Harry, your arrogance has harmed Hattie, mistaking even your savior and the love of your life, mistaking a streetlight for moonlight.
Upon learning the truth, Harry was struck as if by lightning, trembling all over, pale-faced. For over twenty years, what he believed to be true shattered before his eyes, revealing a harsh reality he could not ignore. Like an eagle with its wings torn apart, Harry quivered in pain, struggling to remain standing, clenching the pendant in his hand to suppress the turmoil in his chest.
“Harry, did you kill Fiona?” Hattie asked, her words filled with fear, standing on Fiona’s terrified face.
Whatever Hattie wanted, Harry could do.
Before he could respond, Max interjected, “Hattie, you can’t say things like that. Inciting murder is also a crime!”
Max urged, “Hattie, release Fiona quickly. Don’t do anything rash. They will face legal consequences. You don’t need to dirty your hands because of her. If you release Fiona now, I can pretend nothing happened. Hattie, don’t be foolish.”
Legal consequences? Talking to her about the law? If these people were really going to face legal consequences, Fiona should be in jail, not a psychiatric hospital. Harry should have been arrested long ago, not roaming free.
Hattie no longer believed in the law. She trusted her own hands more than the law. The law could not kill these pests; she could.
Max was an unexpected factor in her plans. She had planned for Harry to kill Fiona, but now, Mr. Brown, the righteous and passionate Max, had intervened.
Seeing a glimmer of hope in Fiona’s eyes, echoing the words of a policeman, “Hattie, did you hear that? Release me quickly. Even if I deserve to die, it should be determined by the law, not you. If you want to die with me, go ahead.”
Hattie responded, “Alright.”
Fiona intended to provoke Hattie, reminding her not to involve herself any further, but to her surprise, Hattie affirmed her statement with a simple “alright.”
Alright for what? Was Hattie really going to sacrifice herself here? Before she could process it, Hattie took out a surgical knife, raising it high, everything happening too quickly.
Fiona closed her eyes in fear, waiting for someone to rescue her.
Suddenly, a deafening “bang” shattered the air, as if piercing through eardrums.
What was that sound? The imagined pain did not come. Fiona opened her eyes to see Hattie, who had been standing on her, falling back, warm blood spattering her face – Hattie’s blood.
In the five seconds that Fiona had closed her eyes in fear, a lot had happened.
Hattie lifted the knife, Max warned her with a gun.
Acting on impulse, Harry rushed forward, his action faster than Max’s, but he hesitated; how could he embrace her after what had occurred? His hands were tainted, threatening and killing people – he did not deserve to hold Hattie.
Micah arrived just in time to witness Hattie falling.
“Hattie!” Micah ran to her, trembling uncontrollably.
Harry, on the verge of madness, also rushed forward. Initially quicker than Micah, he eventually stopped, realizing that he was not worthy of holding Hattie after what he had done.
Micah held Hattie, hands shaking as he dialed 911. A grown man crying desperately, tears falling on Hattie’s face.
With life fading from her eyes, Hattie tremblingly tried to wipe Micah’s tears away but lacked the strength.
“Micah…” She called his name affectionately for the first time.
“I’m here. Don’t speak. Hold on a little longer. The ambulance is on its way. I’ll take you out first. I have a first aid kit in my car.”
“I left, why did you come looking for me? I’m sorry… I’ve worried you again. Forget me… find a good woman…” Hattie’s breathing grew weaker, her words cut short by her diminishing strength. In the end, she closed her eyes in Micah’s embrace, at least able to see him one last time.
Blood filled her vision, despair shrouded the air. Micah, trembling, carried Hattie outside, saying, “Why did you apologize to me? I should be the one apologizing, for not being able to protect you. Hold on, Hattie. I will never marry anyone else but you. If you die, I will live in regret and loneliness for the rest of my life.”