After love faded, she left forever (final chapter 26 to 28)
Chapter 26
Jonathan had once used ruthless means to avenge Anna, mercilessly suppressing the families of those who had wronged her.
Now that those families finally had evidence against him, how could they not retaliate?
Isabella didn’t care that she was being used as a pawn. As long as she could hurt him, nothing else mattered.
If she couldn’t live well, why should Jonathan?
Merely exposing him wasn’t enough. Isabella created a new social media account, sharing her sob story and revealing every detail of her relationship with Jonathan to the public.
In no time, the Texas Consortium’s reputation, which had only recently started to recover, was once again in turmoil.
Even Jonathan’s personal image suffered a significant blow.
He was forced to return home to face investigations, temporarily halting his search for Anna.
Back in the country, chaos ensued.
To make matters worse, several other issues emerged within the company, pushing the Texas Consortium further into turmoil.
Many rival companies seized the opportunity to claim a share of the spoils.
Even if the Consortium weathered this ordeal, it would come at a great cost.
For such a large corporation, even the smallest losses could compel smaller competitors to rise significantly.
Many were circling like vultures.
Jonathan, beset by internal and external crises, went three consecutive months without proper sleep.
He eventually had Isabella arrested on charges of defamation.
After a prolonged investigation, authorities found evidence of financial misconduct within the Texas Consortium. The company was fined $70 million, and the matter was settled. However, the Consortium suffered significant damage—many employees left, partnerships dissolved during the investigation, and the company was left severely weakened. Jonathan’s grandfather, who had retired long ago, was brought back into the turmoil.
Seeing his once-virulent grandson now a shell of himself, Jonathan’s grandfather let out a deep sigh.
Once the company’s situation stabilized somewhat, he summoned Jonathan back.
Thud.
Jonathan fell to the ground, collapsing in exhaustion.
He knelt with a pale face, his emaciated frame barely holding together.
“Jonathan, is this how I raised you? How many times have I warned you to stay true to yourself, as a husband should? And yet, what did you promise her? And how have you acted now?”
His grandfather’s chest heaved with fury, his breathing ragged. He struck the cane against the ground several times in anger.
Jonathan lowered his head, his voice barely audible.
“I was wrong. I betrayed Anna.”
Seeing him like this, his grandfather shook his head repeatedly.
The butler brought forth the family cane.
The black, gleaming stick, studded with sharp spikes, could break the skin with a single strike.
With a strong swing, the butler brought it down. Jonathan let out a muffled groan, and blood immediately began to flow.
He gritted his teeth, trying to endure, but his weakened body betrayed him.
After just one strike, he swayed and fainted.
In the past, as a teenager, Jonathan had endured over ten strikes for a mistake without flinching.
Now, his grandfather panicked and quickly ordered the family doctor to be sent in.
After receiving medication, Jonathan finally managed to sleep soundly.
In his hazy dreams, he seemed to return to the past.
He was back on the day Anna had accepted his proposal.
Dressed to the nines, he poured out his love for her, brimming with anticipation.
“Anna, will you marry me? I promise to love you forever. For the rest of my life, you’ll be the only one I love!”
Holding the intricately designed ring, his hands trembled, his heart pounding with nervous excitement.
Jonathan unconsciously curved his lips into a smile.
He knew she would say yes.
But in the next moment, Anna spoke without hesitation.
Chapter 27
“Sorry, I don’t want to marry you. It’s over. I don’t love you anymore.”
In the dream, Anna pulled her hand away and walked farther and farther away.
“I’ll treat you well. You like the little cakes from the east side. I’ll buy them for you every day. Jewelry, accessories, houses, shares—anything you want, I’ll give. Just stay.”
Jonathan pleaded desperately, but Anna’s figure didn’t turn back, not even a glance.
He reached out that night, but all he grasped was air.
Even the two engagement rings he held disappeared.
Anna didn’t want him anymore. She didn’t love him, didn’t want anything.
Jonathan whispered her name over and over, his tightly closed eyes streaming with tears. His pale face looked haunted, and he bit his lips so hard they bled.
No one knew how many times he had whispered her name.
Jonathan’s grandfather watched, his cloudy eyes filled with regret.
He let out a deep sigh. His assistant, after days of searching, finally found Anna’s best contact information.
“Hello, Miss Anna. This is me, Jonathan’s grandfather. You met me at your wedding.”
Anna had just finished attending to a guest when she received the unexpected call, leaving her puzzled.
“Grandpa, what can I do for you? If you’re calling to persuade me to reconcile with Jonathan, then there’s no need to discuss it.”
It had been a while since Jonathan last disturbed her, and she thought he had finally given up.
But now, he had sent his grandfather instead.
Anna couldn’t help but smirk sarcastically.
Jonathan’s grandfather, sounding weak but resolute, said, “Miss Anna, I know Jonathan was wrong to you before. He doesn’t deserve your forgiveness. But he’s sick now. I’m not asking you to forgive him—just to come and see him one last time. It’s a way to put an end to his lingering hope.”
“I promise, I won’t let him bother you again. I’m an old man, and I’m begging you.”
There was a long silence on the other end of the line.
Finally, Anna answered firmly, “I’m sorry, but I’m doing very well now. I don’t plan to go back.”
“Will he ever be able to live again? I do this for him. The Jonathan family is so powerful, and I’m just an ordinary person. Please, let me go.”
“He fell for Isabella before, and he’ll fall for someone else in the future. I was never the only one in his heart, and no one will ever be.”
