Chapter 228


    Chapter 228


    Alicia expressed her objection through her death! In fact, she resolutely left this world behind without


    any warning or indication whatsoever!


    Alicia expressed her objection through her death! In fact, she resolutely left this world behind without


    any warning or indication whatsoever!


    I sighed softly and said, "I''m not sure."


    My mncholy mood left me in no capacity to exin the details to Charles.


    Charles nodded and went into the house behind the vi. On the other hand, I climbed up the parasol


    and joined Emma. Weariness clung to my bones as I murmured, "This incident will be a huge blow to


    Shawn."


    How should I face him from now onward?


    "I don''t know what''s happening, but humans are not made of stone. How can you expect him to feel


    nothing?"


    I sighed and gazed at the moon. "Emma, let''s go back to Eldham."


    "Christopher invited me to go camping with his friends tomorrow. So, I''m heading to Bryxtonter."


    Christopher barely spent time in Bryxton. How could he have made any friends!? It''s probably an


    excuse he made up to approach Emma.


    "Alright, then I''ll be heading back to Eldham myself."


    Thus, I climbed down the tree, grabbed my car keys, and drove away. It was 1.00AM by the time I


    returned to my apartment. As I finallyy on my bed in utter exhaustion, I sent a message to Shawn. ''I


    arrived home safely. Don''t worry.''


    Not long after that, Shawn replied to my message. ''Okay. Good night.''


    Since he was still awake, he was most likely busy working, so I decided not to disturb him. I kept my


    phone aside and closed my eyes for a long time before I finally fell asleep. When I woke up again, it


    was alreadyte in the afternoon the next day. Hence, I took the time to visit Xenos Solutions.


    I was slowly starting to familiarize myself with the operations of Xenos Solutions. I could catch up so


    quickly because I had already studied for half a year. Besides, Anthony not only taught me carefully but


    would also draw various analogies for me immediately whenever I failed to understand something.


    When evening fell, Anthony gave me a gentle reminder, "Miss, the matriarch of the Xenos Family


    passed awayst night. You need to attend her funeral. Otherwise, your reputation will plummet among


    the extended rtives of the Xenos Family if they learn about your absence."


    I nced at him in astonishment. "How did you know that I know about her death?"


    I never told him about this matter, and the news of Alicia''s death had yet to spread on the Inte.


    He exined lightly, "The fact that Mrs. Xenosmitted suicide as soon as you got engaged to Mr.


    Xenos... It indicates that she was intentionally targeting you, Miss. It''s hard not to know about this


    matter."


    I sighed as I felt the migraine building behind my eyes. "Please help me prepare some mourning attire


    ording to the rules of the Xenos Family. Also, please contact the extended family of the Xenos


    Family living outside and invite them to return for the funeral. Finally, we should give her a grand send-


    off during her funeral."


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    I paused and asked, "When is the funeral?"


    "Mr. Xenos is keeping vigil tonight. The funeral will take ce tomorrow," he answered.


    I hesitated for a moment before I asked another question, "Then, when should I return to the Xenos''


    Vi?"


    What if Shawn doesn''t want me to return to the Xenos'' Vi? After all, he didn''t even allow me to


    apany him to the Xenos'' Vist night.


    "Miss, the extended rtives have been steadily arriving at the Xenos'' Vi since this afternoon.


    However, the truth is Mr. Xenos'' vigil is not inpliance with the rules. In addition, the younger


    generation among the extended family generally exhibits an arrogant and disrespectful attitude


    because they were mostly raised outside. That''s why Old Master James rarely summoned them to the


    Xenos'' Vi unless there was something important."


    He continued hesitantly, "I believe... Mr. Xenos is currently facing ridicule from them. You should


    immediately rush back to the Xenos'' Vi and preside over the overall situation. Most importantly, he


    needs you right now!"


    Shawn had always been contemptuous of others, so he generally did not care whether he was being


    ridiculed. Nevertheless, I was worried that he would be mistreated and instructed Anthony to


    apany me back to the Xenos'' Vi.


