Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband-Chapter 887: He Walked to the End of Time

Serena Sterling refused to hear the name "Zane Crawford" for a long time, for she couldn’t forgive what he had done once.

However, just now Hayden Crawford told her that the man was no longer around, that he had passed away several months ago... Her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

She didn’t even understand why her heart skipped a beat, as if suddenly feeling a sense of panic at that moment. Her sixth sense had always been sharp, and when Hayden took out that pristine medical manual, she guessed immediately.

But...

But she really couldn’t accept it.

He defied fate for her and became the crimson blood.

He pulled out the Sky Sword for her and revived Alani.

He was only... 27, yet he was gone.

All the harm was false; beneath every conspiracy was his gentle and deep watchful affection. Serena Sterling never wanted to owe anyone in this lifetime, repaying a drip of kindness with a spring, but what life fears most is failure. Zane Crawford became her greatest regret, her deepest pain.

Serena stretched out her trembling little hand, covering her face. In that moment, she broke into heart-wrenching sobs, with scalding tears threading through her fingers.

Hayden’s eyes were red. He reached out and embraced Serena. Tonight, the moonlight was faint and sorrow engulfed them like waves.

...

Hayden and Serena set off immediately, returning to Westria. Zane was alone when he left, but now they returned to see him.

Zane was born in Aethelgard, the second son of the Crawford family, but he wasn’t buried in Aethelgard nor moved into the Crawford family cemetery. He was just buried by the Lo River.

Serena stood quietly in front of the tombstone in a black coat. At this time, Westria had entered its coldest season. On the tombstone is a photo of Zane, his cool and charming demeanor etched into eternity here.

Hayden sat in a wheelchair, and the secretary beside him whispered, "Boss, the old madam already knows about young master Zane’s tragic news, she turned white overnight, thankfully Aunt Iris is by her side. But... young master Zane is after all the descendant and blood of the Crawford family, his roots are in Aethelgard. The old madam has spoken; should we... bring young master Zane back home?"

Hayden looked at Serena by the riverside. All the way back, she hadn’t spoken again; now she stood quietly beside Zane. He didn’t approach or disturb, for he knew this was her and Zane’s time.

Hayden parted his thin lips slightly, "Who handled Zane’s funeral?"

"It was young master Caden."

Hayden’s lips curled lightly, then he muttered, "That’s it, Caden’s wish is Zane’s wish. Back home, to which home?"

Aethelgard, that wasn’t Zane’s home.

Zane left home young and wandered everywhere early on, taking care of himself as he grew up.

Hayden looked up towards the Lo River’s edge. Back when Westria’s Alani fought merfolk, Alani’s ancestor’s blood dyed half the Lo River red. Later that night, Zane drew the Sky Sword, and red clouds filled the sky. From then, the waters of the Lo River were cleansed.

Now the entire Lo River is crystal clear, shimmering, with the sound of flowing water in the ears, a row of evergreen trees along the river; it’s the beauty of peaceful times and tranquil years.

"Look," Hayden murmured softly.

What?

The secretary followed Hayden’s gaze.

"Look, Alani stands across the Lo River; because Serena is there, Zane is here. Zane, born for her, died as an evergreen stone, rests by her side. What is Zane’s home, Aethelgard isn’t, nor is Crawford family. Where she is, there is home."

A chance encounter on the streets of Aethelgard ignited the most splendid fireworks in Zane’s cold life. He too experienced love, hate, desire, love yet unattainable. At only 27, though his life ended briefly, his life was complete.

Deep love does not last; Jude Crawford was, Zane was too.

...

Hayden and Serena returned to Westria’s royal court, and Hayden soon collapsed. With his current condition, accompanying Serena along the way had reached his maximum limit.

The doctor put an oxygen mask on Hayden, and Serena stood by the bed with red eyes, watching Hayden breathe with difficulty, inhale, exhale, each time a layer of white mist enveloped the oxygen mask.

Serena held Hayden’s hand, tears blurring her eyes, yet not uttering a single word.

Hayden knew the grief within her. She was still wearing that black outfit, a small white flower tucked by her ear, just returning from Zane’s grave, her hands were cold, devoid of warmth.

"Serena... Serena..." he called her name laboriously.

Serena nodded, nodding hard, "Yes... Mr. Crawford, I’m here..."

Hayden slowly raised his hand, wanting to wipe her tears.

But now he had no strength, his hand reached halfway into the air, and it was about to fall.

Serena quickly grabbed his hand, placing it on her tear-streaked cheek. She lowered her wet, long lashes, placing her face in his palm, gently and dependently rubbing against it.

She couldn’t lose him anymore.

This period, she had lost many, many people.

"Miss Sterling," at this moment the attending physician came over, speaking softly, "This is Mr. Crawford’s critical condition notice. During this period, Mr. Crawford relied on Western medicine and immense willpower to come this far, but may no longer accompany you further. We must unlock the final ultimate equation left by Prof. Crawford immediately. If successfully unlocked, Mr. Crawford may be saved."

"But Prof. Crawford’s lifelong medical talent and expertise truly are unattainable; we have deployed a top global elite team through three months of intensive dissection, yet failed to unravel this ultimate equation, hence it can only be entrusted to Miss Sterling."

"Miss Sterling, your time is limited, only 48 hours. Within these 48 hours, we will exhaust all efforts to save Mr. Crawford. Once past 48 hours, Mr. Crawford... will come to an end."

"Miss Sterling, you’re now all of Mr. Crawford’s hope."

Serena’s tears flowed incessantly, choking without a word.

"Serena, don’t... don’t fear, I believe... believe in you..." Hayden voiced hoarse.

Serena lifted her head amidst her tears, shaking it continuously, those clear eyes so bewildered, "Mr. Crawford, I’m... sorry, I feel... I can’t do it..."

Having just heard Zane’s tragic news, her heart unbearably grieved, yet she had no chance to truly mourn, for now had come the moment to bid farewell to Hayden.

Since returning from the countryside at 19, Serena journeyed forward bravely, never losing courage.

But faced with the hurdle of life and death, she suddenly halted, because... these are her loved ones.

Because of love, she feared.