When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 443

A delicate, searing pain spread through every inch of her body.

Isn’t a heart only supposed to break once?

Why did it feel like hers was shattering for the second time?

…

One week later.

A single news story sent shockwaves across the country. The Watson family, once a business powerhouse, was caught in a scandal that reached all the way into politics, and their downfall sent ripples through the entire corporate world.

Everyone in the Watson family was under investigation. Only Felix had somehow managed to catch wind of what was coming and disappeared. But just three hours ago, the headlines announced he’d been caught by his own daughter.

Felix had run to a farmhouse abroad, a place he’d once bought with his wife. Nancy was the only one who knew about it.

After Felix ran, Nancy became the police’s best source, helping them hunt him down.

One night, she remembered the farmhouse and rushed there. It was the only place in her memory that had ever felt like a real home, but even that was just a safehouse Felix had set up for himself.

That man was selfish to his bones.

Worse yet, when Felix realized Nancy had found him, he didn’t hesitate. He pulled out the handgun he’d kept ready and fired. At that critical moment, Rudy stepped in front of Nancy and took the bullet.

Rudy had been secretly following her all along. When he saw the shock in her eyes, he felt happiness for the first time in his life.

Nancy couldn’t understand. “Why?” she asked, her voice trembling with confusion.

Rudy gave her a small, broken smile. “I love you.”

It was ridiculous, but it was true. He’d never felt this way before—genuine happiness, just for having given everything for someone else. It was a feeling that went far beyond control or manipulation.

But Nancy’s eyes stayed cold. After the shock faded, there was nothing left but indifference, maybe even a hint of disgust.

Blood gushed from Rudy’s chest. Panic flickered in his eyes as he grabbed Nancy’s hand, his voice shaking. “Do you… still hate me this much?”

Nancy couldn’t say a word.

She’d depended on Rudy once, but they’d never even been friends, much less anything more. Now, this madman—someone who’d always been cruel to her—had given up his life for her.

She used to envy Nelly for having someone like Jonah, someone who’d put everything on the line for her. But now that Rudy had done the same, all Nancy felt was fear.

Just before Rudy died, Nancy pulled her hand away without a word. She didn’t answer him, not even at the end.

*

Across the city, in an airport departure lounge, Nelly watched the sky turn red with sunset, her eyes soft and full of gentle light.

She held a plane ticket in her hand, bound for a snowy country far away.

Soon she’d be flying halfway across the world, to a place where night lasted forever and stars filled the sky.

Ben had finally given in to her pleading and told her the truth. Jonah wanted to spend his last days somewhere he could see the stars every night.

Nelly didn’t hesitate. She was going to find him.

Even if it was just for a month, or a single day, she wanted to be with him—just like that night he’d watched the stars with her, the best she’d ever seen.

The boarding call came over the speakers. Nelly stood up.

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