DC: Chapter 150/152

Chapter 150

Raven woke from a trance and looked at the man in front of her.

The sunlight streamed in from behind him, outlining his figure, highlighting his handsome face and warm, happy expression. His entire presence radiated joy, his smile bright and welcoming—though the corners of his mouth never truly lifted.

"You're one of Sophia's relatives, right? That black cloak looks a little out of place. Sophia might not like it, better not let her see. Come with me..."

The man smiled as he spoke, unbothered by Raven's attire, and began leading her to a seat.

The bride's relatives and friends were seated in the right row, dressed in luxurious clothing adorned with gold and silver, their dazzling presence complementing rather than overshadowing the bride.

After settling Raven into a seat, the man left again, heading toward the door to welcome more guests.

Raven glanced around the church. Everything was filled with warmth, joy, and happiness.

Something was off.

Something was very wrong.

Whenever Raven was with Bardi, she could feel his pain—constant, inescapable pain. He was always tormenting himself. This scene before her... it didn't fit.

If this were purgatory, she would believe it without question. But happiness? That was impossible.

A creeping unease settled over Raven.

This was Bardi's deepest sorrow. The moment that shaped him.

Was this really it?

Her eyes flickered with thought. She needed to find a way to pull Bardi out of this, but there were no clues.

"Why would Sophia choose this guy as a backup plan?"

"Wasn't she still involved with Alex?"

"Look at that stupid grin on his face. It's annoying just to see him so happy."

Raven turned toward the murmuring voices and saw a group of men in expensive suits whispering impatiently about Bardi.

Listening carefully, she pieced together that the women here were dissatisfied with Sophia's choice. They couldn't understand why she would marry someone so ordinary and mediocre.

Raven stood, walked to the man at the door, and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Some people over there are talking badly about you."

She watched Bardi's reaction closely.

Even his appearance here was different, his skin tone, his demeanor. Was this because of his past?

Jayce looked at her in surprise, as if puzzled, but then he smiled warmly. "It doesn't matter. My life isn't defined by their words."

"Thank you. The future will only get better and better."

Jayce adjusted his suit and smiled with a rare confidence, radiating an almost tangible light in the sun.

Raven was momentarily stunned.

She had never seen such a bright, warm, and reassuring smile before. It was infectious, a smile that could warm the hearts of those around him.

Looking at it, she had no doubt—no matter how many setbacks he faced, he would meet them head-on, unfazed.

And yet... the very person who gave him that confidence was the one who ultimately shattered him.

Raven had witnessed it all.

Then, the wedding began.

The bride walked down the aisle, arm in arm with her father, accompanied by the wedding march.

Her father, like the rest of her relatives, looked down on Jayce, clearly displeased with the marriage. But Jayce simply smiled in response, showing no resentment.

He believed, without question, that the future would improve.

As long as he held onto hope, there was always a future.

But life after marriage wasn't easy for Jayce.

Still, he never stopped smiling, always making it seem like he was the happiest man alive.

Raven became incorporeal, watching Jayce's life unfold before her eyes.

Overnight shifts spent hunched over a computer.

Running deliveries in a hurry.

Handing out flyers on the streets.

Bargaining over a few cents in the marketplace, living frugally.

He was cheerful, honest, and warm-hearted, everyone wanted to be friends with him. And they didn't mind taking advantage of him.

Every day, just to see his wife smile, he sacrificed everything he had worked for.

Whether it was Louis Vuitton, Chanel perfume, Chanel dresses, or Dior—he bought them all for her, trying his best to keep her happy.

But in return, his wife sneered at him, mocking him for not understanding luxury brands, fashion, or class.

And each time, he would only smile and say, "It's enough for me to have a wife who understands me."

He laughed foolishly, acting carefree but Raven could feel the sorrow behind it.

Why would he debase himself like this for just one person?

Raven didn't understand.

But she felt a pang of sadness for Bardi.

Then, two months later, his wife became pregnant.

