Chapter 5: I return you to yourself，You return me to myself.

Funeral parlor, 10 p.m.

Jessica Turner knelt before her uncle's portrait, motionless for a long time, resembling a delicate porcelain doll—beautiful yet fragile. Daniel Anderson brought a cup of water and coaxed her to take a few sips, speaking gently, "The funeral is over; let's go home."

Home? Did she still have one?

Jessica Turner didn't respond, remaining in a daze, lost in her thoughts. Daniel Anderson sighed and stood up, "I'll bring the car over; please wait."

In a trance, Jessica Turner slowly stood up, moving like a ghost. Her gaze lacked focus, and her mind seemed aimless. The sky was covered with rolling dark clouds, the fierce wind making it difficult for her to open her eyes, and the path ahead was unknown.

The two men who had promised to protect her for a lifetime—her closest kin and her dearest love—were both gone. One had left her forever, and the other had left her battered, unwilling to spare even the life within her womb.

The excruciating pain she felt was truly heart-wrenching. Life suddenly seemed uninteresting and devoid of meaning. She stopped, leaning on the railing, watching the flowing river beneath the bridge. A desire to be free emerged within her—a desire for liberation that might not be as difficult as she had imagined.

Her hand caressed her flat abdomen, and her expression turned numb. Tears streamed down her face as she apologized, "I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry, Mom doesn't have the courage to bring you into this world."

She climbed onto the railing, a slender figure swaying in the strong wind, on the verge of falling into the rushing river at any moment.

Alexander Smith, who happened to receive the news nearby, rushed over with his people. Spotting Jessica Turner on the overpass, he ran towards her frantically, shouting, "No, Jessica Turner, you can't jump. Without my permission, you can't go anywhere."

Alexander Smith had never realized his legs were so short. Despite the short distance of only a couple of hundred meters, he couldn't seem to reach her.

Turning her head to see Alexander Smith running towards her in madness, Jessica Turner's flying hair covered the desolation in her eyes. Her pale lips moved, uttering words so faint yet clear, "Alexander, I return you to yourself, and you return me to me. We are even." With that, she closed her eyes and slowly fell towards the river.

"Jessica Turner—" Alexander Smith lunged forward, attempting to grab her, but he only managed to catch one of her shoes.

No, this couldn't be happening.

Like a desperate beast, he lost control, almost without hesitation. He swiftly climbed the railing, leaping towards the spot where Jessica Turner fell into the water.

The river surged, the world rolled on, and fates intertwined.

**Seven days later at the hospital, Isabella Turner went to Smith's house upon hearing the news. She managed to coax Mrs. Smith, who was unaware of the incident, out of the house.

"What are you saying? Alexander fell into the river because of a woman? How is Alexander? Is he okay?" Mrs. Smith was in a state of panic, urging the driver to go faster.

Isabella Turner took Mrs. Smith's arm, smiling gently, "Aunt, rest assured. Alexander is fine now. It's just that Jessica Turner wasn't rescued. I'm afraid Alexander—"

Mrs. Smith frowned, displeased, "That kind of woman, dead or alive, she's not allowed to enter our Smith's house."

Isabella Turner sighed, looking troubled, "Aunt, you might not know. Jessica Turner has some means to captivate men. Alexander has spent quite a sum on her. Not only that, she even aimed to infiltrate the Smith family. If it weren't for the Anderson family's matter coming to light, she might have entered the Smith family by now."

Mrs. Smith was puzzled, "How is it related to the Anderson family again?"

Isabella Turner looked surprised, "Aunt, don't you know? Christopher Anderson is Jessica Turner's uncle and the one responsible for Natalie's accident years ago. That's why Alexander targeted the Anderson family."

"What?" Mrs. Smith sat up straight, her face alternating between pale and red, anger raging within her.

Her son had always been prudent, so how could he get involved with enemies and nearly lose his life? It was beyond comprehension.

Thank goodness that woman was dead. If she were alive...

