia exhibited severe symptoms of mental illness in prison , and in the end , the court commuted her sentence to a suspended death penalty , to be carried out in two years . She was sent to the most secure psychiatric hospital in Los Angeles . Everyone thought she would at least survive for two years . But they all forgot that although Theodore had lost his power , the ruthlessness in his bones had not diminished in the slightest . He hated Olivia , and that hatred even surpassed the hatred he felt for himself . He bribed the doctors and nurses at the psychiatric hospital . He told them , " I don't want her to die too easily . I want her to live , but to truly go insane . " And so , Olivia's " good days " in the psychiatric hospital began . Every day , she was tied to the bed and subjected to the highest intensity of electroshock therapy . At first , she tried to plead , crying out , " Theo , save me . Later , she no longer had the strength to cry or shout , and her eyes became vacant and hollow . 39.06 % 09:45 Chapter 21 Eventually , she truly went mad . She would hug her pillow , call it " Theo , " and laugh and cry at the air . 288 Vouchers She would wake up in the middle of the night , screaming , " Valerie , don't come any closer , " then wetting the bed in terror . Theodore would occasionally receive videos sent by his subordinates . In the videos , the once beautiful and charming eldest daughter of the Jones family had become emaciated and filthy , like a true mad dog . He watched expressionlessly , yet felt no satisfaction in his heart . He had taken his revenge on Olivia , but Valerie would never return . A year later . Theodore's body had recovered somewhat , at least , he could walk slowly on his own with a cane . Using a false identity , he obtained a visa to Britain . He did not disturb Valerie , only watched her from afar . He rented a car and parked it every day at the corner across from Valerie's house . Like a humble voyeur , he greedily watched the happiness that should have been his , while being tormented by it again and again . That evening , Valerie and Arnold were taking a walk in the yard . Andy was chasing a butterfly on the lawn not far away . They walked side by side , and at some point , Valerie suddenly laughed . She stood on tiptoe and gently pressed a kiss to Arnold's lips . 61.44 % 09:45 Chapter 21 Arnold was momentarily stunned , then smiled as well . He head and deepened the kiss with tenderness and care . 288 ( Vouchers Owered his The afterglow of the setting sun stretched their shadows long , intertwining them together . Theodore sat in his car , quietly watching the scene from across the street . He started the car , turned it around , and slowly drove away in the direction opposite to the sunset . In the rearview mirror , the two figures embracing and kissing grew smaller and smaller , blurrier and blurrier . Theodore knew he would never have another chance . For the rest of his life , he would never be able to be with her again . From now on , their lives would only be two parallel lines that would never intersect . How did it come to this ? He was filled with regret , but there was nothing he could do to make up for it . There is no medicine for regret in life . He knew he would spend the rest of his days alone . 83.84 %