Beyond the Divorce by Third Blossom

Finn gazed at me and whispered, "Before Byron faced his execution, he left a message for Beatrice."

"A message... for Beatrice?" I was taken aback. "Just before the execution?"

Shocked, I turned to Finn, then involuntarily glanced toward the hall. An inexplicable chill creeped up my spine.

"Yes. Her assistant gave it to me, and it felt serious. I thought it would be best for you to have it," Finn said, extending the USB drive to me once more.

I hesitated as I accepted it. It was a plain black USB drive, but it burned in my hand.

It seemed Byron had been desperate to convey something to Beatrice, despite her rejection.

The law had its protocols, and they would have fulfilled his requests before execution. Whether that was a blessing or a curse, I couldn't say.

But as I met Finn's eyes, I murmured, "Who did he think he was to leave a message for Beatrice?"

Though I said it, I also understood the desperation of a dying man.

After all, he was her father.

But for Beatrice, it would be a torment. Anything he said-whether it was regretful or venomous-would ring hollow.

There was no way Beatrice would ever forgive him. Throughout history, betraying a spouse emotionally was the gravest of sins. Society often blamed it on morality, but it was damaging and unforgivable.

And Byron hadn't just betrayed Helen emotionally. He had also killed her. How dare he try to seek forgiveness?

He had also taken three lives without hesitation, leading to the massacre of the Keller family. What right did he have to plead for forgiveness?

By changing her last name and refusing a final meeting, Beatrice had made it clear that she would never forgive Byron.

I turned to Finn, asking, "What's inside?"

Finn stood firm, his gaze fixed ahead. "I don't know, and I don't want to know. He deserved his punishment."

I wasn't surprised by Finn's response.

Eight years in the asylum for Beatrice had meant eight years of suffering for him.

Finn had loved Beatrice for so long, and watching his loved one being locked away had become an indelible pain for him.

And it was all because of that morally bankrupt father.

How could Finn forgive him? How could he be willing to hear his repentance?

"I suppose this is his repentance," said, looking at the object in

my

said, therwise, the cops wouldn't

hand.

have agreed to hand

Finn remained silent.

"I'll hold onto it for now. When she's ready to face this, we'll find the right moment to show it to her," I sighed. "For now, we should help her forget this nightmare and recover quickly. This ordeal was catastrophic for her, sowe shouldn't bring this up right now."

"I trust you because you really care for her, Mrs. Chloe."

"As do you." I looked at Finn. "She knows."

"She does just want to do right by her. No matter what she does in the future, I'll be by her side, helping her. You're right. It is my greatest wish to see her truly be happy."

Finn's expression was resolute. "She deserves to be happy."

"She will be. Let's all work together for that." I asked, "So... where was Byron buried?"