On the other side, Alexander Smith woke up in the hospital, finding George Miller by his side. He anxiously asked, "Where is she?"

George Miller lowered his head, shaking it gently, "Not found."

"What do you mean not found? What are you talking about?" Alexander Smith abruptly stood up, grabbing George Miller's collar, wanting to get a clear answer.

George Miller, head still lowered, remained silent.

"Go find Daniel Anderson. Go—" If Daniel Anderson cared so much about Jessica Turner, he surely wouldn't stand idly by. Perhaps he had rescued Jessica Turner and hidden her somewhere.

George Miller didn't move, still keeping his head down, speaking softly, "We've searched, our people and Daniel Anderson's people together, for three days and nights, but found nothing."

The light in Alexander Smith's eyes gradually dimmed. He could no longer hear any other sounds, only Jessica Turner calling his name over and over again: "Alexander Smith, Alexander Smith, Alexander Smith."

Unconsciously, tears had filled his eyes.

It felt as if a hole had opened in his chest, leaving it empty.

He had truly heard Jessica Turner's words before she jumped into the river. She said: "I return you to yourself, and you return me to me."

How could he return? What had melded into his very bones, how could he return it?

Alexander Smith's eyes completely lost focus, filled with a mixture of fear and pain. He suddenly shouted, his voice like sandpaper grating against a rough surface, "Impossible, how dare she—without my permission, how dare she die?"

Struggling to get out of bed, a person who had been unconscious for seven days didn't have the strength. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he collapsed.

George Miller was startled and quickly stepped forward to support Alexander Smith, "Mr. Smith, Mr. Smith, what's wrong?"

The light and shadows flickered before Alexander Smith's eyes, a series of sweet and warm images passing by. In the end, it settled on the image of Jessica Turner standing at the door, helping him tie his tie. She seemed to glow all over, pure and beautiful. He reached out to her, wanting to grasp her firmly, but that light suddenly extinguished. His vision went black, and he fell to the ground.

**Five years later

Smith family banquet

In the lavishly decorated dining hall, members of the Smith family were seated around the table. At the head sat the elusive patriarch, Henry Smith. On his left were his eldest son, Isaac Smith, daughter-in-law Madison Clark, and his second son, James Smith, with daughter-in-law Olivia Foster.

On his right sat the eldest grandson of the family, Alexander Smith, and on a wheelchair was his youngest daughter, Natalie Smith. Next to them were the eldest son of the second

family, Kevin Smith, and the second son, Lawrence Smith.

While there were numerous grandsons, there was only one granddaughter—and she had a leg injury.

Henry Smith sighed and turned to Natalie Smith, "Natalie, your second brother will return in a few days. He found a renowned doctor for you, claiming to have successfully treated people paralyzed for over ten years. There might be hope for your leg."

Natalie Smith's dim eyes suddenly brightened, both surprised and happy, "Really? Can my leg be healed?"

Henry Smith nodded, "Yes, your second brother wouldn't speak without reason. If he says it can be done, then it can."

The faces of the Smith family members, which had been either serious or indifferent, unconsciously lit up with smiles. Natalie Smith, this poor child, had indeed suffered. In her young age, she injured her leg, spent over a decade in a wheelchair, and now, suddenly hearing that she might stand again, who wouldn't be delighted?

Mrs. Smith's voice trembled with joy as she eagerly asked, eyes fixed on Henry, "Dad, did Michael mention when exactly he would return?"

Henry Smith's expression darkened slightly as he looked at Mrs. Smith disapprovingly, "You don't even know when your son is coming back to the country. How can you call yourself a mother?"

Mrs. Smith blushed slightly, feeling regret in her heart. In recent years, she had been focused on Alexander and Natalie, neglecting Michael's affairs. She didn't even know such an important matter as her son's return. It was indeed a failure.

Alexander Smith remained quietly seated, gazing lightly at the immaculate dishes on the table, his thoughts unknown.

At that moment, the servant at the door announced, "Miss Turner has arrived!"