The Moran family memorial chamber housed the altars of the Moran family's ancestors. Kneeling in the memorial chamber was considered the most severe punishment in the family.
Ace remained silent the entire time. He knelt in front of all the ancestral tablets on the cold hard ground with his back covered with whip marks.
"Send someone here to watch him. I'll see how long he's going to stay without food and water for three days!" Old Mr. Moran told Luke sternly.
Luke was worried about Ace's bloody back. "Master, he is seriously injured from the whipping," he boldly pleaded. "He won't get through three days kneeling without food and water!"
Old Mr. Moran was relentless in his pursuit. "He agreed that he should receive punishment for this mistake," he ruthlessly spat without looking at Ace.
"B–but Mrs. Moran said she was the one who initiated the divorce. She's in love with someone else now. How is this considered his fault?"
"I don't care!" Old Mr. Moran's stony demeanor remained, though it clearly demonstrated his double standards. "Joan's feelings must have changed because of his actions. He must have
hurt her. He should reflect."
"He cheated on his wife and knocked up someone else. That in itself is a terrible mistake!"
Luke understood Old Mr. Moran's temper well enough and knew this wasn't something he'd tolerate. If Ace's parents were alerted, things would only become worse.
Luke thought about it and decided that the former Mrs. Moran was the only one who could save Ace.
The atmosphere at the dining table was peaceful.
"Joan, try this fish. I know fish is your favorite. We have a new chef this time. Maybe he'll suit your taste."
"Thank you, Grandpa." Joanna obediently received the fish and chewed it. The food was tasteless.
"There are many ways to prepare fish, either by steaming, roasting, or frying it. Steaming fish takes the most skill…"
Joanna listened, distracted.
Old Mr. Moran seemed so relaxed. His dearest grandson was still kneeling in the chamber with blood on his back, famished and freezing. Why was he so excited to discuss the different cooking methods used to cook fish with her?
When dinner was over, it was time to leave. Joanna looked back as she left the premises. It was as if she wanted to say something but could not.
"Child, go home. Remember to visit more often!" Old Mr. Moran waved at Joanna with a big smile.
"Grandpa, I think…"
"If you want to plead for that idiot, you better stop. He made a mistake, and he should be punished for it. This is the rule in the family. No matter who, pleading for mercy is futile. If you say anything more, you'll join him!" Old Mr. Moran said, a cold sparkle gleaming in his eyes. After that, he turned around and went back to his study.
Joanna stood in the cold wind, not knowing what to do.
After giving it some thought, she decided to forget about it. After all, she was already formally divorced from Ace. He was just her ex–husband, and his life or death no longer mattered to her anymore.
Soon, Joanna left the house and waited for a taxi at the roadside.
Luke rushed over, panting and anxious. "Mrs. Moran, are you leaving already? If you leave, Master Moran will die! You can't just leave!"
"Ace and I are divorced. Please don't call me Mrs. Moran anymore. Besides… I don't think I'm the one in charge. Why don't you talk to the future Mrs. Moran about this?"
"Mrs. Moran, aren't you just hurting us with that statement?"
Luke continued in distress, "Old Mr. Moran hates that woman so much. Her presence would only fuel the fire. As for Master and Mrs… If they find out, things will only get messier. Old Mr. Moran treats you as his own granddaughter. He won't blame you for your actions. You're the only one who can save Master Moran. Please!"
"It's hard to change Grandpa's mind and decision on something. I can't help. You should find someone else!"
It was not Joanna's fault for being cold and heartless. After all, she was already divorced. She was done with Ace. Besides, it wouldn't be good for them to meddle in each other's affairs.
The taxi approached slowly. When Joanna was about to get into the car, Luke stopped her.
"You don't have to change Old Mr. Moran's mind. You just have to provide a little help…"
"Look. I just took this photo. Master Moran is seriously injured. He hasn't eaten, and he won't hold on for long. If this goes on, I'm afraid his life will be in danger!"
Joanna could not help but look at the photo and started feeling an ache in her chest.
"How can I help?"
