Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!
Chapter 552: The Plane Crashed

Chapter 552: The Plane Crashed

"Eric, so this is where you are!"

A rugged off-road vehicle screeched to a halt by the roadside, and a man jumped out, shoving another man—who could barely walk—out of the car.

John groaned internally.

James, again?

Why was this shameless old man stirring up trouble now?

Eric had finally stabilized over the past few days, and now James had to show up and drag him back to the past, making him relive Victoria’s death all over again?

Eric’s gaze instantly turned cold and sharp.

He stared at James, who had been shoved forward, with a sneer on his lips. Though the hatred in his eyes had faded, the sight still made John rush to his side instinctively.

"Eric, I know I made a terrible mistake all those years ago! A mistake I can never make up for... It is my lifelong regret. I’m sorry!"

Eric simply looked at James with an icy stare, as if he were a stranger.

The hostility in his eyes gradually dissipated—not because he forgave him, but because he had reached a level of indifference.

And that indifference hurt James more than hatred ever could.

They were supposed to be father and son, bound by blood.

Yet now, they had become strangers who could no longer recognize each other.

For an old man, this was a sorrow beyond words.

James’ eyes welled up with tears, his hands trembling in his pockets. "Eric, I know you can never forgive me. But after learning about your condition... I can’t even forgive myself. You probably wish I were dead, don’t you?"

Eric watched him coldly.

The old man was rambling incoherently, but in just a short span of time, his hair had turned completely white.

It was as if he had aged decades overnight, looking like a man on the brink of death.

Anyone who didn’t know better might have thought he had taken some kind of rapid-aging drug.

"If you already know the answer, why bother asking? Do yourself a favor and stop disgusting me," Eric said, his tone devoid of emotion, as if speaking to a stranger.

John remained on high alert, watching Eric closely.

Surprisingly, there was no intense reaction.

Perhaps Eric had long accepted reality.

His hatred for James had reached its peak, and over time, it had transformed into sheer apathy.

James’ face turned ghastly pale.

The male nurse standing behind him looked completely confused by the exchange.

"Step away for a moment. I need to speak with... Mr. Nelson," James whispered to the nurse.

The nurse nodded and walked away.

James’ cloudy eyes shone with pain and regret.

"I am the most foolish man in the world. I betrayed the woman who loved me the most... and was manipulated by Grace for so many years. That’s why... I can only atone for my sins with my life!"

Seeing his son suffer from depression, James felt like he had traveled back in time—back to when Eric was seven years old, when he had spent entire days without saying a word, terrifying him to his core.

Now, guilt consumed him.

But even more than guilt, he felt absolute despair.

There was no point in living anymore.

As soon as he finished speaking, James pulled a small bottle of pills from his pocket, his hands shaking as he twisted off the cap.

Then, without hesitation, he dumped the entire contents into his mouth.

Eric didn’t know why.

He despised this man. Hated him more than anything.

And yet, at that moment, he still lunged forward instinctively, gripping James’ jaw and forcing his mouth shut so he couldn’t swallow.

John rushed in as well, prying James’ mouth open and scooping out the pills before he could swallow them.

Eric was panting now, his chest heaving, a mixture of mockery and rage flashing through his eyes.

"Die? Just like that? In your dreams!"

His voice was sharp and cruel.

"I’m still here, suffering every damn day, and you think you can just die and escape it all? You don’t get to take the easy way out!"

His gaze swept toward the bodyguards.

"Take him back. If anything happens to him, you can wash your necks and wait for me."

"Yes, sir!"

As the bodyguards took hold of James, Eric finally let go.

Tears welled up in James’ eyes, blurring his vision.

"Eric... why won’t you let me die?"

His voice was hoarse, full of despair.

"I can’t bear this anymore. You... you became like this because of me... Ella is about to give birth. If my death can make things easier for you, then I’d gladly die in front of you. As long as it helps you get better... I—this sinner—"

"Shut up and get lost!"

Eric was furious. The two bodyguards immediately pushed James away and escorted him toward the car.

For the first time, James broke down in tears.

Eric stood there, panting, his eyes filled with nothing but mockery and coldness.

Crying now? After all these years?

Hah!

His mother’s death would always be a wound that could never heal—a scar in both his heart and James’.

Eric didn’t know how long he stood there, lost in thought, until John cleared his throat. "Young Master..."

Eric snapped back to reality.

James’ car had already disappeared from sight.

Slowly, he crouched down and picked up the bicycle that had fallen over.

Just then, John’s phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, confused—it was Michael.

The call lasted only two seconds.

John’s face turned deathly pale.

Seeing his expression change, Eric’s face darkened. "What happened?"

John lowered his head, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Michael said... the flight Madam and the kids were on... just crashed in the northern plains due to unknown causes..."

Eric lunged forward, grabbing John by the shoulders.

The bicycle he had just picked up clattered to the ground again, the sharp noise cutting through the air.

In that instant, the world seemed to freeze, to shatter.

Everything else disappeared—except for his voice, desperate and raw.

"What... what did you just say? The flight they were on..."

His heart nearly stopped.

"Yes... earlier, Madam had Miss Amelia book the tickets. Our people received the flight details and confirmed which plane she was on."

John wanted to dig a hole and bury himself in it.

He didn’t dare meet Eric’s ashen face.

Eric suddenly let go of him.

No.

He wouldn’t believe it until he saw it with his own eyes.

He had to go to the airport.

He had to go back to S City’s airport and confirm it himself!

Without hesitation, he grabbed his bike and pedaled as fast as he could, as if he could will himself to the airport in the next second.

His breath came in ragged gasps, his eyes red, his chest tight with an unbearable ache.

It felt as if something inside him was clawing to break free.

John stood frozen in place.

The cold wind howled, biting against his skin.

People never know what will happen the next second.

That’s why they must cherish those they love—before it’s too late.

Eric didn’t even remember how he made it back to S City.

The plane had crashed not long after takeoff.

And it had gone down in a region still under S City’s jurisdiction—just half an hour away.

The moment Eric stormed into the airport, he grabbed an employee by the collar, his voice hoarse and trembling.

"Tell me about the crash!"

The staff member saw the sheer terror in Eric’s expression and immediately realized he must be a relative of the passengers.

His face filled with pity and regret.

"Yes... the plane crashed just over an hour ago. Right now, we don’t know how many survivors there are..."

Eric’s breath hitched.

Without another word, he spun around and bolted out of the airport, jumping into a car and speeding off.

Half an hour later, he arrived at the crash site.

Eric had been speeding the whole way.

The moment he got out of the car, his bloodshot eyes scanned the area before he rushed toward the growing crowd of onlookers.

As he ran, he reached for his pocket—only to realize his phone was gone.

At some point, it had disappeared.

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