After the Second Sunrise

---- Chapter 7 On my birthday, the financial headlines blared with the news of Larson Group's utter ruin. Eric surprised me with 999 roses, renewing his declaration of love. | said yes, wrapped in the sweetness of the moment. However, then, the jarring ring of my phone cut through the air. The caller ID flashed the name of the defense attorney for Larson Group's remnants. | picked up the phone without much thought, figuring it was Chester trying to battle me for the last three New Cordova ports owned by Larson Group. Those smuggling routes were enough to make any crime family jealous. "Ms.

Larson, this isn't about a fight," the lawyer said carefully, "Mr. Kane wants you to know he's giving up all claims to the Larson inheritance, including the lifetime use of those ports. He's handing them over to you, no strings attached." | paused, my finger lingering on the table. "What's the catch?" ---- "Just one meeting, even if it's only a minute." We agreed to meet at the old restaurant we used to love. Chester was there early, dressed to the nines but looking worn, with bloodshot eyes and a shadow of a beard.

The silver bracelet | gave him when he turned 18 shone brightly, oddly mismatched with his fancy watch. Seeing me, his eyes welled up. "Tania, it's really you. | knew it-knew you wouldn't be dead." He lunged forward, gripping my wrist so tightly it felt like my bones might snap. It was as if afraid | would vanish again if he let go. "| searched for you for a hundred days," he said, his voice breaking as tears fell on my hand, burning hot. " | scoured New Cordova for any sign of you.

Thank God, you're alive." | yanked my hand back and wiped it with a wet wipe from my purse, keeping my voice even: "Mr. Kane, did you come here to put on a sad show?" "No!" he said quickly, his voice heavy with regret. "I've ---- sorted it all out. Juliana staged the whole thing. She fooled me. I'm sorry." He shuffled a stack of papers, hands shaking, and slid them across to me. "Look, I've signed over every share of Kane Group to you. Juliana's going through hell, a hell worse than what you faced! I'll give you anything, just...

Please, give me one more shot." | did not even bother with the papers, my voice icy. " Chester, remember those seven bullets to my heart in our previous life?" He went white as a sheet, his lips trembling. "I..." "| so wished you'd save me back then, but you didn't. This time around, | gave you a chance, and still, you chose Juliana with no hesitation." Memories flooding back, and Chester slumped into the chair, his sobs muffled. "I'm sorry... So sorry, Tania..." "You think handing over shares and making Juliana suffer will make me forgive you?" My gaze was steady, unflinching.

"To me, you're just ---- a stranger now. And why would a stranger talk about forgiveness?" He jerked his head up, tears streaming. "I realize my mistake! Let me make it right, please? I'd do anything, even die for you!" "Die?" | stood, smoothing out my skirt. "Chester, you're not even worthy of death. | want you alive, to see me wed Eric, to witness the happiness I'll find in this life." He tried to grab me, but | stepped aside. Looking at him, | let out a scornful laugh, my eyes showing complete detachment. "You pushed me away.

Now, it's my turn to cast you aside." Reaching the dining room door, | heard a heavy thud and his soul-tearing cries behind me. Eric's car was there, waiting. He took my cool hand, his eyes gentle. "Is it over?" | rested my head on his shoulder, giving a small nod. The deep-seated pain from my previous life, carved ---- into my very bones, was finally soothed by Chester's deep regret.