Chapter 7: Long-Awaited Reunion

Lucy stood frozen, unsure whether to move forward. "Is it really you?" The person on the bed had changed from Tom to Joseph—the man she had been longing for these past five years. Some say that if you meet someone truly wonderful when you are young, you’ll spend the rest of your life reminiscing about that person. For Lucy, this was true. Knowing what a good man Joseph was, she had left anyone who didn’t measure up to him, leading to her being a single mother for five years. Joseph's emotions were equally complex. He had envisioned many scenarios of reuniting with Lucy and their daughter, but never imagined it would be like this. Seeing Lucy's tears at the sight of him, he felt deeply sorry. Joseph recalled their past. Lucy had been a lively, youthful girl with a promising future. But because of her association with Joseph, she faced criticism from everyone in the neighborhood, accused of poor judgment for choosing him. After severing ties with his own family, Lucy did the same, choosing to live alone. Her family had opposed her having a child, but she persisted, raising Tangna through all the hardships. Joseph knew how much she had suffered these five years. Approaching Lucy, Joseph spoke, "It's all my fault that you had to endure so much pain." Hearing Joseph's voice, Lucy's tears flowed even more. Joseph, too, felt overwhelmed. He embraced her. "I'm sorry, I have so much to say, but I can't find the words. It’s all my fault." All he could say was "sorry." He had nothing else to offer. As Lucy cried, she looked at him in disbelief. "I can't believe it's really you, that you’ve come back." She clutched her chest, feeling a mix of joy and guilt. For years, she had dreamt of reuniting with Joseph, imagining the happiness it would bring. But not like this. She felt as if she had betrayed him. "Joseph, where is Tom?" Lucy's voice was tearful but also cold. Whether from excitement or something else, Joseph couldn’t tell. "Joseph, don't do anything rash. Our daughter is still in Tom's hands. If something happens to him, she could be in danger too!" Joseph reassured her, "Don't worry, our daughter is safe now. Her name, Tangna, is beautiful. I like it." Lucy was stunned. "You...you already rescued her?" Joseph nodded, "Yes, I got her out and dealt with Tom. You’re safe now." Though he spoke simply, Joseph had his men capture and restrain Tom, intending to kill him later. He didn’t share this with Lucy, fearing it would frighten her. Knowing Tangna was safe, Lucy finally relaxed. "Thank goodness." She looked at Joseph, "Where is Tangna now?" "She's at the hospital, receiving the best care. She has a fever and her stomach problems flared up." Hearing this, Lucy's anxiety returned. "Why? Why does she have a fever? Which hospital is she in? Tell me!" They had reached the villa's entrance. Joseph supported her. "Don't worry, we'll go there now." A stretch limo pulled up, and a tattooed woman stepped out, bowing respectfully to Joseph. "Sir." Joseph helped Lucy into the car. "Go see Tangna. I have some matters to attend to." As Lucy got into the car, Joseph took another vehicle back to Tom's place. Tom was now locked in the same dog cage that had once confined Tangna. Joseph carried a bucket of rotten food swarming with maggots. The sight alone was nauseating, but the Hell organization members watched with interest. Samael approached Azazel. "I thought you were at the hospital." Azazel shrugged. "I bet with Beelzebub and she lost, so she's there while I’m here enjoying the show. It's been a while since we've seen Mr. Joseph in action." Joseph ordered Samael to bring the high-pressure water gun. The powerful stream shredded Tom's clothes, leaving cuts all over his body. Tom, waking up, was horrified by the sight of the men around him. "Who are you? We have no quarrel. Why..." Joseph dumped the maggot-infested food over Tom's head, silencing him. Tom looked up, terrified. "Do you know who I am? How dare you treat me like this!"