Elaine locked herself in her room since she was discharged from the hospital. She didn't eat anything
at all.
Her father Franklin called her twice but she was oddly determined and stubborn this time. He was busy
after Hilbert's death, and he didn't have much time to look after Elaine now.
He thought everything would be fine after a while.
Elaine lied on her bed, crying herself to sleep. When she woke up, she started crying again.
She looked haggard like a half-dead person.
If she hadn't rushed to City N without proper consideration, Sherry wouldn't have lost her baby.
Great-grandpa was good to her and loved her so much, but she didn't get to spend more time with him,
didn't even get the chance to speak to him before he left this world.
She didn't know how much time had passed before someone knocked on her door again. She forced
herself to speak weakly, "I'm not eating, leave me alone…"
Before she could finish, a cold voice from a man was heard, "Open the door now. You have one
minute."
Elaine was startled. She wanted to get up but had no energy to do so after two days without food.
Hence, she threw herself back on the bed.
On second thought, why would she still be threatened by his words? She was already home.
This was her home. There was nothing he could do to her.
Elaine shut her eyes again and covered herself entirely with the blanket, sobbing underneath.
She heard some noise from the door after a short while.
Elaine removed the blanket and looked in that direction with her misty eyes. She could barely open her
eyes against the glares of light.
She realized something after a few seconds. Where was the door?
At this moment, a maid hurried in with a tray of food, "Have some food, Ms. James," she said worriedly.
Elaine was still punishing herself. "No," she said stubbornly."
"Force it down her throat, as much as you can," the man said.
Elaine was puzzled. She looked at the door again but the man was no longer there.
The maid helped her up, "Please eat something. Doyen's funeral is scheduled in the evening. You can't
even step out from the house in this condition."
Elaine mumbled in confusion, "Today is great-grandpa's funeral?"
"Yes, Sir James is busy because of this. That's why he sent Master Darnell over to get you."
Elaine lowered her head in silence.
The maid walked over with the congee, "Don't be too stubborn Ms. James. Doyen passed away in old
age and peacefully. He didn't suffer much. You should be glad for him on that."
Elaine began weeping uncontrollably again talking about this, "But… I…"
"Death is an unavoidable stage in life. Don't be too upset about that. I'm sure he would want you to live
a happy and carefree life like before."
No one knew if Elaine had accepted the advice, but she swallowed down the congee, weeping.
After the meal, she went for a shower while the maid brought her a black dress for the funeral.
Elaine rubbed her reddened and swollen eyes as she walked down the stairs.
Darnell was sitting downstairs. At the sight of her, he stood up and strode out without a word.
Elaine hurried out, following behind him.
Outside the house, Elaine walked towards the passenger seat at the front like usual, she saw Darnell
open the door of the driver's seat when her hand landed on the handle.
Elaine froze with her hand in the air. She didn't know whether to proceed or not.
Darnell who was already in the car turned to her casually.
Without waiting for him to speak, Elaine went in, seated and pulled the seatbelt, "I'm done!"
But things went a bit messy. She failed to fasten the seatbelt even after a few attempts.
Darnell lost his patience, he leaned towards her, took the seatbelt from her hands and buckled it.
Elaine, on the other hand, leaned back against the seat to keep a distance from him.
While they were on their way, Elaine called softly, "Darnell…" with her hands grabbing tightly on the
seatbelt.
Darnell said casually without turning to her, "Yes."
"Will there be a crowd attending the funeral?"
"Yes."
"Will them…," Elaine's voice went hushed, "Urge me to marry you?"
Darnell paused for a few seconds, "Is there any other thing you think of apart from this?"
Elaine pressed her lips, "That's because many others want me to marry you, great-grandpa, dad, and
the elders, too many of them. They will be satisfied once I married you, will they?"
Darnell glanced at her, "Are you planning to sacrifice yourself again?"
Elaine's head lowered, "Honestly, there isn't much I could do. If marrying you could let great-grandpa
rest in peace and lifted my father's worries, I don't mind…"
"I'm not interested in you," Darnell interrupted her.
"Okay," Elaine replied. She rolled down the window and dazed out blankly in silence throughout the
journey.
The car finally stopped half an hour later.
Elaine unfastened the seatbelt and went down.
At the entrance, there were family members of the James, a crowd of media and people who came to
mourn for Hilbert's passing.
Elaine was surrounded by people expressing their condolences the moment she appeared.
She was awkward in front of the camera. Her eyes reddened and she didn't know what to say.
Someone held her hand and pulled her away from the crowd while she was at a lost.
"Who was that? Is he a member of the James?"
"I've never seen him in the James family, he…"
"Wait a minute, isn't he the Master of the Riverside? I saw him from afar once…"
"What?!"
Darnell had never appeared publicly. No one knew how he looked like apart from the James family.
It was also hard to believe that the legendary Master of the Riverside walked past them just now.
There were fewer outsiders inside the hall.
Elaine saw a familiar figure in the crowd, her eyes sparkled and she stormed toward to hug her,
"Stella!"
Stella took a step backward due to her force, "Are you alright?" She asked, patting her back.
Elaine sobbed, "Yes… I thought I would never see you again…"
While tears gathered in her eyes, a man said with a cold voice, "Let go of her and stand properly."
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