Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph
Chapter 216 Secrets Buried by Time

Richard was bawling his eyes out while packing up all of Benjamin's stuff.

I slipped the diary into my own bag, trying to be discreet.

Once the rescue mission wrapped up and we sorted through Benjamin's belongings, we took his body back to Starlight City and kept it at the funeral home for now.

Lacey was rushing back, hoping to see Benjamin one last time.

The past few days had everyone on edge because of the earthquake, and the whole city was drenched in sadness.

The next day, I skipped work.

After breakfast, Ethan headed to his job, and I went upstairs, pulled the diary out of my bag, and settled into a chair on the balcony to read it.

I hadn't opened it right away after getting back because Benjamin's last words left me feeling uneasy. It seemed like he knew something but couldn't say it out loud. Whatever he couldn't say, he probably wrote in the diary. After reading Benjamin's diary, I stayed on the balcony all morning.

The summer sun was blazing, but I was shivering like my blood had turned to ice.

Hope called me for lunch, but I didn't budge.

"You guys go ahead, I'm not hungry," I mumbled, barely able to get the words out.

After sitting there a bit longer, I grabbed the diary and headed out.

I went to my dad's grave.

The photo on the tombstone showed my dad when he was young, with a smile I hadn't seen outside of dreams for a long time.

We weren't rich, but little me felt so happy and content. Having my mom and dad around was better than any luxury.

But everything fell apart overnight.

I always thought that night was just a freak accident, and I cursed God countless times for being unfair. But after reading Benjamin's diary, I realized it wasn't just an accident.

"Ever since I married Linda, the rumors about her never stopped. Actually, in the short time after our wedding, I already knew it might've been a mistake. There were a lot of things I wasn't clueless about; I just pretended not to know. Having kids didn't make our marriage any more stable.

When I was feeling down, I'd hit the bottle. That night, Linda took Richard out and didn't come back until super late. Layce, being the sharp kid she was, probably sensed my bad mood and decided to cook. She was barely taller than the table, standing on a little stool, but she was doing a pretty good job. Seeing my daughter being so thoughtful melted my heart. I took the spatula from her tiny hand and made us some pasta; we each had a bowl.

I had some wine with my pasta. It was already really late, and Linda still hadn't come back. Fueled by the alcohol, I told Layce to go to bed early and threw on a coat to head out. I knew where she was; I was going to find her. Victor from the quarry had built a house nearby and mostly lived there. The quarry was a rough place, and every worker there would be covered in dust after a day's work. Linda was such a clean freak, yet she went to the quarry every few days. Deep down, I knew what was going on. I just pretended not to know for the sake of our kids.

That day, something happened at the quarry, and the workers left early. Seeing the light coming from the Windsor Family's house, I felt a bit lost. Even if Linda was inside, what could I do? Confront Victor and try to act tough? Or play the betrayed husband and call her out? Or make a scene so no one could live in peace?

In the end, I did nothing but slowly walked up to the house. My footsteps were muffled in the snow, and I came silently. From the room, I could faintly hear voices. Driven by some impulse, I walked to the window and stopped. That night, I heard a lot of terrible truths outside that window, about the Russell Family's tragic car accident, about Richard's true identity. I never knew she had hidden so much from me, that my wife was so cruel. They had orchestrated everything.

I was too shocked, my feet felt like they were glued to the ground, unable to move. When Linda opened the door and saw me, she was terrified. But she was smart and reacted quickly, immediately crying and begging me not to say anything. I was so stunned and shocked that I lost control, and I don't even know how I got her back home that night. After we got back, she pulled me into the room, kissing me and begging me, saying she had her reasons, and promising never to see Victor again, to live a good life with me. It was the first time she was so proactive and passionate in bed, but I didn't feel any arousal at all and eventually pushed her away. Seeing her pitiful expression, I felt a bit of compassion. Even though she had always been restless, she was still my lover, the biological mother of our children. Even if Richard wasn't my biological child, the kids were innocent. How could I let them bear this burden?

After a few days of calm, I ultimately chose to remain silent. During those days, I experienced Linda's domesticity for the first time. She kept the house spotless, cooked delicious meals, bathed the children, braided Lacey's hair, and helped them with their homework. The children were extremely happy, and I was almost immediately captivated by this warmth.

As a result, I buried all the secrets with a bit of selfishness.

Emily was a particularly sensible girl. Her sensibility was heartbreaking because she shouldered burdens too much. I felt pity, sympathy, and guilt.

Although she had suffered, she was very innocent, kind, and filial. Perhaps hiding the truth from her wasn't a bad thing; this way, she wouldn't live in hatred, her world remained pure and held love. Moreover, even if she knew everything, what could she change? Nothing.

I cared for her in life and studies, giving her all the love I could. I even wanted to adopt her, but I was afraid that my act would be too obvious and arouse suspicion. Adversity made people grow, and I was glad she had always strived to walk out of the shadows, living positively and maturely.

Ever since I learned the truth, I rarely had sex with Linda. I always felt a knot in my heart, and I felt that enjoying life was a sin because Emily was suffering.

Linda behaved for a few years, but I knew she and Victor never really broke up. I didn't care much about it anymore, as long as she came home every day. Everything I did was for the children. I hid her crimes for the children back then, and now I silently endured for the children.

But she became more and more excessive, often not coming home at night, probably thinking I wouldn't reveal the truth for the sake of the children. Such a marriage was absurd, and I didn't want to live in absurdity for a lifetime. The children had grown up and become rational. So, I took the initiative to propose a divorce, intending to set her free. After all, keeping a heartless woman was meaningless.

She left, taking Richard with her, leaving Lacey with me. That night, I got drunk, hiding in a room crying, feeling utterly useless. I didn't even know why I was crying. Clearly, we couldn't go on, and I was the one who proposed the divorce. I guess I was crying over the absurd years.

Lacey knocked on my door, calling for me. I hurriedly wiped away my tears, afraid she would see me crying, so I didn't turn on the light when I opened the door. Lacey hugged me and said, "Dad, I will stay with you forever!" At that moment, I couldn't hold back my tears anymore. That night, Linda and Richard had left but life had to go on.

On Christmas Day, I found out that Emily was with Ethan from Windsor Family. Should I say God was playing tricks? Ethan from Windsor Family was a capable young man who had made a name for himself, mature and steady, and seemed to have good character. I couldn't say Emily wouldn't be happy with him, but I always felt that God's arrangement was too ironic.

But what more could I say? I could only hold on to beautiful wishes, hoping Windsor Family would treat her well and repay all the debts to her with love. I also hoped the truth of the past remained a secret buried by time.

At noon in the summer, I squatted under the scorching sun in front of my dad's grave.

The diary was also placed in front of the grave.

I thought my dad must have been blaming me all those years, blaming me for living in a daze and never finding out the truth. Blaming me for marrying the enemy's son and even having children with him. "Dad, I was wrong!"

My eyes were dry, but no tears came out. I felt like I had been dried out, my lips parched as if there was no saliva left.

I squatted there as a form of self-punishment, gradually losing strength in my limbs, feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

At the moment I lost consciousness, I even felt a sense of relief.

It would be nice not to wake up again; I could go find my mom and dad.

I had a chaotic dream, dreaming of Benjamin, my mom and dad, and Ethan and Hunter and Harper. They flashed through my mind like a slideshow, coming and going. After a long time, I finally woke up groggily.

My head was heavy, as if it was filled with lead. The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was an IV drip.

But this wasn't a hospital; I was at home, lying in my own bed.

Hearing the sound of pages turning, I turned my head and saw Ethan sitting on the small sofa, flipping through the diary.