The Wife Who Jumped on New Year's Eve

Chapter 36

Ryan Bennett still stood tall, but his frame had grown noticeably thinner.

"Joanna, I knew you'd come back. I've been waiting for you here." His voice trembled slightly, devoid of the arrogance he once carried. But Joanna Taylor no longer cared.

She regarded him coldly, her tone icy.

"Ryan, there's nothing left between us."

He ignored her indifference, speaking as if to himself.

"Joanna, I know I was wrong. I've spent all this time reflecting... I truly regret everything."

"Do you remember when we were newlyweds? That car accident—when the car flipped, there was only one thought in my mind: I had to protect you." Slowly, he lifted his wrist, revealing a stark scar.

"I held onto you with everything I had, praying you'd survive."

Joanna's expression flickered briefly. She hadn't forgotten. She knew how deeply they had once loved each other—which made the pain all the more unbearable. But she steeled herself, her gaze turning colder.

"The moment I died, I repaid that debt."

Ryan lowered his eyes. Then, he pulled out three plane tickets—destined for Finland.

The aurora borealis was breathtaking. Joanna had imagined countless times how joyful it would be to see it with their family of three.

She had waited, hoping the man she loved would turn back to her.

But the one who made promises had forgotten, while the one who couldn't let go suffered endlessly.

Now, she had finally moved on.

Ryan's eyes reddened, his hands shaking as he held the tickets.

"This was our promise—yours, mine, and Lily's."

A sharp pang struck Joanna's heart.

Lily was her eternal wound. No matter how many times she told herself to let go, she still saw her little girl's figure in her dreams.

"Mommy, I miss you... but I want you to be happy."

A tear escaped, sliding down her cheek, but her heart had never felt colder.

"Ryan, stop this."

"Nothing you do can undo what you've done. It only disgusts me."

"Memories and so-called promises are just excuses to chain me down."

"I used to wonder—how could something so beautiful shatter so easily? But now I understand..."

Her voice turned glacial.

"You never knew what love was. Or rather, your version of love only hurt me."

"Crystal Lynn, Bianca White—every tragedy happened because of you."

Joanna snatched the tickets from his hand and tore them to pieces.

The fragments scattered like snowflakes, vanishing with the wind—just like their irreparable relationship.

Ryan opened his mouth to speak, but Sean Yates stepped between them.

"Ex-husband, out of respect for Lily, I've let you wallow in self-pity long enough. Consider this my last act of mercy."

"What right does a man like you have to beg for Joanna back?"

Ryan smirked coldly.

"Should I remind you how much the Yates family made Joanna suffer?"

Joanna scoffed.

"The Yates family isn't Sean."

"He will always stand by me—and he'll never betray me."

"Can you say the same?"

Her words choked Ryan.

He closed his eyes briefly.

"Joanna, I've done everything to make amends. Can't we let the past go?"

"Never."