Chapter 296
Luther stormed toward the place he’d agreed to meet his father, but what he saw there stopped him cold. David stood hand-in-hand with Ophelia, the sight burning fury deep into Luther’s soul. Rage surged through him; this woman had stolen his father’s heart, casting aside his mother as if she were nothing. As a son, his duty was clear: protect his mother from David’s catastrophic betrayal.
“Father!” Luther’s voice trembled with disbelief and anguish, eyes brimming with tears of frustration. “Did you seriously have Mom arrested p>
David turned sharply, irritation flashing across his face. “What the hell are you doing here, Luther? Didn’t I tell you we’d talk tonight? Go home-now p>
“No! Tell me!” Luther shouted, his voice cracking with raw emotion. “Why did you lock her up p>
David’s eyes narrowed, his voice icy and harsh. “Because your sainted mother cheated on me. She gave me HIV, Luther p>
“You’re lying!” Luther shook violently, refusing to accept the accusation. “Mom would never betray you. You’re the cheater-standing here, holding hands with this woman p>
“This woman,” David spat sharply, pulling Ophelia closer, “is my wife. My second wife, Luther. Go home, we’ll sort this out later p>
Luther staggered, the floor seeming to shift beneath him. “Father,” his voice cracked, breaking with sobs and hurt. “Am I even your son anymore? If I am, please leave this witch right now and come home. Mom needs us p>
David shook his head, frustration and exhaustion mingling in his eyes. “I’ll explain everything later, Luther. You’re still my son, even if you aren’t biologically p>
The words froze in his throat when he saw Luther pull a pistol and point it directly at his own temple.
“Luther!” David roared in shock. “What the hell are you doing p>
Luther’s eyes blazed, red and wild with betrayal. “How dare you say I’m not your blood! I’m Luther Morgan-I’m the heir you promised your fortune to! Was everything you told me a damned lie p>
“Luther, calm down!” Panic flooded David’s voice, desperation tightening his throat. “You’re still my son-I swear it p>
“No, I’m not!” Luther screamed, voice thick with pain. “You’ve arrested Mom, replaced her with this snake, and now you claim I’m not even yours? You want to destroy us p>
David moved forward, pleading urgently, “Listen to me—I’ll make everything clear, just calm down, Luther p>
“Enough lies,” Luther whispered coldly, a frightening calm overtaking him. “I’ll settle this right now p>
Without another word, Luther turned the gun toward David and pulled the trigger three times. The brutal crack of each shot echoed through the air, each bullet plunging deep into David’s chest.
David staggered back, his eyes wide with shock and agony. Never in his darkest nightmares had he imagined his beloved boy-the child he’d cradled, nurtured, raised-would become the man who ended him.
Ophelia screamed in terror and raced forward as David collapsed. Kneeling beside him, her face twisted in anguish, she sobbed. uncontrollably. Gazing at her face, David finally saw clearly: Brian shared her features. How had he missed it? How had he ignored his real son, the loyal man who’d once shielded him with his own life, while the boy he’d loved like a prince betrayed him?
“You did this!” Luther shouted furiously at his father’s bleeding form. “I’m only taking what’s mine the inheritance you swore would be mine p>
Luther bolted toward the waiting car, where Charles sat stunned. Luther climbed inside, trembling violently. “Drive!” he yelled frantically.
“Where to?” Charles asked urgently.
“Home,” Luther gasped, his mind clouded by panic and desperation. “We need to save my mother p>
David lay helplessly in the spreading pool of his own blood, each heartbeat pushing him closer to darkness. Ophelia cradled him tightly, her tears falling freely onto his pale, anguished face, mixing with his pain.
“I’m so sorry, Ophelia,” David gasped weakly, each word trembling from a throat clogged with regret. “You gave our son your whole heart-and I gave him nothing but shadows. I never even acknowledged him, my own flesh and blood p>
His vision blurred with sorrow, the cold reality of his choices now suffocating him more than the blood
filling his chest. All his life’s wood
all
his dreams and wealth-he’d e foolishly handed them over to a child who wasn’t even his, leaving Brian, his true son, lost in the margins. A life spent chasing illusions, ignoring the quiet strength and sacrifice of the son who’d
willingly taken bullets for him.
“I should’ve listened,” David whispered, his voice cracking as the anguish deepened. “I should’ve raised Brian beside me…not Luther. I shouldn’t have let Rose blind me from what was real p>
His breath shuddered painfully, grief carving deeper lines of regret into his fading soul. “So many mistakes,” he whispered, as the weight of every lost chance crushed him from within.
“David, please, stay awake!” Ophelia sobbed brokenly, clutching him tighter, her voice shaking with despair. “They’re coming to help you—just hold on. We can’t lose you, Brian needs you! I need you p>
But the world was slipping further away, and David felt only the crushing weight of remorse. Tears spilled down his cheeks as he
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struggled for a final breath. “Forgive me, Ophelia,” he breathed softly, words barely audible as life slipped from his fingertips. “I wasted everything p>
“If only His voice dissolved, a gentle sigh of infinite sadness, carrying the unbearable weight of a thousand unspoken apologies. “If only p>
His body sank into lifelessness, the fire in his eyes extinguished, leaving only emptiness behind. Ophelia clung desperately to his still form, her heartbreaking cries echoing into the cruel silence of loss.
“Alex!” Lyra screamed in utter panic, desperation ripping through her voice like a blade. “Do something-save him, please p>