Chapter 179: Turn a Blind Eye
Tiffany lifted her foot, her eyes brimming with intense anger, and delivered a solid kick. Layla immediately stepped in front of Raylee, pleading, “Tiffany, she’s still young and naive. Please don’t hold it against her.”
“Get lost, or I’ll beat you up as well!” Tiffany roared.
“What’s the matter, causing such a ruckus at a funeral? Isn’t this just making our family a laughingstock?”
Right then, a stern voice echoed from the entrance. Everyone immediately composed themselves, and Tiffany was as startled as a mouse upon seeing a cat. Her fierce and menacing expression instantly turned normal.
Surrounded by his bodyguards, Victor walked into the mourning hall with his hands clasped behind his back. He was tall and imposing, exuding an aura of authority that commanded respect and reverence. His brows were tightly furrowed, his gaze sweeping across the room. There was a striking resemblance, about seventy to eighty percent similarity, between his features and those of Jeremiah in the memorial portrait.
Stunned, Layla gazed at him and choked out, “Dad…” She couldn’t tell if it was because of the injustice she felt or because Victor bore a striking resemblance to Jeremiah, but she found herself unable to hold back her tears once more.
“Don’t be upset anymore,” Victor said to Layla. He gave her shoulder another comforting pat, his usually gruff voice softening, offering a rare moment of fatherly reassurance. Layla’s discomfort intensified, a wave of sorrow washing over her. Unable to contain herself, she rushed forward to embrace Victor.
“So pretentious!” Tiffany muttered under her breath, cursing quietly to herself.
“Who are you mumbling curses at?” Victor, who had witnessed that scene, stared at Tiffany with a stern face.
Tiffany immediately put on a flattering smile and asked, “Dad, didn’t you say you’d let Mom oversee the funeral? Why have you suddenly decided to come yourself?”
With a stern expression, Victor cast his gaze upon Tiffany and Rosalind, rebuking, “I asked you two to come here to maintain order at the funeral, but what have you done? It’s as if you were worried that Layla wasn’t upset enough and decided to add to her troubles, isn’t that so?”
“Dad, how have we caused her any trouble? She’s crying because she’s upset, not because Mom and I bullied her.” Tiffany playfully stuck out her tongue.
“Do you think this is the first day I’ve come to know of your behavior?” Victor thundered. “I used to turn a blind eye to your past actions, but now, when Layla has just lost her brother, someone who she depended on, you’re here, kicking her when she’s down. Are you even human? I don’t care about the past, but from this point forward, if I find out you’re bullying Layla again, you’ll see what I’ll do to you!”
“Victor, why are you throwing indirect jabs? If you have something to say, say it to me. Why embarrass Tiff in front of our friends and family?” Rosalind defended her daughter.
Victor pointed at her and scoffed before uttering with his ashen face, “Oh! You do realize that Fin is scolding you! You’ve set a bad example for your child.”
Rosalind saw red, but she didn’t dare to retort. All she could do was glare viciously at Layla.
“Dad, why are you only reprimanding me and Mom? What about this bitch?” Tiffany pointed at Raylee, complaining. “Jeremiah’s death surely has something to do with her. She might even be the one who killed him! Dad, you must uncover…”
“Don’t stir up trouble here. I know exactly how my son died, and it has nothing to do with anyone else!” Victor roared in anger.
“But, Dad—”
Victor interrupted angrily, “Just shut up. Since when did you care about Jerry? When did you become so close to Jerry?”
“Victor, what’s gotten into you today? First, you lashed out at me. After that, you lashed out at Tiff. Fine! If we’re such a bother to you, we’ll leave!” Rosalind tugged Tiffany away, leaving the funeral on the spot.
Layla stared at her father in disbelief. For many years, he had never defended her like he did that day, especially in front of Rosalind. Has hell frozen over? How could Dad have acted this way if he didn’t harbor intense guilt toward Jeremiah? Layla was not deceived by Victor’s act.
Regarding the matters concerning Musmeynia and Bradley, Layla was determined to investigate until she uncovered the truth. Later, Victor walked over and looked up at the memorial portrait situated in the center of the mourning hall. His expression instantly turned gloomy and melancholic. After bowing, he murmured, “Jerry, out of all my sons, you resemble me the most. I had high hopes for you, but unfortunately, you…” With a sense of helplessness, Victor shook his head and let out a heavy sigh.
Kaylee stood to the side, utterly unable to decipher what was going through Victor’s mind. Is it all just a facade? Is it genuinely from his heart? Mr. Victor was the one who assigned Bradley to Layla. That matter was like a thorn, deeply embedded in Raylee’s heart. What secrets are truly hidden between them? In such an unguarded manner, I handed over the chip to Mr. Victor. Have I done the right thing?