Jayce felt like he had been struck by lightning—stunned, overwhelmed, unable to focus for an entire day.

And then, something changed in him.

He unleashed every ounce of potential he had. He knew that his monthly salary of $1000 was barely enough to afford his wife's cheap luxuries, let alone support a family.

From the moment he learned he was going to be a father, his smile disappeared.

Raven watched as he began lying to his friends, stopped smiling, and desperately borrowed money from everyone he knew.

Within days, he was $70,000 in debt.

He set aside $30,000 as savings for his child's future.

The remaining $40,000, he threw into the stock market.

A month later, he withdrew $150,000.

He had gone mad, squeezing out every last ounce of his intellect, pushing his mind to its limits.

No one could understand how much an orphan like him longed for a happy family, a wife, a child, a place to belong.

People who had families could never comprehend that kind of desperation.

He would give anything—everything—to protect and cherish this family.

He would never let his wife and son suffer the same pain he had endured.

From that moment on, Raven never saw Jayce smile that bright, sunny smile again.

Each day, he woke at four or five in the morning, quietly slipping out so as not to wake his wife.

He spent his days investigating market trends, only returning to take care of his wife's meals before leaving again.

After a week of research, he opened two fruit supermarkets.

His relentless efforts paid off.

By the time his wife was ready to give birth, he had secured a bank loan and expanded his business to seven supermarkets—his assets growing to one million.

It was almost miraculous.

In just six months, he had gone from a salary of $1000 to owning one million in assets.

But in exchange, the smile that had once warmed Raven's heart was gone.

And he had learned how to lie.

The only thing that remained unchanged was his love for his wife.

Everything he did, every sacrifice was for her and their child.

A chill crept up Raven's spine.

Jayce had given too much.

His level of devotion was terrifying.

And the way his wife obliviously enjoyed it all was equally terrifying.

If Jayce ever realized that none of what he had built truly belonged to him…

There was no telling how deep his despair would be.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 151

The birth of the baby seemed to instill an even greater sense of responsibility in Jayce. Raven became incorporeal, standing beside him, watching the light of hope shimmer in his eyes. He gently cradled the baby in his arms, his face filled with love as he playfully scratched the infant's wrinkled little face.

Raven stood silently by his side, feeling conflicted.

The entire space radiated happiness and warmth.

Just as Jayce had said on his wedding day, his future was only getting brighter.

But if there were a moment when the sky suddenly darkened, when the clouds thickened and gloom set in, it would be traced back to the baby's tenth month.

The child had been born prematurely, yet he was remarkably healthy.

One morning, at ten months old, the baby suddenly had a nosebleed and was rushed to the hospital.

Jayce's wife immediately lashed out at him.

"How do you even take care of a child? You useless man! If anything happens to my baby, I won't forgive you, Jayce! You're absolutely worthless!"

Jayce held his breath, furrowing his brows but saying nothing.

I care about the child too. I'm just as worried.

He was a smart man—smarter than most. But he loved his wife even more. She was the center of his world, the only thing that mattered.

It wasn't until the blood test results came back normal that his wife's anger subsided. However, she still clung to the baby tightly, refusing to let Jayce hold him or even look at him. If his gaze lingered too long, she would shoot him a glare filled with disdain.

Jayce simply blamed himself.

Raven observed in silence, following Jayce like a ghost as he left the hospital.

The sky was not yet stormy, but the air felt heavy, as if foreshadowing the coming downpour.

Driving home, Jayce repeatedly asked to hold the baby, but his wife scoffed and told him to get lost.

Her attitude toward him was truly appalling.

Those who are favored have nothing to fear.

Raven saw it clearly.

Jayce's devotion ran so deep that no one could love a woman more than he loved his wife. But it was that very devotion that enabled her cruelty. She belittled him, ridiculed him, looked down on him.

There was no gratitude. No appreciation.

Thunder rumbled overhead, cracking the sky apart.