Joanna looked helpless, then confessed, "I tried to plead for him earlier, but Grandpa stopped me from saying anything. He even warned me. If I nag again, Grandpa will punish me with him. There's really nothing I can do to help,"
Joanna thought she had done enough as Ace's ex-wife. How could she get herself into trouble for Ace's sake? She realized that her feelings for him were not that deep after all.
Luke was glad to see Joanna softening up and hurriedly said, "You don't have to ask Old Mr. Moran for mercy. You just have to help Master Moran cheat,"
"Cheat?"
"Simply put, you just have to secretly take care of Master Moran. Only you can help with this. Old Mr. Moran dotes on you so much that even if he catches you, he won't punish you. If we try to help, that'll be a different story."
After saying that, Luke quickly placed the medicine and dinner in a box and handed it to Joanna.
"Mrs. Moran. Whether Master Moran can get through this will depend on you now. I'd like to thank you on behalf of the family!"
"It's… Isn't it a bad idea?"
Joanna knew she should have refused, but her action said otherwise. It was as if someone controlled her hands as she took the box. Her legs refused to listen to her, and she couldn't stop herself from following Luke to the memorial chamber.
Perhaps actions did indeed speak louder than words.
It was dark at night.
The Moran family memorial chamber was erected next to the Moran Residence as a separate building standing on its own. There was dedicated staff for cleaning and maintenance during the day, but it was eerie and cold with only two lights on at night.
Joanna could see Ace's figure from afar. He knelt with his back straight in the middle of the memorial chamber. His white shirt was stained with blood and looked more severe than Luke's photo.
"This fool. He's too honest. His back is so straight. Does he think he's filming a movie?!"
Joanna tightened her fingers slightly. She did not want to admit it, but deep down in her heart,
she was still a little worried about him.
Luke sighed, looking heartbroken. "It can't be helped. Master Moran has been strong-willed since young. He respects Old Mr. Moran and has never defied him. He probably wants to use this to prove his determination to be with that woman…"
"Anyway, we'll be counting on you for the next few days," Luke said and gave a look to the man guarding the door.
The guard immediately turned away and looked up at the stars.
Meanwhile, Joanna carried the box and slipped into the chamber with ease.
Ace did not turn around when he heard the movement. He continued kneeling with a firm posture, seemingly unmoved. However, he was seriously injured. Without having a single drop of water and food, his forehead was clammy, and he looked frail.
"Ahem!" Joanna did not know how to break the silence, so she cleared her throat awkwardly.
Ace, however, maintained his firm posture, unmoved. It was as if he had guessed that Joanna was coming.
"Get out!"
Ace's stony voice echoed in the empty chamber. He seemed particularly hard-hearted. " Outsiders aren't allowed into the Moran family's memorial chamber."
"You!" Joanna was infuriated by his words. Just listen to that. How rude! Was that even acceptable?
She brought him food, water, and medicine out of kindness, only to be treated this way?! How could he be so rude?!
"I didn't want to come. Luke said you were dying and begged me to come and save you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered… How ungrateful!"
"What does my well-being have anything to do with you?"
Ace was still the same cold and heartless man, repeatedly rejecting others. "Haven't you gone through so much trouble just to see me in this state?" he growled. "Why are you pretending to be kind?"
"What? What are you talking about?" Joanna was confused. She thought Ace was simply accusing her, shooting her randomly like an out-of-control machine gun.
"You're still faking it!" Ace sneered. "You deliberately gave Grandpa a pearl as a hint of my child with Alice. Then, you dropped the divorce certificate to let Grandpa know we were divorced."
"I…" Joanna was speechless, unable to explain herself.
How could she have known about how imaginative Old Mr. Moran could be? Somehow, he associated a pearl as a gift to the child. She kept the divorce certificate carefully, and the last thing she expected was for it to fall out of her hands.
"You've hooked up with other men, but you're still playing the victim and pushing all the blame on me…"
Ace's gaze turned steelier. "I underestimated you, Joanna!" he croaked between parched lips.
Joanna could not argue, so she just stopped. "Yes, I'm devious and cunning. Believe whatever you want!"
She placed the box with medicine and meal next to Ace and turned around to leave. Anyway, they divorced and were strangers again. Even if this would make her look bad, it no longer mattered.