The CEO's Hidden Love: Midnight Temptations and Deep Desires novel Chapter 1326

Dorothy lifted her eyes, their movement stiff and awkward. "Everett, I... I don't know how to express what I'm feeling right now..."

She had dreamed of growing old with Everett, of being there for their son and daughter forever.

But—

She couldn't bear the thought of her happiness being built on someone else's suffering.

"I understand," Everett said, his voice soft and comforting as if he were soothing his daughter. He gently rubbed her back. "What's done is done. We can't go back, even if we wish we could."

If he could turn back time, he would never have allowed Quincy the chance to poison, and then Kenneth would still be alive.

But he was only human, not a deity.

He didn't have that power.

"Dorothy, Kenneth said his last wish was for you to take the antidote, to recover, and to live well," Everett continued.

Silence.

"Don't let him have died in vain, okay?"

It took a long, long time before Dorothy, held in his embrace, finally nodded slowly.

...

The day of Kenneth's funeral dawned overcast and gray, as if it might rain.

Dressed in black, Dorothy went directly from the hospital to the funeral home.

For the sake of privacy and peace, there was only one service scheduled there that day.

Only Kenneth's family, friends, and former colleagues were allowed inside.

"Dorothy."

Karen, who herself needed support to stand, made her way over to Dorothy upon seeing her.

In just a few days, Dorothy had become almost gaunt, her cheeks hollow, her voice weak.