Chapter 543

Chapter 543 It’s Both Hate and Love

Chloe knitted her pretty brows. “Do you know what’s the one question I thought about the most during

my childhood?”

Taken aback, Joseph asked, “What was it?”

“Why did I have to share my father with Ava.”

Chloe walked to the window and glanced at the starry sky outside. Her voice sounded soft as if her soul

had returned to the distant past. She had suffered Benjamin’s indifference, Ava’s bullying, and Karen’s

hypocrisy. Although it was long ago, she still remembered it all vividly.

Was her child destined to suffer the same fate as her?

Joseph’s body trembled before he pulled her into his arms. “We don’t have to tell the child the truth.”

Chloe struggled out of his embrace and turned to look at him. “Won’t the child know even if you keep it

a secret?”

“And what’s the big deal if the child knows? Xavia is reckless and has lost the right to raise her. child.

Her child will only be grateful toward you.

If Xavia had led an honorable life and never done those vulgar things, he might have let her raise her

own child, but she had lost that privilege.

“That’s your opinion.”

“I can guarantee that he won’t disobey you and won’t bully our child.”

“But I’m unwilling!” Chloe’s face sank. “I don’t want to be anyone’s stepmother.”

Joseph felt an ache in his temples. “You’re not a stepmother but a benefactor. Stop messing around.

Didn’t we already agree on this?”

Chloe stared at him helplessly before she handed the note to him. “Fine. Just read the note.”

Joseph did not want to continue arguing with her either, so he accepted the envelope and opened it.

The handwriting was strenuous and written in forceful strokes. Most of the paper was faded and yellow

with clear edges.

At a glance, Chloe could tell that Harold had read the note and opened it many times. It was clear that

Harold had taken his son’s death pretty hard and could not let it go.

After taking a deep breath, Joseph started reading it.

[January 5, 2010. Cyrus took away Fleurette, my beloved wife. I failed to protect my wife and have thus

failed her as her husband. As a father, I could not protect my son’s mother and have also failed my son.

As a man, I failed to protect my family. I’m too ashamed to face my family,

parents, beloved wife, and son. I can’t hold on anymore… Since I’m a coward, only in death

will I be free. Given the chance, I hope my son will grow to be strong and will protect those he loves.1

After Joseph read his father’s suicide note, his hands trembled and his blood ran cold.

Hatred!

There was only a message in the note resentment. His father hated his enemy, filled with resentment at

seeing his wife being taken away and helpless to change it. But Joseph knew hist father was not such

a man, let alone a coward His father must have many worries and concerns. And naturally, the greatest

reason was Joseph.

“Grandpa didn’t want me to read this note not because he was afraid that I would look down on Dad.

He was afraid that I would want to avenge Dad after I learned the truth. Dad didn’t dare to act fearlessly

because of me. It was because of me that he was bound with shackles and

couldn’t be free. It was also because of me that he chose to take his life.”

Clenching the note, Joseph’s eyes turned red and his voice became hoarse.

The hatred in the note was equivalent to love for him. His father loved him so much that he could not

take revenge. It was also because of Joseph that he lived in self-denial and finally chose to take his life.