Chapter 15
“According to our investigation, your maids were given the day off today, leaving Ms. Shore alone at home. We’ve checked on the household staff and found them safe. The corpse discovered at the scene had a similar figure to Ms. Shore, so we’ll need you to verify whether the body belongs to her. Sign here if it does,” the police officer said.
The Shores and Jordan entered the morgue. They couldn’t stop their tears from flowing at the sight of the corpse that was so badly burned that it barely even looked like it belonged to a human.
“Is this the bigger surprise you meant, Ro? Why did you go so far as to give up your life? What do you expect us to do now?” Jordan mumbled in agony. He kept wiping his dirty hands, not stopping even when he tore at his wounds.
He only dared to touch Rowena’s “body” when his hands were clean. The body seemed particularly fragile now that it was charred–he was afraid of being too rough with it lest he tear anything.
Melinda fell to her knees by the corpse, her eyes swollen and her throat hoarse from all her crying. “Ro, my darling Ro… How could you leave us like that? We made a mistake, but we would’ve made it up to you! At worst, you could’ve punished us or hit us! Why did you have to do this?”
Philip lowered his gaze, his eyes wet with tears. He was filled with regret.
Roland fell to his knees, too. He kept repeating, “I’m so sorry… We shouldn’t have taken Jasmine’s word for it, Ro. We know about all the suffering you endured now–wake up and look at us again, will you? We know where we went wrong now! I’ll let you hit me and bully me. You can do whatever you want to me as long as you wake up!”
He sobbed and slapped himself with all his might. His handsome face turned red from the force, and his eyes were filled with despair.
All four of them knew very well that “Rowena” would never wake up again. They’d lost her forever. Their gazes were equally devastated.
Just a few days ago, she’d been well and alive before them. Now, she was nothing but a charred corpse.
After some time, Philip brought “Rowena“‘s body home in a custom–made ice coffin.
“We’ve brought you home, Ro. We’re a family, and we’ll never be apart anymore. We won’t find anyone to take your place–you’re you, and you’re irreplaceable.” Melinda found a suitable dress for the corpse and gently put it on her. As she cleaned up the body, she smiled as she always had in the past–gently and indulgently.
“You love blue, Ro. That’s why I bought you this dress. You look beautiful in it. You’re my pretty little princess.”
Roland pulled out the protective charm he’d never given Rowena and placed it on the body’s chest.
He held back his tears as he said, “I got you this protective charm–I had to go through a lot to get it, but that doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you are safe, healthy, and happy. I’ve recently bought an island. How about we go there for a beach trip one day? I won’t let you off easy when we surf this time.”
Jordan pulled out a pair of wedding rings he’d designed himself. He held the corpse’s hand and put the ring on his finger. Then, he carefully put the other one on “Rowena“‘s finger.
“Look, Ro. I’m all yours. I told you my biggest wish in life is to marry you, didn’t I? You’re the only woman I’ll call my wife. I won’t have any other!” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Rowena“‘s ring finger, unfazed by the scorched corpse.
