Chapter 1924

The day Annette died, she lay alone in bed, her wrists covered in cuts.

It was her first suicide attempt.

She couldn't find the artery. Each cut was deep but missed the mark.

I stared at those bone-deep wounds, then at her pale face.

She smiled at me. "Michael, I'm leaving. From now on, your dad only has you. You can't leave him. Take care of him for me. You're the one he loves most."

That was the last time I cried my heart out.

She killed herself to stop Enoch from pursuing the Osborne family's century-long mission.

They exploited human nature to achieve their selfish, grandiose plans. It was a horrific project that threatened humanity.

But her death didn't wake Enoch's conscience. It drove him into madness.

When he first took over the Illuminati, he only wanted to make Osborne great and prove himself after years of weakness.

Leading the Illuminati was his chance to openly marry Annette. But her suicide shattered his hopes. Read complete version only at finḑnovel.net

That night, both Enoch and I cried for hours.

I never saw him cry again.

Since then, we'd climbed a thorny path together, never stopping. Neither of us dared look back at how we got there.

We'd reached the mountainside, maybe higher. One misstep, and we'd fall into an abyss, shattered to pieces.

When my cover was blown, I acted calm. My face showed no cracks as I looked at Debra.

It was like I was telling her, "This is who I've always been. I've been lying to you."

For the first time, Debra's eyes showed shock, disbelief, and confusion.

My heart felt like it was being stabbed, but I had to accept it. This was my choice. I had to bear the pain that came with it.

I left Debra a letter, addressed to her future self.

I believed the world would still exist. The Illuminati's centuries-long schemes wouldn't succeed.

I carefully sealed the letter in an envelope, knowing I would be already gone when it was opened.

Now I would ride or die with Enoch. That was my promise to Annette and also my lifelong obsession.

Because of Debra, I loved this world. But I loved my father more.

If we won, I'd just keep living numbly. If we lost, I hoped my friends would find happiness in the future.

I wanted the latter.

I believed Debra wouldn't let me down. She always found a way to survive. She

loved this world and herself.

Before I died, I fulfilled my last wish.

Even for a second, I wanted to be her comrade again. Even as a guiding light, I hoped to point her to a bright path in the darkness.

Goodbye, my friend. Goodbye, the other me in this world.