Renee didn't know why he had changed so much, especially when it came to his feelings for Joanne. She didn't know if she should tell him the truth or not.

Things would be better if Quinton stopped hating Joanne, but Joanne would be in danger if the news of her survival was exposed.

"Maybe my mind changed after I nearly got killed twice," Quinton remarked casually.

�why?"

"I was filled with hatred the first time I almost got killed. I told myself that I must survive to take revenge, but this time... I was full of love for all of you. I told myself that I couldn't hurt the people who loved me, so I had to survive...

Now I know loving is easier than hating, and I don't want to be controlled by my hatred any longer," Quinton confessed honestly, not wanting to hide anything from his sister.

"Does that mean that you've forgiven Joanne? Do you not hate her anymore?" Renee asked carefully as she watched him.

"Maybe. I don't know but it's no longer important..." Melancholy and regret swam in his eyes.

''We can't change the past, and the dead can't come back. It doesn't matter if I wronged her or she wronged me; nothing's going to change."

�Umm... What if I told you Joanne is still alive? What would you do?" Holding her breath, Renee asked tentatively.

"Alive?" Quinton's eyes lit up briefly, then became dull again.

" That's impossible. Although she grew up in a fishing village, she wasn't a swimmer. There's no way she could have survived being stranded in the ocean." For so many years, he had been searching for Joanne, but to no avail. The only possibility was that she was dead.

"Yes, she's alive. Although she nearly died, she got lucky, or maybe... she was just like you. She didn't want to die with regrets, so she held on," Renee said firmly.

She was a little worried at first, but his words revealed his deep feelings for Joanne. He deserved to know the truth.

"�W-What did you say?" Quinton stared at Renee in disbelief, thinking he had misheard her.

"I said Joanne is still alive. She nearly got killed, but survived just like you."

Renee repeated herself, rendering Quinton speechless.

Quinton swallowed and clenched his fists, trying to calm himself down as excitement surged in his veins.

"Quinton, are you... alright?� Renee whispered anxiously when he remained silent.

"I'm great!" Quinton took a deep breath, then asked eagerly, "Where is she now? What happened to her?"

"Ah, that's a long story..." Renee explained everything to him, then sighed regretfully.

�Back then, it was Liam who calmed the fort master down, giving Joanne and I the chance to escape. If he hadn't done that, they would have taken out Joanne's organs and sold them. However, even when things were tough, she never gave up.�

The dark zone of The Triangle in Southeast Aeos was a dangerous spot, and a pretty woman like Joanne would've been easy prey for all the merciless sadists there.

"Stop, I don't want to hear anymore.� Quinton's face turned pale, and his body trembled. He was well aware of the kinds of torture in The Triangle, since the Water Dock's punishments had been inspired by it. Carmine Pawnshop had prospered fast by breaking a lot of rules, and there were many young women who suffered the same fate as Joanne.. and worse. It was also the reason why Quinton had fallen out with Joanne. JrNovels.com