Chapter 258 The Funeral
That scene replayed in Layla's mind countless times over the past few days, over and over again.
She couldn't sleep. She suddenly became restless, and she wanted to commit suicide. The doctor injected her with sedatives, so she could only find a moment of peace in the brief moments of unconsciousness. But every time she woke up, the pain doubled, like a snowball rolling bigger and bigger, surpassing her capacity to bear it. She could collapse at any moment.
No, she had already collapsed long ago.
Alice felt even sadder.
Reality was cruel, but she didn't expect it to be this cruel.
The pain of losing a loved one was already great, let alone when that person died to save her. It must be so painful; she would have to live with guilt for the rest of her life. She would never truly be happy again...
Alice suddenly felt resentful toward the heavens for treating such a kind girl so cruelly.
However, she could only comfort Layla. "Because of this, you should cherish your own life. Only then can Owen's sacrifice have meaning. Layla, I know it's difficult, but you must do this to honor Owen."
"I can't. I can't..." A tear fell from Layla's dry pupils as she sobbed. "I just want to die with Owen."
"You can't do that; you have a baby in your belly." Alice tightly grasped her cold hand, wishing she could share some of Layla's pain.
"I understand how you feel right now, but you can only hold on. It will get better. Trust me, time will heal everything, and one day it will be okay."
It should get better.
Alice spent three days in the hospital, but since the first day, Layla didn't speak to her anymore. She didn't eat, drink, or sleep. Every day, she just stared blankly out the window, as if her soul had left her body.
Samuel stood outside the hospital room every day, but he didn't dare to go inside. Ever since he learned the full truth about Owen's accident, he felt too ashamed to face her.
In just a few days, he grew thin just like her.
Alice gently opened the hospital room door. "She just fell asleep," Alice said softly.
Layla no longer experienced intermittent restlessness. She remained surprisingly calm, without needing tranquilizers. She often spent the whole day in a daze until she couldn't bear it anymore and drifted off to sleep.
Alice looked at Samuel's thin, sunken face. His once proud face was now it was covered in a layer of haze. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "Mr. Holland, you should go and eat something and rest. Otherwise, you won't be able to hold on."
"I want to stay with her." Samuel's voice cracked.
He wanted to accompany her, but he could only avoid her, unable to face her.
"Don't blame yourself too much for Owen's death. What has happened has happened. It's only fate," Alice said.
"Thank you. You should go and eat something."
"Do you need me to bring you some food?"
"No. You can leave."
Alice left. Even she felt suffocated in such an atmosphere, let alone the people directly involved. No one knew when this dark cloud would pass.
Samuel hesitated, then pushed the door open and entered the hospital room.
Every time, he could only wait until she fell asleep before daring to look at her.
He gently took her cold hand and placed it back under the blanket.
Layla suddenly woke up and looked at him in a daze. "Owen?"
As her vision cleared, the light in her eyes dimmed.
"I'm sorry." Samuel's hoarse voice was filled with guilt.
Layla didn't look at him. "When is the funeral?"
"Tomorrow."
"I want to say goodbye to Owen one last time," Layla said, then closed her eyes exhaustedly.
After a week, Layla left the hospital for the first time.
The black suit made her small frame look even thinner. Her already petite figure now appeared as just a skeleton, as if she would break with the slightest touch. The most terrifying thing was her empty, lifeless eyes. She had completely lost hope in life and was nothing more than a soulless person.
Samuel also wore a black suit. "I'll accompany you inside."
"No." Layla pushed open the door and stepped out of the car, her fragile figure making Samuel's heartache.
He wanted to be with her, but he didn't have the right to be at the funeral.
"Owen... my baby...
"Son... Please come back, don't leave your mother behind!" Sophia sobbed uncontrollably.
"Owen... Owen..." she called out with a mournful voice, struggling to catch her breath as if she could faint at any moment.
Layla appeared at the funeral; her expression filled with sorrow.
A strong sense of hatred burst from Sophia's pained eyes. "How dare you show up?
"You killed my son; You murderer!
"I will kill you and make you pay for my son's life!" Sophia charged toward Layla like a crazed wild bull, landing heavy punches on Layla's head, causing her to feel dizzy.
"Darling, calm down. Don't do this..." Frank tried to restrain her, but Sophia's strength was terrifying. She swung her fists, landing several more blows on Layla's head, and even kicked her.
"Let go of me. It's because of her that Owen is dead...
"Layla, you killed my son!
"Give me back my son! You bitch, give me back my son!
"Why isn't it you who's dead?
"You should be hit by a car a thousand, ten thousand times!
"You deserve to die!" Sophia's curses echoed throughout the funeral parlor, she had gone mad, completely frenzied. Her eyes were bloodshot, bulging, as if she wanted to tear Layla apart.
"Let go of me!" Sophia broke free from Frank's grasp and lunged at Layla once again, punching and kicking her. Layla neither resisted nor dodged until Tristian pulled Sophia away.
"Who are you?
"Let go of me.
"I will kill this murderer who killed my son." Sophia could break free from Frank, but she couldn't escape Tristian. She shouted at Sarah, "Call the police quickly. Arrest them, all of them!
"You killed my son! I will make sure you all go to jail!"
Layla felt dizzy, but no longer felt any pain. She mustered all her strength and slowly rose to her feet, moving toward Owen's photograph, where she knelt.
In the black and white photo, Owen's smile was so radiant, but he had already departed this world forever.
"Owen..." Layla knelt in front of him, tears streaming down her face. "Owen...I've come to say goodbye... I'm sorry... Owen... I'm so sorry...
"Owen, can you come back? I miss you so much...
"How could you leave me?"
"You get out! Layla, get out of here! You're not worthy to be here!" Sophia struggled, cursed, and attacked; her expression demonic. "Stop pretending to be sad. If it weren't for you, Owen wouldn't be dead!
"Get out!
"Layla, you killed Owen! You will face the consequences! I curse you to a wretched life and the deepest pits of hell!"
With red eyes and trembling lips, Layla mumbled, "Owen, I promise you, I will live well. I hope you have a good life there too."
It was a gloomy day, with drizzling rain falling on the car window, creating a stifling atmosphere.
Layla stared absentmindedly out of the window for a long time before finally saying, "I'm not going back to the hospital."
"Where do you want to go?" Samuel quickly asked, surprised by her initiative.
No matter where she wanted to go, he would accompany her.
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