Janice’s voice sounded like the air before the rain-heavy and depressing.
“When I arrived at the scene immediately after receiving the news, the police team had already been dismissed. The ambulance was still there, but they didn’t manage to save Madam Tiller. She’s gone.”
Rachel’s head seemed to implode with a bang’. Grandma is… gone?
Brakes screeched on the street as the high-pitched noise pierced everyone’s ears.
Gloria turned back in a panic to see the color being drained from Rachel’s face. “Miss Rachel!”
Rachel didn’t hear Gloria’s voice as she snatched Victor’s phone from him. Rachel was in disbelief as she tried to communicate through the phone, but the only thing that came out of her open mouth was a heart wrenching ‘Aaaaaah!’
She couldn’t believe Janice’s words. How could Grandma be dead?
Nancy’s surgery was a success, especially after all of the hardship that they had to endure. Julian even informed that grandma would live a healthy and peaceful life from then on.
In the hospital morgue, as soon as the doctor removed the white cloth, Rachel fell to her knees with tears streaming down her face.
“Miss Rachel”
Gloria wanted to say something, but Victor interrupted, “Let’s head out first. She needs some time alone with Madam Tiller.”
No one had understood the feeling better than him-to have only one person left in the whole wide world to depend on and support. If his own grandmother passed away, he probably would have reacted in the same manner.
Upon seeing Nancy’s lifeless face, Rachel couldn’t breathe for a moment before she leaned against the bed and wept.
Her wails echoed in the corridor.
After what seemed like an eternity, arguments started to come from the corridor.
“How dare you be here! Who gave you the right to do so? Leave at once!”
“Calm down, Victor. He’s not the one who caused this to happen, so stop barking.”
“If it weren’t for his heartlessness, grandma wouldn’t have died! He has no right to see her!”
“What are you doing?” Gloria exclaimed, “Justin, tell them to let Victor go! What are you doing?”
The sound of shoes walking came from the door.
Rachel knelt in front of Nancy with reddened eyes. When she heard footsteps behind her, her hands, which were on the bed, balled into fists and even her lips trembled.
“Rae.” Justin’s hand hung mid-air before it was retracted after a while. “What is gone is gone.”
What is gone is gone?! Rachel whipped her head and she glared at the man in front of her. How can he speak of this so nonchalantly?
Justin frowned. “I’ll ask someone to arrange Madam Tiller’s funeral and other related matters. We’ll purchase a cemetery lot with a beautiful view. Don’t worry too much about what comes afterward. Just take care of yourself for now.”
There were still injuries on Rachel’s body, but they couldn’t even be compared to the wounds in her heart.
Upon seeing Justin’s cold countenance, she couldn’t stand it anymore as she gave him a rough and mighty push. Who gave you the right to come?! Who? What right do you have to be here?
In her fury, Rachel landed blows after blows on Justin. However, he didn’t dodge her attacks as he stood still and endured it.
The weak fists did nothing to him and she couldn’t even see the hurt in his eyes as she went on her rampage of fury and hatred.
Why couldn’t you save Grandma? If you did, maybe I could forgive you for everything you’ve done. I would’ve owed you my life, so no matter what you did to me, I would endure it. Yet, you just stood by and watched.
Rachel was greatly indebted to Nancy, who had raised her. Although they were not related by blood, Nancy had still loved Rachel like she was her own granddaughter.
Rachel bitterly sobbed; her voice was so hoarse that every heart would break at its sound.
She could feel the intense pain as she thought how she had to continue surviving in this world without her grandma. She had lost her only family who loved her wholeheartedly and protected her. There was no longer anyone to pull her hand as they nagged and no one to treat her like a child either.
At that instant, the world warped to a point where she could only see a black scene.
“Rae!”
“Frankie, call the doctor!”
The man’s panicked voice faded into the background and that was the last sound Rachel heard before losing consciousness.
When she regained her consciousness, it was already afternoon.
Victor was keeping watch by the bed and as soon as he saw her rousing, he immediately called, “Miss Janice! Miss Rachel is awake!”
Janice then poured some water for Rachel. “How are you feeling?”
Rachel leaned against the headboard and shook her head to gesture that she didn’t want to drink. Her eyes were red and swollen.
A helpless Janice sighed. “We have to look ahead.”
The words once again sent pain through Rachel’s heart.
From now onward, there would no longer be any more future with Nancy.
“The police team was dismissed by the time I arrived. As the culprits have criminal records, they have been arrested. The trial is still ongoing and we’ll apprehend the mastermind soon, don’t worry.”
Rachel gripped her blanket. The murderer was aiming for Justin. He thought that he could threaten Justin if he held Grandma hostage, but they didn’t realize that he never cared about me. Grandma died in vain.
As she conveyed her thoughts, her tears ran down her cheeks once again.
Janice didn’t know how to comfort her, so she sighed again.
At that moment, they heard the door opening before it was followed by sounds of high heels clicking against the floor with the squeaky friction. “It’s a pretty decent ward, eh? You must be so pampered to be hospitalized so often.”
Amber stood at the door, looking like a busybody more than anything.
What are you here for?
Rachel’s expression turned sour.
Janice frowned as well. “Why are you here?”
Amber was a little intimidated at the sight of Janice, so Amber edged toward the table without any intention of getting closer. “What’s all the fuss for? Even though Rachel’s grandma wasn’t my own grandmother, we still kept in contact with each other. She’s dead now, so what’s wrong with me popping in for a look?”
Janice’s expression darkened. “I don’t remember you being so nice.”
“What beer do I have with the dead, Officer Hawkins?”
Rachel kept her gaze on Amber. You’re not only here to see Grandma off, are you?
Amber never did anything that wouldn’t benefit her, which meant that her presence wasn’t for simple reasons.
Just as Rachel had expected, Amber wore a wry smile. “You are mistaken. I really am here to see Grandma off. After receiving news about the incident, I tried to convince Justin since it’s someone’s life at stake after all. Still, he thought that such things should be handed over to the police, so I had no choice. Rachel, I’m not the one at fault. Please believe me.”
Amber’s words were like icy knives that stabbed Rachel’s ears as it began to ring.
Justin was the one who reported it to the police, so he’s the one who caused Grandma’s death? No, he won’t. Even if he really did prioritize his benefits and decide to stand by and watch, he won’t do something unprofitable that harms people. She had already begged him earlier not to call the police.
“If Justin hadn’t called the police, why would the kidnappers quickly kill the hostage? Also, since Officer Hawkins is here, you should just ask her for confirmation.”
Amber’s words had thrust Rachel into the dark depths of the abyss.
As for Janice, her expression was complicated as she added with great difficulty, “It is true that the police had intervened in the matter earlier on.”