The clouds thickened, growing darker and heavier.

Jayce's expression froze as he stared at the blood test report in his hand, confusion and panic creeping onto his face.

How could two parents with Type A blood have a child with Type B blood?

Where did the B come from?

No… No way…!!

Jayce's mind spun, and for a moment, he found a sliver of hope.

The hospital must have made a mistake.

"That's it! The hospital must have mixed up the babies!"

Jayce clung to the explanation like a lifeline. But his hands, gripping the report tightly, trembled. The paper crumpled under the pressure.

There was a truth he didn't want to face.

Because once he accepted it, he would lose everything.

His home. His sense of belonging. Every person and thing he had worked so hard for.

Raven watched him carefully.

She was certain now.

This—this was the pain that shaped Bardi.

The agony of despair. The pain of losing everything.

That night, Jayce and his wife slept in separate rooms.

But the next day, something happened that was even more suffocating than Raven had imagined.

When Jayce returned home, his wife had already packed her bags. She stood at the door, holding the child, while beside her stood a man—handsome, dressed in a finely tailored suit. Everything about him screamed upper-class sophistication, his every word and action calm and composed.

A bodyguard stood nearby, tall and muscular, exuding quiet intimidation.

The two men were playing with the baby, smiling, clearly not expecting Jayce to come home early.

When his wife noticed him, her face shifted.

For a long moment, silence hung between them.

Then she sighed and spoke.

"Jayce… you already know, so I won't hide it from you anymore."

"The child isn't yours."

"Thank you for taking care of me. I will always remember what you did for me."

She said it with a look of sadness before turning to the child's real father, her expression softening into one of hope and happiness.

Jayce stood frozen.

Silent.

His reaction puzzled Raven.

Why was he just standing there? Why did he look… like that?

He remained in a daze, his mind blank, even as they brushed past him.

It wasn't until his wife passed by, her familiar perfume filling his senses, that something snapped inside him.

He turned suddenly, grabbing her arm, almost making her stumble.

"Jayce… you—!" Sophia glared at him.

"I have money."

Jayce's voice trembled, but his grip was gentle, he was afraid of hurting her.

"In half a year, I built one million from nothing. I can buy you Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior. I can take you around the world. You are my world—everything I have."

"If that's not enough, I can do more. I have the ability. Give me three years, and I will have fifty million. In five years, I will have a hundred million."

"I can do anything for you."

His voice carried desperation, a plea to keep her.

Sophia's breath hitched for a moment.

For the first time, it seemed she truly saw the depth of his love.

But then, she pulled her arm free and clutched her son tightly.

"Jayce, if you really love me…" she whispered, "then let me go. Let me have a better life. Let my son get a better education, grow up happier."

And with that, she turned and walked away.

Jayce's arms fell limply to his sides, all strength leaving his body.

The man beside Sophia did not leave with her. Instead, he turned to Jayce with a smirk.

"Fifty million? A hundred million?" The man chuckled. "Are you talking about the specialty fruit and vegetable supermarket project?"

"Sorry. That project was stolen from you by the Alex Corporation."

"A lawyer's letter will be arriving in a few days."

"Sophia really did me a favor, she gave me a son and handed me a business deal. Thank you."

"You really are a genius."

With a faint, mocking smile, he flicked his sleeve and left.

Taking everything from Jayce.

Raven looked at Bardi, feeling a deep sorrow well up in her heart.

He stood there, unmoving, for three hours.

Like a dead man.

She watched as he took several bottles of strong liquor and climbed onto the rooftop.

The sky was dark, filled with flashes of lightning.

Rain poured down in torrents, hitting him hard.

Raven saw his eyes—wide, furious, wild with agony.

He roared in anguish, his fists slamming into the ground, his knuckles slicing open on the shards of broken glass.

Rain and tears mixed on his face.

He knelt there, his clothes drenched and clinging to his trembling body, looking weak, alone, utterly shattered.

This…

This was already Bardi.

