Ondo did not move, his chest contained the tyranny of anger and resentment.


    It must be that Philip’s death had affected Vanessa too much and she was in a bad mood, so she got angry and didn’t want to see him. She could not give up yet. The sadder Vanessa was, the more reason she had to stay to take advantage of the situation.


    Only in this way could I be Vanessa’s salvation and support when she was weak!


    Ondo was sure of it, so he suppressed the anger in his chest again and looked at Vanessa with kind eyes.


    -Vanessa, I know you’re sad about Dad’s death and I’m sad too. But daddy can’te back from the dead, so you have to grieve. Don’t be sad, I’ll be with you. No matter what happens, I’ll be with you, I’ll…


    -I told you to leave!


    Vanessa suddenly burst out, hissing and screaming, her red eyes filled with hatred.


    Why could he keep saying such disgusting things?


    -To stand in front of my father, who was killed by you, and you manage to do it so calmly. Ondo, what a nerve, don’t you feel guilty, get out of here, get out of my sight! Get as far away as you can and don’t appear in front of me again,” Vanessa snarled loudly, her chest heaving with rage and violence.


    Ondo didn’t know if he was caught off guard by her sudden outburst or if he was humiliated and embarrassed, but in the end he walked away.


    He did not say another word, nor was he violent.


    He quickly got out and opened the door to sit in the car. It was then that he realised that something was wrong, because Vanessa’s hatred for himself was so strong that he would have been a fool not to notice it.


    It seemed to him that she said he had caused Philip’s death, and why would Vanessa say that if there was no reason?


    Did it mean that something had happened in between that he didn’t know about?


    -Damn it!


    Ondo mmed the steering wheel in disgust and took out his phone to call his people to ask them to investigate what was going on.


    Vanessa was left alone in the mourning room.


    She turned away in dismay and continued to kneel on the ground, mechanically repeating her previous actions.


    Pacific City International Airport.


    -Sir, the car is ready,” Mateo said as he quickly approached Dn.


    -Somebody find out what happened,” Dn said as he strided out of the airport, his ck trench coat making cold, hard arcs through the air.


    He had rushed back from abroad without stopping and, no matter how fast he had been, it was toote by the time he arrived in the country.


    When he thought of Vanessa’s helplessness towards him, when he thought of her move from hope to despair, when he thought of her painful and sad state, he regretted his earlier decision tremendously.


    What was there to doubt? Even if he got the n wrong, could he fail?


    Ha, what a joke! He hid from uncontroble feelings, not realising that sometimes the more you hide, the more you show your weakness and surrender.


    He was so stupid that he hadn’t realised it before, but it was toote to go back.


    I didn’t expect Lucas to get it right.


    He regretted it so much!


    The ck car sped through the night streets towards the funeral parlour on the outskirts of the city.


    Dn had taken no one with him, not even Mateo.


    All he wanted was to see Vanessa, to hold her in his arms, who would be weak and desperate, to apologise to her and tell her he was back. Beyond that, his mind went nk.


    The funeral parlour was eerily quiette at night.


    Vanessa was still kneeling in front of the mourning room and stood as still as a statue. The others had been ordered to rest and were not allowed to approach. She spent a whole day without food, drink or sleep.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Dad had died and his soul was gone.


    She heard no footsteps behind her and felt no one approaching.


    -Vanessa.


    Dn suppressed the impatience and worry in his heart, his voice was soft, as if he feared that if he spoke louder he would frighten Vanessa. He called her name softly, but there was no response.


    -Vanessa,” Dn called back.


    He looked at her slender figure with anguish and regretted it even more.


    He stepped forward and knelt beside Vanessa, reaching out to put his arm around her shoulders.


    -Sorry I’mte,” said Dn guiltily.


    She hugged Vanessa tightly, her body cold as if it had been frozen in ice for a long time. Even when Dn held her, she didn’t respond.


    Vanessa’s condition frightened Dn.


    -Vanessa, look at me.


    Vanessa didn’t move, as if she hadn’t heard anything.


    -Vanessa!


    Dn’s voice had amanding edge to it, but the person in his arms was still unresponsive. Dn couldn’t help but reach out and squeeze Vanessa’s chin tighter and tighter.


    -Look at me.


    His voice dropped several notches with a coldmand.


    Vanessa finally responded, her thick, long eyshes fluttering a couple of times before she looked up at him. As she looked up at him, her eyes were so calm and unperturbed that it startled him.


    -I’m back,” he said.


    Vanessa quietly pushed Dn’s hand away and stepped away from him. She stood up on her own legs, which had been numb for so long, then stumbled and almost fell.


    -Watch out!


    Dn unconsciously reached out his hand to help her, but Vanessa dodged it.


    She straightened her spine stubbornly and let her body sway a couple of times before standing stubbornly still.


    -Mr Dn.


    His voice was hoarse from not having spoken for so long and dry from not drinking water.


    Dn’s heart clenched hard as he saw the strangeness and detachment in Vanessa’s eyes. It was a look that was only given to strangers.


    -Vanessa.


    Dn unconsciously tried to reach out to touch Vanessa’s bleak white face, but she avoided him with an expressionless expression.


    -I expect Mr. Ondo to behave himself in my father’s mourning room,” Vanessa said indifferently, looking at Dn without emotion.


    -You…


    -Thank you very much, Mr Dn, foring to visit my father, but this is not the time for hospitality, so pleasee back. You cane back during the day if you want to pay your respects.


    So polite and distant was she with him.


    It was as if a crack had been drawn that could not be crossed.


    Dn’s fingers twitched, reaching for Vanessa several times, but he resisted.


    -I’m afraid you’re here alone.


    -There is nothing to be afraid of, the funeral parlour has staff on duty. Mr Dn, pleasee back.


    Vanessa’s voice grew huskier with each additional word. The small face was tragically calm, the strange look in her eyes made Dn so angry and ufortable, his heart ached thickly.


    -Vanessa, I…


    -Mr. Dn! -Vanessa interrupted Dn coldly, her eyes finally shifting, but to a plea he least expected, as she said. Pleasee back, please.