A Journey from Bitterness to Truth

If this recording wasn’t synthesized, then what had Yvan done to them, to his own flesh; and blood? My God, what atrocities had he committed against that innocent mother and

son!

He had hurt Matilda, deceived her, humiliated her, and even sided with the true villain behind the scenes right in front of her!

Matilda had told him, screamed her accusations at him over and over, but he hadn’t listened. Not one damn word did he believe her at the time!

Yvan felt an excruciating pain engulf his entire body, clutching at his chest as if he had been wounded a thousand times over, his heart bleeding, his very sinews being torn apart.

He was gasping for air, spasms racking his frame, as he clicked on the next audio clip. A child’s voice emerged, innocent yet haunting.

“Mr. Boyd, this is Logan. By the time you hear this, I won’t be by your side anymore. Thanks a lot for keeping Ella close, for making her so angry at me, time and time again, that she wanted to kill me.”

Those words were like a knife twisting in Yvan’s heart. His face turned ashen, and he shuddered, the phone slipping from his grasp and crashing to the floor.

But the voice continued relentlessly.

“To escape

making. you, I had to pay a fair price. Do you see it now? This tragedy is your ow

making. You’re the origin of all these disasters, and you will be the one to pay the price, the ultimate redeemer. I don’t know what my mom did to you five years ago, but I hope for your sake it’s exactly as you imagined. Because if the day comes when I unveil the truth once more, Mr. Boyd, you’ll have nothing left.”

Yvan laughed, a hollow, tearful sound.

“And now, let me congratulate you with a line I read in a book–congratulations on your vast empire, your eternal solitude from this day forth!”

His own son had cursed him to eternal solitude!

He couldn’t even overcome a child’s hatred!

Yvan felt as if his heart had been literally ripped out, his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.

He was like a man stripped of consciousness, staring blankly at the vast blue sea below; suddenly realizing that maybe the one in need of redemption wasn’t Matilda, but himself.

And Matilda… she was his only shot at redemption.

11:04

In the end, even Logan had abandoned him. What was left for him now? Nothing! Yvan had never felt so utterly defeated In his life, not even his own son wanted to be with him!

Pathetic, that’s what he was.

Yvan let out a derisive laugh as Carl stepped forward to help him up, but Yvan staggered back to the shore, staring out at that ocean, his voice still trembling, “Search! Find Logan even if you must drain the sea!”

Carl placed a hand over Yvan’s eyes. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Blinded by Carl’s hand, Yvan babbled, “What are you doing, I can’t see, Carl…”

Until he choked up.

Carl, with a heavy heart, covered half of Yvan’s face, the rising sun casting its light upon his cheeks, reflecting something shiny and liquid.

In the deep winter of that year, Yvan lost Matilda, Logan, and everyone who had ever been close to him. He stood at the edge of the sea where Logan had fallen, as if in silent tribute. But he knew, no one would forgive him again.

He had extinguished all the warmth he had with his own hands.

Everyone’s hearts ached for him. Witnessing Yvan’s expression, they felt as if the sky had fallen. The once–glorious Mr. Boyd was nothing more than a pitiful man.

Until the break of dawn, until the first light tore through the darkness, Carl covered Yvan’s bloodshot eyes, and everyone waited in silence, waiting for Yvan’s sobs to subside.