Chapter 18
The Shores and Jordan thought the same thing–if only they could do it all over again!
Unfortunately, “Rowena” was dead. She wouldn’t come back to life anymore Her body lay quietly in the ice coffin, and their hearts died with her. All that was left for them was endless despair.
Melinda and Philip had never been superstitious or religious, but they now started praying daily and contacting various monks and masters of mystic arts. They wanted to look for ways to be reunited with Rowena in their next lifetimes. They met with any monk or mystic arts master who had the slightest reputation, but it was all in vain.
Shore Corporation was left to flounder. As things worsened, Roland had no choice but to bear the burden of running the company. He slept at the office almost every day—he didn’t dare go home because whenever he did, he kept thinking of Rowena.
He would remember her being coquettish and playing around with him. Whenever he reached out to touch her, the illusion would shatter, and he would find himself back in the empty house. He had everything he needed there except Rowena.
As for Jordan, he dropped everything at the Rallet family to climb up the mountain to reach Noncent Monastery. His back was straight as he kneeled before a statue of a saint inside the monastery. Then, he prostrated himself before the statue. When he sat up, he placed his hands together and looked at the abbot.
His usually sharp eyes were now calm yet dead. He said, “I would like to join the order, abbot. I hope you’ll allow me to.”
The abbot glanced at him and shook his head with a sigh. He pointed at the ring on Jordan’s finger and said, “Sir, your heart is troubled, and your ties to this world remain unbroken. It’s best to let it go.”
Jordan wasn’t surprised by that. He’d never forgotten about Rowena, so how could his heart not be troubled? He had other questions to ask, though.
“If so, may I ask whether I’ll be reunited with the love of my life in another lifetime? I’m willing to pay any price as long as I can be with her forever.”
The abbot sighed deeply without answering him. That didn’t deter Jordan. He didn’t want anything other than to be with Rowena. If that was impossible in this lifetime, he would pray for it to happen in the next.
So, he stubbornly kneeled before the saint statue and shut his eyes, putting his hands together as he prayed earnestly.
Suddenly, his assistant, Nelson Moore, came running. While panting, he shouted, “Mr. Pallet! There might be some hope for this matter with Ms. Shore!”
Jordan’s heart skipped a beat. He got up without hesitation and turned around, grabbing Nelson’s shoulders tightly. He cried, “What hope? Is Ro… Has she come back to life?”
He knew he was hoping for the impossible as he asked that, but it no longer mattered to him. Even if it were impossible, he still prayed it would come true.
Nelson panted and said, “The police discovered that Ms. Shore purchased ten pounds of gasoline and a lifelike dummy two days before the fire. They have reason to believe she started it and that the body isn’t hers!
“They’ve asked the Shore family for permission to conduct an autopsy, and the Shores have agreed. The results should be out soon.”
This was an enormous surprise to Jordan. He was so overjoyed that he didn’t even know what expression to put on. To think Rowena was still alive!
He had faith that as long as she was alive, they would one day gain her forgiveness. It was enough for him to know that she was still alive.
Jordan sped back to the Shore residence at top speed. He ran countless red lights on the way there, but it didn’t faze him.
When he arrived, he saw Melinda, Philip, and Roland looking anxious as they sat around a phone in the living room. They waited for the police to call them back. Jordan joined them in waiting.
