Chapter 10
Suddenly, Leander’s vision blurred and his body began trembling uncontrollably.
Ho staggered back a few steps, then suddenly lost all strength, sliding down the wall to collapse on the floor.
He felt something wet on his face. When he touched it, he realized it was his own tears.
“Elara… Clara…”
His voice was hoarse beyond recognition, each word piercing his heart.
Leander didn’t notice that the airport was filled with many others like him, consumed by regret. Some were frantically questioning staff about how such a crash could happen, others were sobbing uncontrollably, and still others asked in bewilderment: Why did their loved ones have to die like this?
Why?
No one could answer that question.
He didn’t know how long he sat there before the announcement provided new information. Following the broadcast’s guidance, Leander went to collect Elara’s remains–some ashes.
Just as he reached for them, the staff member suddenly pulled them back, looking troubled.
“Sir, I’m sorry. Our investigation shows that Miss Elara was divorced. You would be her ex–husband, so you don’t have the legal right to claim her remains. We apologize, but we’ll need to contact Miss Elara’s other relatives.”
Leander’s outstretched hand froze in mid–air. He suddenly remembered he and Elara were divorced.
He couldn’t even claim her remains!
In that moment, Leander’s mind went blank. He felt like he stood there for an eternity, yet also just a split second, as his dry, hoarse voice managed to speak:
“That wasn’t a real divorce. I’m still Elara’s husband. We were only pretending to be divorced–it was fake, all fake…”
“I’m sorry, but legally speaking, you’re no longer her husband.” The staff member nodded gravely, then called the next name in line.
Leander stood dazedly to the side, watching as one by one, people collected the remains of their most important person. But because of that ridiculous fake divorce decision, he had lost all connection to Elara!
“Ah… Elara…” he groaned in anguish.
Finally, Leander didn’t know how he made it home. When he returned in a daze, Marla was still sitting on the sofa in her wedding dress, wiping away tears, with his parents beside her offering comfort.
Leander had no energy to deal with any of this. He headed upstairs to his room, but his mother’s harsh voice stopped him.
“Leander, do you realize what a huge mistake you made today? You left Marla alone at the wedding! If you ask me, Elara’s death is no great loss. What’s the point of keeping someone around who can’t even have children? You should just marry Marla for real.”
His father said nothing but nodded approvingly.
Marla’s heart leaped with joy, though she put on a sorrowful expression: “I understand Leander’s feelings. Let’s give him a few days to calm down, then we can have another wedding ceremony” She walked over gently: “Leander, my condolences.”
That was Clara’s wedding dress
Leander suddenly realized this. His mouth moved several times. Marla couldn’t hear clearly: “Leander, what did you say?”
“I said, you’re wearing Clara’s wedding dress. Take it off. You don’t deserve to wear
Elara’s clothes.” Leander avoided her touch, his voice cold.
Marla’s expression stiffened. She forced a smile: “You’re right. Since Clara has passed away, it’s not appropriate for me to keep wearing her dress. We’ll buy a new one for the makeup ceremony, okay?”
His parents nodded, speaking as if it were settled: “Marla’s right. It’s bad luck to touch a dead person’s things. We’ll need to buy a completely new wedding dress. And Elara’s room–everything in it should be burned. Marla and the baby will need to live there.”
Hearing his parents‘ words. even though Marla was trying to appear considerate and grief–stricken, she couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at her lips.
She’d gone through so much trouble for this exact moment, hadn’t she?
Marla reached out again to support Leander: “Leander, Elara is gone, but you still have me and the baby. From now on, our family of three can be together happily.”
Something in that phrase hit Leander’s nerve. He suddenly looked up: “Get out! Get away from me!”
Marla was startled and stumbled backward, instinctively covering her belly: “It hurts… Leander…”
His parents immediately rushed to her side, but Leander didn’t spare her a glance, heading straight to his room and slamming the door shut.
After shutting out the chaos outside, he slid down against the door.
“Elara…”
