Chapter 1083

Lucas said this, hoping she would pay for what she’d done. Daphne shook her head. “I don’t want to turn myself in. If I get caught, I’ll probably get the death penalty."

“I believe that if you turn yourself in now, confess everything you’ve done, and ask for forgiveness, you’ll definitely get a lighter sentence,” Lucas said.

“Even if it’s lighter, it’ll still be life in prison. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life locked up,” Daphne replied.

Lucas fell silent. Seeing how much Daphne was suffering, he still chose to do what he believed was right. “I don’t want to turn you in. Please, turn yourself in. I’m serious,” Lucas said.

He paused for a moment. “I won’t pursue you regarding the car accident. Just be honest about everything with the real Yalena and try to get your adoptive parents to forgive you.”

“Adoptive parents.” Daphne took a deep breath, a self-mocking smile on her lips. “They’re only good to me because they think I’m Yalena. The person I used to be, Daphne, never deserved to be loved.”

Deep down, she knew that, except for Lucas, no one had ever cared about her. If she hadn’t met Lucas, she might have ended up even worse than she was now.

Lucas said, “Admit what you’ve done sincerely, and people will forgive you. Don’t keep making the same mistakes. Stop lying to yourself. Let me go with you when you turn yourself in. I’ll be right beside you. Don’t be afraid.”

Daphne gave a bitter little smile, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Lucas, you’re still so kind, so pure-hearted.”

Lucas replied, “Honestly, you’ve always been my friend. Even after all these years, there’s still a place for you in my heart. You’re Daphne, not anyone else. You have to believe things will get better.”

She had no future. Daphne knew she’d made too many mistakes. Even if people could overlook other things, the real Yalena was gone. With a life on her conscience, her fate was sealed; there was no way out.

Suddenly, Lucas clasped her hand tightly. Urgently, he said, “Trust me. I’ll help you get forgiveness. But if you keep delaying, you could die. You can’t run forever."

Daphne lowered her head, her tears falling onto the back of Lucas’s hand. His hand was still just as warm as ever.

Just like that winter when the cold pierced right through to her bones and she was so desperate that she thought she had no strength left, this hand was the only source of warmth in her world.

Finally, Daphne spoke. “Let me take care of you. Just let me stay by your side for a few days like we did back then. Just the two of us, with our own secret. Please?” This time, Lucas just couldn’t bring himself to say no.

Outside the door, Teresa couldn’t wait any longer and finally pushed the door open to see what was going on.

When she saw Yalena come out, her face was covered in tears. Yalena hastily wiped them away and walked right past Teresa without saying a word.

Teresa hurried over to Lucas. “Did Yalena do something to you?”

“Teresa, you could head back. Yalena will look after me,” Lucas said gently.

Teresa blinked, confused. “Lucas, what’s going on? What did she say to you?” she asked, her voice full of concern.

“It’s nothing. Just trust me, okay? I’ll tell you everything later,” Lucas replied.

Teresa never trusted Yalena. She nearly ran Lucas over with her car. “Lucas, is she threatening you again? Please, don’t do anything reckless. Yalena’s not a good person; you know what she did to you-"

“I know,” Lucas replied.

He lifted his head, meeting her eyes with determination. “Teresa, there are some things I can’t tell you right now. You go back for now, okay? Trust me, I’ll be fine.”