Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 216 Secrets Buried by Time

Richard was bawling his eyes out while packing up all of Benjamin's stuff.

I slipped the diary into my own bag, trying to be discreet.

Once the rescue mission wrapped up and we sorted through Benjamin's belongings, we took his body back to Starlight City and kept it at the funeral home for now.

Lacey was rushing back, hoping to see Benjamin one last time.

The past few days had everyone on edge because of the earthquake, and the whole city was drenched in sadness.

The next day, I skipped work.

After breakfast, Ethan headed to his job, and I went upstairs, pulled the diary out of my bag, and settled into a chair on the balcony to read it.

I hadn't opened it right away after getting back because Benjamin's last words left me feeling uneasy. It seemed like he knew something but couldn't say it out loud. Whatever he couldn't say, he probably wrote in the diary. After reading Benjamin's diary, I stayed on the balcony all morning.

The summer sun was blazing, but I was shivering like my blood had turned to ice.

Hope called me for lunch, but I didn't budge.

"You guys go ahead, I'm not hungry," I mumbled, barely able to get the words out.

After sitting there a bit longer, I grabbed the diary and headed out.

went to my dad's

dad when he was young, with a smile I hadn't

so happy and content. Having my mom and dad around was better than any

everything fell apart

I cursed God countless times

might've been a mistake. There were a lot of things I wasn't

the sharp kid she was, probably sensed my bad mood and decided to cook. She was barely taller than the table, standing on a little stool, but she was doing a pretty good job. Seeing my daughter being so thoughtful melted my heart. I took the spatula from her tiny hand and made us some pasta;

alcohol, I told Layce to go to bed early and threw on a coat to head out. I knew where she was; I was going to find her. Victor from the quarry had built a house nearby and mostly lived there. The quarry was a rough place, and every worker there would be covered

inside, what could I do? Confront Victor and try to act tough? Or play the betrayed

I came silently. From the room, I could faintly hear voices. Driven by some impulse, I walked to the window and stopped. That night, I heard a lot of terrible truths outside that window, about the Russell

she had her reasons, and promising never to see Victor again, to live a good life with me. It was the first time she was so proactive and passionate in bed, but I didn't feel any arousal at all and eventually pushed her away. Seeing her pitiful expression, I felt a bit of compassion. Even though she had always been restless, she was still my lover, the biological mother of our children. Even if Richard wasn't my biological child, the kids were innocent.

those days, I experienced Linda's domesticity for the first time. She kept the house spotless, cooked delicious meals, bathed the children, braided Lacey's hair, and helped them with

result, I buried all the secrets with

Her sensibility was heartbreaking because she shouldered burdens too much. I felt pity,

wasn't a bad thing; this way, she wouldn't live in hatred, her world remained pure and held love. Moreover, even if she knew everything, what

love I could. I even wanted to adopt her, but I was afraid that my act would be too obvious and arouse suspicion. Adversity made people grow, and I was glad she had always strived to walk out of the

a knot in my heart, and I felt that enjoying life was a sin because Emily

didn't care much about it anymore, as long as she came home every day. Everything I did was for the children. I

the children. Such a marriage was absurd, and I didn't want to live in absurdity for

hiding in a room crying, feeling utterly useless. I didn't even know why I was crying. Clearly, we couldn't go on, and I was the one who proposed

so I didn't turn on the light when I opened the door. Lacey hugged me and said, "Dad, I will stay

playing tricks? Ethan from Windsor Family was a capable young man who had made a name for himself, mature and steady, and seemed to have good character. I couldn't say Emily wouldn't be happy with him, but

say? I could only hold on to beautiful wishes, hoping Windsor Family would treat her well and repay all the debts to her with love.