Sensing her hostility, Jeffrey settled onto the sofa across from her.


    "Take it easy, Debra," he said, his tone coaxing. "I mean you no harm. My actions are driven by necessity."


    Debra remained silent, and he continued, "Everything I do is for my wife. I hope you can understand. If udia were alive, she''d like you. It''s a shame Juan failed to cherish you."


    "I don''t quite follow you," Debra said indifferently.


    No longer a na?ve girl, she wasn''t to be swayed by hollow sentiment. Hypocrites like him only made her sick.


    Jeffrey leaned forward, fingers steepled. "My marriage to udia was arranged, yet we loved each other deeply. If it weren''t for Melody, we would have lived together happily. I know what Juan did to you in your past life, and I''m sorry."


    His gaze intensified. "The day udia died, I misunderstood her and didn''t go to see her. I couldn''t get over it in the past and this life. All I want is to make up for my mistake. I think there are misunderstandings between us. If you''re seeking an apology, I sincerely apologize to you here. I just hope you can tell me the location of the treasure. You can have all the treasures. I only want udia. Then we go our separate ways. What do you think?"


    Debra''sugh cut sharply. "You''ve orchestrated massacres and ruined


    countless families. Now you seek absolution with pretty words? No. You only care about the treasure. You im to love her so much, but where were you when she was being persecuted? Why weren''t you by her side on thest day of her life? All these heartfelt words you say are nothing but self-deception. You don''t


    love her as much as you say you do."


    [.ne


    Jeffrey''s smile faltered, and she continued, "heard that after udia got married, she wanted to continue her acting career, but you didn''t allow her to go out. You couldn''t tolerate her being with other men, so for a long time, she was confined in this house. When she danced at a banquet, you suspected her of cheating. Later, you nned to trap her with a child. It worked, but her dreams were cut short. You broke her wings and caused her to wither away."


    "That''s not true!" Jeffrey shot to his feet. The tenderness on his face was gone,


    reced by cruelty. "It was all Melody''s fault. I didn''t do anything."