“He’s just clinging to his obsession and unwilling to let go of me. Given enough time, he’ll forget.”
Her words left no room for persuasion, and Jonathan’s grandfather could only relent.
“I’ve asked and pleaded. If you have even the slightest bit of lingering affection for him, come see him. If not, let’s consider this call as never having happened,” he said helplessly.
“Thank you, Grandpa,” Anna replied sincerely.
After hanging up, Jonathan’s grandfather sent her a video of Jonathan lying unconscious.
Anna watched it, surprised.
She hadn’t expected that in just a few months, he would become a shadow of the person he once was—neither human nor ghost.
But this was no longer her concern.
She felt not the slightest pang of sympathy anymore.
All her love had been buried in America long ago.
She decided not to return.
Jonathan had plenty of people to care for him, including his grandfather. He didn’t need her to suffer alongside him.
She mulled over her decision, but her resolve was firm.
Chapter 28
“Anna.”
Jonathan woke up in a panic, calling out Anna’s name.
His grandfather sat by the bed, his face dark and stern.
“Jonathan, from now on, focus on your work, take care of your health, and stop looking for Anna.”
Jonathan coughed weakly, his voice hoarse as he asked, “Why?”
“She’s my wife! I signed the divorce papers, so we’re still married. If I’m persistent enough, if I’m sincere, she’ll forgive me eventually!”
“She’s stubborn. If I keep trying, she’ll come back to me.”
“Enough!” His grandfather interrupted sharply.
He pulled out a recording of his conversation with Anna and played it for Jonathan.
Anna’s clear voice filled the room, shattering every ounce of Jonathan’s confidence.
Even after the recording ended, the room remained dead silent.
For a long time, Jonathan muttered to himself, “No, impossible, impossible. This is a mistake. I need to find Anna. I have to see her. I need to tell her that she’s the only one for me, that I’ve only loved her.”
Ignoring everything, Jonathan pushed himself out of bed, ripping the IV needle from his arm. He dragged his frail body toward the door.
His grandfather didn’t try to stop him, knowing full well that Jonathan wouldn’t make it far. Sure enough, after a few steps, Jonathan collapsed to the floor. The wounds on his back, which had just started to heal, tore open again, blooming with fresh blood.
Gritting his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, Jonathan forced himself to stand and stagger forward.
But he only managed a few steps before collapsing again.
His grandfather shook his head. “Take him back to bed and keep a close watch on him. Make sure he recovers. He’s not allowed out.”
After giving the order, his grandfather placed a few pills into Jonathan’s mouth.
His health wasn’t great either, having retired to focus on his recovery. He hadn’t expected to still be dealing with such troubles at his age.
He lay down in the next room, letting the doctors and nurses attend to him.
Three days later, Jonathan’s health improved, and he tried to escape again.
But he didn’t get far before his grandfather’s men caught him and brought him back.
“Jonathan, let it go,” his grandfather said, dressed in hospital attire, his face even paler than before.
Jonathan stood silently, rooted to the spot, no longer trying to flee.
“Jonathan,” his grandfather continued, “I don’t have much time left. I don’t know how much longer I can stay with you. Consider this my final wish—don’t look for Anna.”
“Let her go, and let yourself go.”
Hearing this, Jonathan bowed his head, his emotions unreadable.
After a long pause, he finally forced out an answer: “Alright. I won’t look for her anymore.”
With that promise, his grandfather seemed to release a heavy burden and sank down.
Jonathan stayed by his grandfather’s bedside, promising, “Grandpa, I’ll take care of the family from now on.”
After spending his grandfather’s final days with him, Jonathan became even colder.
When Anna was still in his life, he had moments of lightness and even occasional smiles.
Now, he exuded constant chill.
Jonathan turned into a machine, throwing himself into work. Except for hospital checkups, he practically lived at the office.
Under his leadership, the company flourished.
The love story that once made countless people envious faded into obscurity.
Only Jonathan still wore his wedding ring. When someone asked, he would smile warmly and say, “I need to finish work and get back early.”
Yet, he rarely returned to that cold, empty home.
Without Anna, home was no different from anywhere else.
“I’m married. We’re very much in love. She’s waiting for me at home,” he would tell himself.
Those who knew the truth thought he was crazy, and those who didn’t assumed he was the epitome of an estranged husband.
Many women tried to approach him, but he rejected them all.
Years passed, and he adopted a talented boy and raised him with care.
Thirty years later, the boy had grown into a capable man, ready to take over the company.
Jonathan handed everything over and left for France alone.
When he arrived outside Anna’s shop, memories rushed back.
“Grandpa, I’ve honored your wish. I haven’t seen her for twenty years. Now, I want to fulfill my last wish.”
Hearing the murmur of the wind, he noticed the door was open. A small chalkboard nearby read:
Jonathan knocked gently on the door.
“Is there a room available?” he asked.
A mixed-race girl inside called out, “Sir, someone’s here to check.”
As Anna stepped out, Jonathan panicked and fled.
He no longer had the courage to face her.
She had a new family, a new life—one that no longer needed him.
Jonathan bought a small shop near the inn and turned it into a post office, writing letters to his past self.
Even knowing no one would receive them, he occasionally had customers who came in to send letters.
In one letter to his younger self, he simply wrote:
Be better to Anna.
Though the shops were only two streets apart, they never crossed paths.
Even after Jonathan learned that the young girl was Anna’s adopted daughter, he never approached her.
He only watched from afar, catching glimpses of Anna and hearing about her life through others.