Spring Without Return - Chapter 12

Chapter 12 "Nothing left?" Samuel actually laughed. "Mr. Ferguson, is that not exactly what you are right now? You have already lost everything. That is what we wanted my sister to see." He turned toward me, and his tone softened. "Vivian, look carefully. He is exactly the same now as when you followed him to Stormbay years ago. Broke and powerless. Honestly, even worse than before. "The business empire he built is gone. He is sitting in prison, and this is the consequence he owes you." looked at Ethan calmly, as if I were watching a drama that no longer had anything to do with me.

"Ethan, we are over." His entire body shook. The light in his eyes faded. "Vivian... you cannot do this to me." "When I followed you to Stormbay," I said quietly, "you had nothing. "T left my parents. I abandoned my home and stayed beside you through every hardship because I believed we would spend our lives together. I thought you would always be the person I could rely on. "T never imagined that for another woman, you would become so cruel to me. You pushed me into despair. "Now the Ferguson Group has fallen. "And you have become a prisoner." My voice grew calmer with every word.

"AlLI did was return you to how you were in the beginning. "With nothing. "T do not want the Ferguson Group anymore. "And I do not want you either." "No. Vivian, do not do this." Ethan slammed against the glass. "I cannot live without you. If you leave me, what meaning does my life have? Please... give me one more chance. I am begging you." I stood up without looking at him again. "Brother, let us go." Samuel nodded and left with me. After returning home, I heard bits and pieces about what happened afterward. e Within one month, the Ferguson Group announced bankruptcy liquidation.

The once-powerful business empire that dominated the industry collapsed under the weight of the crisis. As for Ethan, he was formally charged with intentional assault and multiple financial crimes. He did not defend himself. He accepted every accusation. In the end, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment for his combined crimes. When the verdict was announced, Ethan showed no reaction. He lowered his head in silence. Maybe that was the ending he deserved. A lifetime behind bars in exchange for the sins he committed.

As for me, I never paid attention to another piece of news about Ethan again. My brother helped me recover the copyrights to all my paintings along with every award and honor that belonged to me. I picked up my paintbrush again and built a small art studio in the garden of our family home. Ethan and the Ferguson Group had once occupied a huge part of my life. They brought me happiness once. They also brought endless pain. Still, all of that belonged to the past, like a nightmare I finally woke up from. After waking up, the sunlight was still warm. Life was still beautiful. As for my future...