A-List Actress: Paper Marriage but Pampering Billionaire-Chapter 695: Ashamed!

The summer wind by the riverside was strong, the nighttime river water rolling like ink, resembling a black hole, which once caught in, is eternally damned.

Sporadic lights flickered along the riverbank, the sound of cruise ships incessantly breaking through the silent night.

A figure sat at the edge of the dock, her legs swinging in the air, hands propped on the ground, while distant lights flickered in her eyes, uncertain and wavering.

Long, long ago, Mom had said that one day she wished to be accompanied by the sea, living next to freedom, so she honored her last wish by scattering her ashes here.

After seeing Long Xiao today, she recalled the darkest period of her life.

The intense grief and guilt left her sleepless day after day, and after taking care of Mom’s funeral, she drifted like a zombie, barely dragging through life.

The sky collapsed, the ground sank, and there was no place for her in this world.

That night, she came here, accusing the heavens of the unfairness she suffered, every time turning what she thought was happiness into illusions, finally even taking away the mother who loved her most.

If living was to endure the hardships imposed by heaven, then why should she let it have its way?

As long as she died, she could be with Mom forever, and nothing could separate them.

But ultimately, she backed down, continuing to live.

No matter the reason, she was too ashamed to face Mom, feeling unworthy of her love.

In these five years, she never came, not once.

She felt ashamed of her former self, and today she came because she had finally figured it out.

Suddenly, she turned back to look at the path she came from, pitch black, nothing visible, while tears flowed uncontrollably like a breached dyke.

Forgive her this act of willfulness, for the last time.

In the car, Jiang Jingheng drove at top speed, running several red lights along the way.

Lin Jiamu sat in the passenger seat without saying a word to dissuade him.

He recalled that night five years ago when she stood by the river, screaming in despair; he never knew a girl’s life could be filled with so many hardships.

At that moment, she had harbored thoughts of ending her life.

He knew about her family situation, knew she had a younger brother who was seriously ill, who kept her tethered to life.

She truly was a good sister, no matter how sad she felt inside, she still managed to hold on.

But just because she didn’t speak of it didn’t mean everything was over.

The guilt and self-blame accumulated bit by bit over the years, and suddenly one day, her hand couldn’t paint anymore.

She felt Mom died just to fulfill her dreams, loathing herself and her dreams even more.

These experiences awakened the darkest memories of her life.

The unseen pains sprouted again, growing quickly into towering trees, enveloping her entirely.

Five years had passed, she had never truly moved on from the past.

And today, it was likely an eruption, also an end.

Upon reaching the riverbank, the car screeched to a halt, Jiang Jingheng immediately got out, finding only darkness, unable to see where she was.

He shouted loudly, "Mu Yan!"

He searched to the left, while Lin Jiamu went right, the two of them taking separate directions.

"Mu Yan!"

Their voices echoed back and forth, shattering the silence of the night.

Unfortunately, there was no response from around them.

The night wind was somewhat chilly, and the darkness made Jiang Jingheng feel like he was in hell, with despair and panic weaving through his heart.

If she wasn’t there, in this cold world, he would never touch sunshine again.

If she wasn’t on the shore, the only possibility was that she was in the water.

He walked to the river’s edge, watching the surging waters, his eyes stormy and turbulent.

He wouldn’t let go of her, not even in death.

Just as he was about to step forward, a weak female voice came.

"At this hour of the night, are you planning to jump in for a swim?"