Chapter 22
Cecelia couldn’t believe that Jonah would truly ignore her life and death.
However, Jonah didn’t even bother to look back. He just said coldly, “I told you. From now on, your affairs have nothing to do with me.”
“Jonah!”
Cecelia was panic–stricken. She tried to rush after him, but just then, the aged and rusted rooftop railing under her feet gave way with a loud crack.
She let out a piercing scream as she plunged from the rooftop.
She had only meant to scare Jonah, never truly intending to jump. But as she fell, tears of regret streamed from her eyes.
Jonah, already walking into the stairwell, heard her scream. He was about to turn back when his phone suddenly rang.
It was a call from the nursing home. Nathaniel had passed away.
By the time Jonah rushed to the care facility in a daze, the staff had already called a mortician to prepare Nathaniel’s body for burial.
“How could this happen?” He repeatedly checked Nathaniel’s pulse, unwilling to accept the truth.
Although Nathaniel’s health had been poor for years, he had sounded spirited and energetic when they spoke on the phone just a few days ago.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Lawrence,” the director of the facility said. “Your father had a heart condition to begin with. Today, he saw that news online… and he got so angry that he couldn’t catch his breath.”
“What news?” Jonah’s mind was a mess.
That was when an elderly man nearby spoke slowly, “Nathaniel was always worried about that girl, Pearl…“.
Jonah recognized him then. The man was Logan, a friend Nathaniel had mentioned in the past.
Logan coughed a few times, then explained everything to Jonah, “A few days ago, Pearl was interviewed on TV. Nathaniel was so happy that he introduced her to everyone here, saying that the heroic doctor was his daughter–in–law.
“But then today, some nosy old lady in the facility started gossiping, saying everyone was calling Pearl a homewrecker. To make things worse, she said Nathaniel’s son was messing around with another woman.
“Nathaniel was so angry that he wanted to call you on the spot…”
“You mean… my father was angered to death by this?” Jonah stood there in stunned silence.
Logan’s eyes welled up with tears. He shook his head and said, “At first, he was just angry. But while calling you, he saw this photo online…”
Logan handed his phone to Jonah.
On the screen was a screenshot of Cecelia’s post, showing her wearing that bangle, the one people claimed was the Lawrence family heirloom, worn only by the officially recognized daughter–in–law.
Meanwhile, people were cursing Pearl as the homewrecker.
“When Nathaniel saw the bangle on someone else’s wrist, he got so furious that he couldn’t catch his breath. There wasn’t even time to resuscitate him…
“1
Jonah’s mind went blank when he heard Logan’s explanation.
He remembered then that he had given that bangle to Cecelia right in front of Pearl.
He had hurt Pearl’s heart with his very own hands. And now, he had also sown the seed that led to Nathaniel’s death..
