Chapter 226: I Should Be Crying
Owen’s head buzzed like a hive of bees; his whole body felt as though his soul had been yanked out. Lily was also kneeling on the ground, her head tilted back, her face hollow and empty, as if something had been scooped out of her. She felt numb. She didn’t even know what she was feeling. She was a little sad, but somehow, part of her actually felt relieved—relieved that no one would fight with Elsie anymore, that from now on, all the Saunders family’s resources would go to Elsie. But when she realized she had thought that, it felt like someone had smashed a stick over her head. Panic surged.
How can I even think of something like that? When did I become this cruel? Yunice was my daughter, too! I should be crying. How can I possibly feel relief? In fact, tears were running down her face, but her emotions were so tangled, she didn’t even notice.
The only sound echoing in the morgue was Elsie’s loud sobbing. She kept trying to help Lily, then Owen, stumbling between the two, but she couldn’t lift either of them. Both were like people in shock, collapsed on the floor, their faces frozen in grief and numbness. Elsie, who had always been the center of attention, couldn’t stand it. She stopped trying to pull them up and turned to Carl, crying as she begged, “Mr. Carl, please talk to my mom and Owen. If they keep breaking down like this, I’m afraid they won’t make it…”
Carl lifted his eyes. Elsie’s face was twisted from crying, like a faucet had been turned on—she looked heartbroken. But instead of feeling sympathy, Carl felt disgusted. He replied coldly, “Ms. Elsie, have you ever lost a loved one? Do you know what it actually feels like to lose someone close to you?”
Elsie froze, her face blank with embarrassment. Under Carl’s harsh stare, she quickly lowered her head. She glanced pitifully at Owen, then at Lily, hoping someone would step in and speak up for her. But both of them just sat there, quietly crying, completely unaware of her discomfort.
She didn’t dare say anything more in front of Carl and shuffled off to Paul instead, who seemed calmer. She sniffled and said through her tears, “Paul, is that really Yunice? I can’t believe she’s dead…”
Paul was standing. He hadn’t cried. His brows were furrowed, and he was staring at the white sheet on the morgue table with a strange, distant look. He wasn’t related to Yunice, but he had spent just as much time with her as anyone in her family had. Paul had gotten used to her being around. And now these people were telling him she was gone. But he didn’t feel much. Her death felt more like she had just gone on a long trip. He just wouldn’t see her for a while. Nothing really to cry about.
Paul felt like he was being heartless. Maybe he really didn’t love Yunice anymore. It was the only way he could explain why everyone was grieving so deeply while he felt nothing at all.
Carl looked around the room, his face tight with disappointment, and walked out without saying a word. Freya followed after him, huffing angrily. “This is ridiculous! A whole family! A real brother, a real mother, and never mind those two outsiders—none of them even pulled back the sheet to see if it was really her!”
“Even if a mother’s child was smashed to pieces, she would still want to see them. Still want to touch them. I think they feel guilty. Who knows how badly they treated Yunice over all these years.”
Carl was disappointed, too. How can people be this cold? Will has such a big family, but somehow there’s no room for just one Yunice.
After Carl left, Owen and Lily still hadn’t come back to their senses. Elsie had stopped crying. She was getting annoyed, honestly. How long are they going to sit here? It was freezing.
Just as she was about to pull her usual trick—fainting for attention—Paul suddenly moved. He stepped forward. He looked like he was going to pull back the sheet and look at Yunice. Elsie stared at him, shocked. What is he doing?
“Don’t look. Let Yunny keep a little dignity.”
It was Owen. His face was pale, his chin covered in bluish stubble, and at that moment he looked years older. “Don’t look,” Owen said again, his eyes down. He said it with his back turned to the table. Lily didn’t dare look either. She didn’t even dare lift her head in that direction. She stumbled to her feet, half leaning on Elsie, her mouth opening like she was in pain.
“Owen, Mom doesn’t feel well!” Elsie cried. It was like Owen finally came back to reality. He reached out and grabbed Paul.