The Wife Who Jumped on New Year's Eve

Chapter 22

The moment Joanna Taylor stepped into the villa, memories of the past surged over her like a tidal wave.

Yet now, her heart remained utterly still, filled only with endless resistance.

Ryan Bennett seemed oblivious to her indifference as he led her upstairs.

"Joanna, look—I've restored your room exactly as it was before. Everything here is just the way you left it." Joanna merely glanced around indifferently, offering no response.

The familiar furnishings should have brought comfort, but to her now, they were nothing more than a gilded cage.

Undeterred, Ryan eagerly pulled her toward the living room, pointing at a drawing framed on the wall.

"This was painted by Lily in kindergarten. I tracked it down and hung it here so we can see it every day—almost like she's still with us."

Joanna stared at the childish scribbles, a flicker of tenderness stirring in her chest—only to be swiftly smothered by the harsh reality. Disgust flashed in her eyes.

"Ryan, do you really think this can make up for what you did to us?"

His smile froze, pain flickering behind his forced calm.

He produced an exquisite velvet box and opened it, revealing a dazzling ruby ring.

"It's the style you always loved. Took me ages to find it."

"I know you hated our wedding ring, so I got you a better one."

"It's called The Radiant. From now on, our love will be as eternal as this gem."

Joanna almost laughed.

"What love? You refuse to let me go, trapping me here by any means, and still expect me to love you?"

Her words struck like a blade.

Ryan's eyes darkened, his voice eerily composed despite the madness lurking beneath.

"Joanna, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

"Everything will go back to how it was. Time heals all wounds."

Her gaze turned glacial.

Time might erase the past, but it couldn't resurrect dead love—only deepen hatred.

When Ryan tried to slide the ring onto her finger, she shoved him away.

His expression hardened.

"Be reasonable, Joanna. Think of the children's future."

Rage burned in her eyes as the ring coiled around her finger like a venomous serpent.

Disgusting. Absolutely revolting.

A bodyguard leaned in to whisper to Ryan, whose lips curled in satisfaction.

"Come, Joanna. Let's see how those who wronged you pay for it."

At the villa gates, a disheveled woman knelt, sobbing as security guards wrestled to drag her away. Spotting Ryan and Joanna, the guards stiffened.

"Apologies, Mr. Bennett. We'll remove her immediately."

But the woman scrambled forward on broken limbs, one eye gouged out.

"Madam, please—beg Mr. Bennett to spare me!"

Through the grime, Joanna recognized the maid Crystal Lynn had bribed years ago.

A chill ran down her spine. She'd despised this woman, but no one deserved this.

Ryan waved dismissively, and the guards hauled the crippled figure away.

Then Joanna thought of him—Sean Yates, whose sudden disappearance reeked of Ryan's doing. She'd stayed silent to protect him, but no longer.

"Where is Sean?" Her voice shook. "What did you do to him?"

Ryan frowned. "Sean? That teacher? How would I know?"

"Stop lying!" she hissed. "He vanishes right when you return—who else could be responsible?"

Ryan's face darkened. "I didn't touch him. I'd never hurt you like that."