“What?” I yelped. Priscilla wanted to leave him at his darkest hour, and she got herself and the baby killed? God, Robert must have been devastated.
“Someone rigged the car. It was meant for Robert, but Priscilla was roped into it instead. His guilt crushed him. He loved Priscilla deeply, so he didn’t hate her even though she betrayed him. He only blamed himself for it. I was worried when I found out, so I sneaked out to check on him.”
Julia raised her head to keep her tears in. Then, she pointed at somewhere far away. “It happened at the roof of Century Tower. It used to be the Andersons’ building. I saw him on the roof, harried and tired. He was crushed and on the verge of breaking down. I wanted to talk to him, but Robert cursed me. He even thought I played a part in Priscilla’s death.
“I snapped eventually, so I yelled back at him. I talked about things I shouldn’t, and I laughed at him because Priscilla left him instead of facing the darkest hours of his life with him. I kept provoking him, saying that he lost everything, including his family. I even said that he has no reason to live anymore.” She covered her face, but tears fell through the cracks between her fingers. “He was an idiot. I could have given everything up for him, but he chose someone who only loved him for his money.”
I was in no position to judge a person who was dead, but Julia had a point. I couldn’t even make an argument for Robert. It was a tragic, heartbreaking, and unacceptable story. Sadness welled up within me, and I looked at Christopher. He held my hand, giving me a look of encouragement.
“I wanted to show my concern since I used to have a crush on him, but instead, I insulted him. I couldn’t take back what I said, so I escaped the scene. The very next day, I found out Robert had leaped off the building and died just like that.”
Julia wiped her tears away, but the more she wiped, the more she cried. In the end, she looked up at the ceiling and let her tears fall freely. “I regretted that decision even until today. If I didn’t sneak out and insult him, he wouldn’t have killed himself. I knew full well that he was breaking down, but still, I insulted him out of petty anger.
“Your mother’s right. I killed Robert. Although I didn’t push him, I was the cause of his death after what I said to him.”
I see. So that’s the truth. Robert killed himself, but Julia’s insult was the last straw. That’s why she never denied Isabelle’s accusations.
I couldn’t bring myself to say that it wasn’t Julia’s fault, but that only made it more tragic.
When I left the Lane residence, it was with a heavier heart than when I came. “Chris, I’m confused. Why must life throw so many lemons at us? Is it that hard to ask for a simple life? It’ll make everyone happier that way.”
I leaned against his chest, trying to rest my weary soul. He gave me a tight hug and told me, “Well, it’s all the more reasons we have to cherish the time we have. Because you never know when life will change lemons out for guns.”
I stayed at the mansion for the next couple of days, but I still couldn’t shake my frustration away. I would scroll through my phone when I felt like it, and I would open the door as fast as possible when someone knocked. Every time, however, I would close the door in disappointment, since it was just the milkman.
Will Mom come to take me back? I sighed. I knew it was weird wanting to act spoiled after having a big argument, but that always happened with a mother and her child. Yes, I was hurt, but still, I hoped Isabelle would pick me up after she regretted chasing me out.
One week later, Isabelle finally called me, and I almost cried tears of joy. However, after hearing what she said, the tears that fell were tears of despair.
