?Chapter 1422:


    When Christina first met Joelle, she had already been using that name—a name she had chosen herself, one she never intended to change. She had confessed once that she was an abandoned child, unloved and unwanted, unable to bear the weight of her real name.


    The very thought of carrying her biological father’s surname filled her with disgust. She had cast her birth name aside, severing every tie to the past.


    Through the chaos of battle, Christina and Joelle had endured countless trials together, learning to depend on one another when the world offered no mercy. They had dreamed of brighter days, futures filled withughter and freedom—yet fate had other ns. Joelle had given her life to save Christina’s.


    Before her final breath, Joelle had smiled—softly, almost peacefully—and spoken words that would stay with Christina forever.


    “From now on, I’ll be your sister, Joelle Jones. And you… you’re my only family in this life, the person who means the most to me…”


    Joelle had spoken of her disappointment in the cruelty of the world, her disillusionment with people, yet beneath it all was a lingering desire—to see the world’s beauty onest time. She urged Christina to live, to find that beauty for the both of them.


    With a faint, trembling smile, Joelle reached out tofort the inconsble Christina.


    “Don’t cry, Christina. Tears don’t suit you. Don’t be afraid… I’m so sorry I won’t be able to protect you anymore. No one ever loved me, but then I met someone who did—that’s you. Christina, I want to be your family… to share the same name. I’m so grateful you came into my life and walked beside me through this journey.”


    “This path we shared was warm, and those memories will always stay that way. But the road ahead… you have to walk it alone. I can’t go any further. You have to keep living. Even if it means using the people around you, you must survive. This world is ruthless—if you don’t step on others to rise, they’ll trample you instead.


    Christina, sometimes being a little selfish and cold-hearted is the only way. I hope you can be ruthless enough to protect yourself… to break through whatever stands in your way. I… I… love you. And I’m so d… so d I met—”


    Her voice faltered mid-sentence, thest words left unspoken.


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    Christina knew Joelle still had more to say, but fate had cut her short.


    If only there had been a cure—something, anything—to keep her alive. But life offered no “if onlys.”


    Tears streamed down Christina’s face as she whispered hoarsely, “Joelle, I’vee to see you. I’m such a coward… I only found the courage to visit you now. You must be so lonely here, all by yourself. Do you hate me for noting sooner? I’m sorry, Joelle… I was running away.”


    She sank to her knees before the gravestone, clutching it tightly as sobs wracked her body.


    The headstone bore a picture she had drawn by hand. There had been no phones back then, no photographs to capture Joelle’s face. Christina had relied only on memory, sketching each detail from her heart.


    In her memory, Joelle’s face was forever frozen in that same look—yful yet tender, her smile radiant but touched with quiet sorrow. It was as if the grief buried deep within her heart had finally risen to the surface, spilling over without restraint.


    Seeing Christina’s shoulders tremble with silent sobs, Dn felt a sharp ache twist in his chest. Slowly, he crouched beside her, wrapping his arms around her shaking form. His hand moved gently along her back in a steady rhythm, offering silent, wordlessfort.


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