Raven felt the pain in her own heart spread.

With her intangible form, she embraced him, trying to share in his suffering.

Suddenly.

The wind howled, the sky raged, thunder boomed overhead.

The rain fell harder.

Bardi opened his arms to the storm, raising his head as he let out a feral, bloodcurdling roar.

Drenched, his face contorted with fury, his eyes ice-cold.

"No one," he growled, "will ever take anything from me again!"

Lightning struck.

The next morning.

Bardi put on the same suit he had worn on his wedding day.

He shaved his scruffy beard, washed his face with the cleanser Sophia had once bought, just a free gift that came with her many expensive cosmetics.

In the mirror, that bright, sunny smile returned.

The same one Raven had seen at his wedding.

A chill ran through her.

She watched as Bardi grabbed a leather travel bag and stepped outside.

He walked into a familiar knife shop.

The owner recognized him.

"Jayce, what can I get you?"

"A sharp machete."

"A machete?"

"Yeah… for cutting watermelons."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 152

In the end, Jayce didn't buy the machete. Instead, he purchased another knife recommended—a blade sharp enough to cleave through a small tree trunk in one stroke. It was a test product, an enhanced version of the machete. The blade was thicker at the spine, making it more effective for chopping through dense wood.

Of course, the claim that it was sharp enough to "slice a hair in midair" was just marketing talk. But when Jayce lightly ran his finger over the edge, he felt an immediate chill slicing through his skin. A thin line of blood appeared, dripping onto his palm, already wrapped in gauze.

After securing the knife inside a sealed leather travel bag, Jayce dialed the number of the Alex Corporation's vice president. His expression was indifferent.

He had once worked with the Alex Corporation, investing in their specialty fruit and vegetable supermarket project, hoping for a mutually beneficial partnership. Instead, the vice president had taken both the project and the money, leaving Jayce with nothing.

"I have a complete project plan in my hands. I can give it to you."

"Heh… I don't need it."

"You don't? If we go to court and I present this plan, your Alex Corporation's reputation will plummet. The industry your father built with years of hard work will be ruined under your leadership. Your father will be forced to remove you from the company, and your inheritance rights will be taken by one of your siblings. You've been vice president for a year now, and you have no other major projects under your name. Don't you want to move up to CEO?"

"You—!! Are you threatening me?"

"You should hand this plan over to your elder brother, the general manager. Your father already approved it, and the board of directors has decided to implement it as part of the company's five-year strategy. Isn't that right?"

"How… How do you know that?!"

"Did you really think all my efforts were for nothing?"

A long silence.

Then, a hoarse response.

"What do you want?"

"Now tell me… do you need the plan?"

"…"

"Do you need it?"

"…Yes."

"Good. I'll give it to you."

"If it's about Sophia, don't worry—"

"Sophia chose you. I have no objections. I'm giving you the plan, but I want to see her one last time before I leave this city. Just to say goodbye."

"Fine. She's at Happy Community. Bring the plan, and I'll take you to her."

"Good."

"Be careful… Don't let my siblings find out… Where are you now? I'll come to you."

"No need. I'm at the Alex Corporation building."

"Alright. I'll notify the front desk."

Call ended.

The streets were bustling with people.

Jayce stood still in the crowd, gripping his leather travel bag. He looked up at the sunlight, a halo forming in his vision blinding, dazzling.

Last night's thunderstorm had cleansed the city's air. A fresh, crisp scent rose from the damp pavement, heavy with moisture.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill his lungs. For a moment, his entire body felt light. Every pore tingled with a refreshing chill.

"Haah…"

He exhaled slowly, opening his eyes. They were empty. Hollow.

Nothing in this world mattered anymore.

Without hesitation, he tossed his phone into a trash can and walked away.

A few moments later, someone rummaged through the bin, retrieved the phone, and lit up with joy, it was worth thousands of dollars.

A life without hope…

Jayce walked straight into the Alex Corporation building.

