Chapter 13
O
Justin didn’t stop. He shoved forward without hesitation.
He grabbed the security guard by the collar. His voice was hoarse but ice–cold. “I’m the deceased’s husband. Are you letting me through or not?”
The guard froze, glancing back at a nearby officer overseeing the cleanup. The officer frowned, studied him briefly and finally nodded, “Let him in.“N
Beneath the overpass, everything was charred black. The car was unrecognizable, burned beyond recognition. All four tires had flipped over and only the twisted metal frame held the ruined shell together.
Someone gently guided him forward, speaking in a low voice. “The body didn’t make it. We only found a few fragments of bone and bits of a scorched handbag. The identity’s been confirmed. She, she likely didn’t even have time to escape.“}]
Justin didn’t move.
A gust of wind swept past, lifting the ash into the air. Then, one piece landed on his shoulder.
His hand slowly rose, then fell.}
Soon, his legs gave out.
He collapsed to his knees.
Thud!
The sound of his knees hitting the ground was dull and heavy.}]
His face was paper–white, his palms pressed hard against the ground, his fingertips digging into the dirt.”
At that moment, his mind was blank, devoid of any thoughts.
In the end, it was his assistant who had to forcibly drag him away.
Less than an hour after they returned to the villa, his grandmother made the final call.
“She’s dead. What else can we do? Start planning the funeral.“}
The old lady who had been discharged from the hospital sat in the main seat, her expression calm, her cup of tea in her hand and her tone cold.
Justin stood in the hall’s center, still trapped in a post–shock numbness.
“When is the funeral?” he asked with difficulty.”
Elizabeth said faintly, “She had no parents, no siblings. The sooner this is handled, the better. You arrange the burial plot first and I’ll have someone organize the funeral in a couple of days.“}]
“Why so soon?” Justin’s Adam’s apple bobbed, a hint of resistance entering his voice for the first time.
Elizabeth looked up at him, her eyes as cold as frost, “What? Don’t you like that Lily from the Jamesons? With Francesca gone, you should be happy.”
“You’ve always wanted a divorce. Now that that woman’s finally dead, she won’t bother you anymore.“}
Justin opened his mouth, his throat feeling like it had been cut, unable to utter a complete sentence.}
I never thought she would
After a long silence, he finally whispered, “But W
Elizabeth scoffed, setting down her teacup. “Then what did you want?“}]
die.“}
“You wanted her to disappear and now she has completely disappeared, giving you your freedom.“}
“You should be happy.“>
“The person is burned to ashes. It’s not like tho
can come back to life.“}
Justin stood there like a child caught doing wrong, silent as a stone.}
His mind was filled with laughter, coquettishness and tears and I said, “Justin, where’s my birthday present?“}
Now, that face could no longer be seen.
This year’s gift from him also hadn’t been given.}
He lowered his head, not saying another word.
After calming down, Justin inexplicably didn’t want to return to the home he had shared with me for five years. So, he invited a few friends to a nightclub for drinks.”
In the brightly lit and noisy private room, the atmosphere was boisterous. Someone raised his glass and jeered, “Justin, I heard your wife was in a car accident. Is that right? Damn, you’re finally free!“}
“If it were me, I’d have lost it ages ago. Living every day with someone you don’t even like? Man, you’ve got patience.“}
Another friend grinned, “But seriously though, what’s the deal with you and Lilian? When’s it happening? We’re waiting for the big news!“> “You love her that much, huh? How about an epic love confession to shake the world?“}
The room erupted in laughter.
