We Can Return

22) The End of an Era

Tay's POV:

The courtroom was slowly emptying, but I stood in place, unable to believe what had just happened. The judge had just ruled to prohibit contact between me, New, and Gulf. My heart pounded with anger and frustration. How could this happen? How could I lose?

I left the courtroom and headed towards my lawyers, who were standing nearby. "How could you let this happen?" I yelled at them. "We were supposed to win! We were supposed to get the right to see my son!"

One of the lawyers tried to calm me down. "Mr. Tay, we did everything we could. The judge made his decision based on the evidence and testimonies."

"This is nonsense!" I shouted. "New lied! And Gulf... my own son practically disowned me in court!"

My anger grew. How dare they betray me like this? How dare they reject me? New testified against me as if I were a stranger. And Gulf... my own son disowned me as if I meant nothing to him.

I left the courthouse and headed to my car. My mind was full of anger and plans. I couldn't let this be the end. I had to find a way to get back what was mine. I had to find a way to get revenge.

I got into the car and slammed the door. My heart pounded with rage. "This is not the end," I whispered to myself. "I will find a way to get New and Gulf back. No matter what it takes."

That evening, I found myself in a dimly lit bar, drinking a glass of whiskey. The alcohol burned my throat, but it didn't ease the pain inside. I replayed the court hearing in my head, each moment fueling my anger. I couldn't accept this outcome. I didn't want to.

As the night went on, I drank more and more, my thoughts becoming increasingly confused. I decided I had to see New, confront him one last time. Maybe he would understand me, maybe he would see reason. Driven by alcohol and anger, I stumbled out of the bar and got into my car.

I knew I shouldn't drive, but my judgment was clouded. I started the engine and headed towards New's house. The streets blurred before my eyes, my mind focused on the upcoming confrontation. I had to make New listen to me, at any cost.

But my impaired state took its toll. As I approached a sharp turn, I lost control of the car. The vehicle veered off the road and crashed into a tree with a terrifying impact. The crash jolted me violently, and everything went black.

New's POV:

I was sitting in the living room with a cup of coffee in my hand. The morning light streamed through the windows, illuminating the room. I tried to focus on the newspaper, but my mind was still full of yesterday's court hearing. It was exhausting and painful. Tay's anger and hatred were almost palpable.

I decided to turn on the TV to distract myself a bit. As soon as I turned it on, the main news of the day appeared on the screen. The anchor, with a serious expression, announced, "This morning, a tragic accident occurred. Tay Tawan, the owner of Innovatex, died in a car accident. According to initial reports, it is suspected that he was driving under the influence of alcohol."

For a moment, I froze, unable to believe what I had just heard. Tay was dead. The person who once meant so much to me was no longer among us.

I felt my heart clench. But it wasn't the pain of losing a loved one. It was the pain of losing someone who had once been an important part of my life but had long since meant nothing to me. I realized that I no longer felt any love or hatred towards Tay. Just emptiness.

I felt sorry that someone had died. I felt sorry that Tay's life had ended so tragically. But I felt no personal loss. Tay was no longer the person I had once loved. He was just someone who had become part of my past, someone who no longer had a place in my heart.

I put the cup of coffee on the table and looked at the TV screen, where footage from the accident scene was still playing. Memories of Tay's last moments haunted me, but I knew I had to move on. I had to focus on my family, on Gulf, and on the future we were building together. Tay was the past, and I was ready to leave him where he belonged.