Beyond the Divorce

Finn gazed at me and whispered, "Before Byron faced his execution, he left a message for Beatrice."

"A message... for Beatrice?" I was taken aback. "Just before the execution?"

Shocked, I turned to Finn, then involuntarily glanced toward the hall. An inexplicable chill creeped up my spine.

"Yes. Her assistant gave it to me, and it felt serious. I thought it would be best for you to have it," Finn said, extending the USB drive to me once more.

I hesitated as I accepted it. It was a plain black USB drive, but it burned in my hand.

It seemed Byron had been desperate to convey something to Beatrice, despite her rejection.

The law had its protocols, and they would have fulfilled his requests before execution. Whether that was a blessing or a curse, I couldn't say.

But as I met Finn's eyes, I murmured, "Who did he think he was to leave a message for Beatrice?"

I also understood the desperation of a dying

all, he was

would be a torment. Anything he said-whether it

no way Beatrice would ever forgive him. Throughout history, betraying a spouse emotionally was the gravest of sins. Society often blamed it on morality, but it was damaging and

Helen emotionally. He had also killed her. How dare

of the Keller

a final meeting, Beatrice had made it clear that she would never

turned to Finn,

"I don't know, and I don't want

wasn't surprised

asylum for Beatrice had meant

Beatrice for so long, and watching his loved one being locked away had become an indelible pain for

it was all because