    When I returned to the Xenos'' Vi, I saw arge crowd at the entrance. I feared that they might


    recognize me, so I quickly rushed into the main hall with my head down. Those were all extended


    family members of the Xenos Family, and I didn''t know any of them!


    I turned to leave and ran straight to Shawn''s courtyard. As soon as I walked in through the door, I saw


    him standing along the corridor and staring at the daffodils beside the artificialke.


    His expression was almost indifferent, and I could barely sense any sorrowing from him. Yet, his


    eyes were dim and swirling with emotions. They looked like blobs of ck ink that refused to dissolve


    into nothing.


    I cautiously walked toward him and called out his name. "Shawn."


    He murmured lightly, "The one who died was my mother. She was the woman who lived in the Xenos''


    Vi as my sister but took care of me as though I was her son."


    His tone was light, sounding almost as though he was talking about something innocuous that did not


    concern him at all. I silently held his hand that was hanging by his side, then I heard his subdued voice


    again, "I left the Xenos'' Vi when I was nine years old, and I lived with my mother until I turned nine.


    At the time, I didn''t even know that the person who adopted me was actually somebody else! Mother


    treated me very well during those nine years. I wasn''t the heir at that time as there were three other


    elder brothers on the throne. Therefore, I was poorly treated and never received any paternal love.


    Even so, she was always the first to step forward and protect me whenever my aunts and rtives


    bullied me. I eventually left the Xenos'' Vi and made a living for myself outside. During those eleven


    years, she often wrote me letters to encourage me. She also helped to manipte things in the Xenos


    Family for my sake. It wasrgely thanks to her that I was able to achieve sess and return to the


    Xenos Family so quickly."


    His voice suddenly turned hoarse as though there was a heavy and unresolvable sorrow at the bottom


    of his heart. "I respected her greatly, and she cared for me deeply too. The only asion she ever


    objected to something in my life was when she tried to separate us, but sheter gave us her blessings


    due to my insistence... She has never harbored any bad intentions toward me because I had always


    compromised easily. Not too long ago, she even promised to treat you well. But, in the blink of an eye...


    she''s gone forever."


    He was clearly in despair. I could sense that his calm exterior had been riddled with holes beneath the


    surface. I hugged him around the waist and tried tofort him gently. "It''s okay. I''m sure she doesn''t


    want to see you feeling so sad. I''m sorry... Was it because of our engagement?"


    His eyes instantly turned red-rimmed. "Babe, it''s neither your fault nor mine. The fault lies with my


    mother for being too stubborn."


    The mother he mentioned earlier was probably the one who was still alive. That''s the one who held a


    grudge against my biological mother.


    As for the one who passed away... He imed she had recognized me as her daughter-inw, so she


    would never have done something so extreme. She had probably been forced to take her own life by


    the true matriarch of the Xenos Family.


    I wanted to say something tofort him, but a cold voice came from outside the door. "Shawn, have


    you not learned your lesson yet?"


    I followed the voice and turned to look in that direction, and then I saw the matriarch of the Xenos


    Family. She was called Eliza Haiss. On the other hand, the one who passed away was her younger


    twin sister, Alicia Haiss.


    Eliza was in love with my biological father. In fact, she loved him down to her very bones. Over the


    years, her love for him twisted into a cruel obsession.


    Unfortunately, my father loved my mother.


    Hence, she was filled with absolute hatred at his rejection. Moreover, she hated not only my father but


    also my mother. So, naturally, that also included me.


    That was why she was so firmly against me being with her son.


    Shawn ignored her. Then, he lowered his eyes to me and said, "You should head back to the room. I''ll


    come to youter."


    No matter what happened, he would always treat me gently.


    I obediently went into the room. Although I originally nned to eavesdrop on their conversation, there


    was no movement outside the room. They had probably left the courtyard.


    As I sat on the bed, I couldn''t help feeling extremely irritable. Regardless, it didn''t take long before


    Shawn returned to the room and reassured me with a sad expression. "Don''t overthink this. I''ll return to


    Eldham with you once my mother has beenid to rest."