Chapter 7
Chapter 7
The day of Dad’s burial, the sky was heavily overcast.
Even the wind carried bone–chilling cold.
I wore a black dress, standing before the grave as I personally scattered the last handful of earth onto the headstone.
In the black and white photo, Dad smiled gently, as if he were still watching me the way he always had, eyes full of adoration.[]
Manhattan’s elite stood at a respectful distance, speaking words of comfort in low voices.[]
The butler directed the servants in clearing away the ceremonial offerings–everything proceeding in solemn order.[]
Until a piercing wail shattered the peace.[]
“Daddy! Daddy, wait for me!“]]
****
Summer had somehow gotten past security, wearing an inappropriately white dress, rushing past the barrier line toward Dad’s headstone like a lost spirit.[]
Caspian followed close behind, his face anxious as he tried to grab her, but she shook him off.]
“Let me die!” She threw herself against the headstone, fingernails clawing desperately at the cold stone surface, sobbing hysterically. “I’m so useless! I can’t even fulfill Mom’s dying wish! What’s the point of living!”
The guests immediately erupted in shocked murmurs, all turning to stare.]
I slowly turned back, shadows falling across my face and hiding the cold fury brewing in my eyes.[]
“Summer, this is a cemetery, not your personal stage for tantrums,
“D
She jerked her head up tears streaming down her face, eyes swollen red like walnuts.]
“Aria! Why won’t you just believe me! I already got the DNA test done! The report is right here!“]
She pulled some crumpled papers from her pocket, waving them in front of me.]
“It says right here, clear as day–99.99% probability that Dadant of me.
4-
I are I am his daughter!“]
related
I stared at the papers in her hand, then at her tear–streaked, snot–covered face.
Before she could react, I grabbed her wrist with enough force to make
- e.
12 in pain.[]
The DNA reports scattered from her hand, papers flying everywhere in the wind.[]
“SLAP!”
The sharp sound of my palm meeting her cheek echoed through the cemetery.]
INTI
114
ww
w
Chapter 7
The impact snapped Summer’s head to the side, blood immediately trickling from the corner of her mouth.
She looked at me in disbelief, eyes filled with terror.[]
“You think this is your place to throw fits?”
I raised my hand and slapped her other cheek just as hard.]
“Waving around some PS–ed DNA report, then daring to come wail at my father’s grave?“]
The second slap left her dizzy, tears mixing with blood as she mumbled incoherently.[]
“It’s real… the report is real…“]]
I released her wrist and she stumbled backward several steps, nearly falling.
Then I bent down and picked up one of the scattered reports.[]
م
Without even looking at it, I tore it to shreds and tossed the pieces into the wind.[]
“Take your fake reports and get the hell out!”]
My gaze swept across the assembled guests as I raised my voice.[]
“You’ve all witnessed this–it’s not that Aria Sterling can’t tolerate people, it’s that someone insisted on causing a scene at my father’s funeral. From now on, if anyone else dares use family claims as an excuse to make trouble at Sterling estate, don’t blame me for what happens next!“[]
Summer was still crying and babbling “I’m not leaving” in Caspian’s arms.[]
Caspian’s face went through several shades of red and white before he finally gritted his teeth and forcibly dragged Summer away.
Their figures disappeared at the cemetery gates, and gradually the wind died down too.
(0)