It was his second time here.

Sophia had been the one to introduce him to Alex, encouraging their business cooperation. It was supposed to be an opportunity.

Instead, it had been a trap.

People in love truly had zero intelligence.

He had never suspected a thing. Never imagined their relationship ran deeper than he had thought.

That even the child was his.

The elevator ascended directly to the 30th floor.

After confirming his appointment with the front desk, Jayce walked into the vice president's office.

It was excessively luxurious.

Handwoven carpets. A small indoor golf course. A bar stocked with fine wines. A private bathroom.

This wasn't an office—it was a five-star suite.

No security cameras.

The kind of place where a secretary could do whatever they pleased.

Once the secretary left, only Jayce and Alex remained.

"Give it to me. I promise," Alex said, unable to conceal his eagerness. He stood from his chair, eyes burning with anticipation.

Jayce looked at him impassively, stepped forward, and placed the leather travel bag on the polished rosewood desk.

Slowly, he unzipped it.

Clothing.

"Let me find it. Sorry, the bag's full of clothes," Jayce said calmly.

Alex exhaled sharply, staring intently at the bag.

Then—

A cold gleam flashed.

Jayce suddenly moved.

Stepping onto the desk, he sent expensive stationery, folders, and a high-end LCD computer crashing onto the soft carpet below.

No loud noise. Just a muffled thud.

With a sharp motion, he drew the blade from the bottom of the travel bag.

His grip tightened. Veins bulged across his forearms. His knuckles turned white.

The knife slashed through the air, aimed directly at Alex's neck.

Blood gushed out instantly, spurting like a fountain from his severed artery. His head, still frozen in horror, remained connected by a thin strip of skin.

One strike.

Jayce had decapitated him.

His expression remained indifferent.

Alex's body collapsed onto the desk, twitching, blood pooling beneath him.

Jayce reached into the travel bag, pulled out a fresh set of clothes, and frowned. His wedding suit was soaked in red.

A shame.

Oh well.

He entered the private bathroom, washed up in under three minutes, and calmly left the office—locking the door behind him.

Walking out of the Alex Corporation building, he got into his car, placed the travel bag on the passenger seat, and drove toward Happy Community.

Sophia's new home.

The moment she saw him through the security gate, her smile vanished.

Her face turned cold.

"What are you doing here?" she snapped impatiently.

"I just wanted to see you one last time," Jayce said, placing the travel bag on the ground. "And to give you some of the wealth I once built for you."

"I don't need it," Sophia said dismissively. "As long as you live a good life, that's enough."

Jayce gave her a faint smile. But deep sadness lingered in his eyes.

He didn't care about her greed.

But leaving him…?

That required his permission.

Sophia hesitated. For a moment, her expression wavered.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

She opened the door.

Her new home was lavish, easily worth four or five million.

In the crib, the baby kicked his legs happily, giggling in his comfortable surroundings.

"Is he alright? No more nosebleeds?" Jayce asked, unzipping the bag.

Sophia's eyes lit up with expectation.

"It's gone now. Thank you!"

Then—

The zipper opened fully.

Sophia's face turned pale.

A severed head stared back at her from inside the bag.

She trembled violently. Cold sweat ran down her spine.

The blade flashed.

Blood sprayed.

Jayce gripped her hair. He had to hack at her neck ten times before it finally severed.

The more he chopped, the harder it became. His face contorted with pain, his tears mingling with his rage.

When he had killed Alex, it had been effortless.

But Sophia…

Sophia was different.

"I loved you so much," Jayce murmured.

"I will grant your wish."

He placed her head inside the leather travel bag.

The baby wailed, blood splattering its tiny face.

Jayce gently placed the child into the bag as well—reuniting the family.

Then, after another shower, he changed into a clean suit.

It reminded him of his wedding day.

The weather had been just as bright.

"What a beautiful, meaningless life."

With the travel bag in hand, Jayce walked into the police station.

(To be continued.)