Chapter 244: Raylee Mourns
Breaking down emotionally, Raylee had completely lost her sanity. She cried out in heart-wrenching anguish, “No, Hazel, Grandma isn’t dead. She’s just sleeping like she always does, right?”
Hazel, with tears in her eyes, comforted her, “Ray-Ray, let’s accept reality.”
Raylee clung to her grandmother’s lifeless body, refusing to let go. “No, I can’t accept it. Just yesterday, she was still chatting and laughing with me. How could she just leave like that? Grandma, please don’t abandon me. In this world, you’re the only family I have left. Grandma, I beg you, please don’t leave!”
The entire hospital room was filled with the echoes of her heart-wrenching sobs. She didn’t know how long she had been crying, but at the end of it, she was completely drained. Overwhelmed by physical exhaustion and intense heartache, her vision blurred, and she passed out.
When she woke up again, she found herself lying in a hospital bed. Ignoring the weakness she felt, she immediately got out of bed. Hazel immediately stopped her, “Hey, you’ve been unconscious for four days. You’re not in good condition. You need to get back to bed and rest immediately.”
“Four days?” Raylee was shocked. “What about Grandma’s body?”
“The day after she passed away, Mr. and Mrs. Goodridge had her cremated,” Hazel lamented. “They had completely emptied out Goodridge Manor. When I went back to gather my belongings, I intended to keep Old Mrs. Goodridge’s safe, but they wouldn’t allow it. They said I was just a housekeeper who has no right to her personal effects. Alas, now that Old Mrs. Goodridge is gone, I guess there’s no place for me in the Goodridge household anymore. They provided me with a resettlement fee, urging me to return to my hometown. Yet, I insisted on waiting until you woke up before I left. Ray-Ray, from this point forward, you’re on your own. By the way, this is the password to Old Mrs. Goodridge’s safe.”
Hazel left her a note, on which a string of numbers was written. After sharing a hug with her, Hazel reluctantly left.
Upon leaving the hospital, Raylee rushed to Goodridge Manor only to find it completely emptied out. There were also real estate agents bringing clients to view the house. A couple showed considerable interest in the luxurious mansion, finding the price quite acceptable. Thus, they were considering finalizing the deal.
In a fit of tears, Raylee cried out, “My grandmother just passed away a few days ago, and you couldn’t wait to buy this house. Aren’t you scared of her spirit returning at night to haunt you?”
The client exclaimed in shock, “What? Someone died here? No wonder it’s so much cheaper than the market price. It turns out it’s a haunted house! Let’s get out of here quickly. No matter how cheap it is, we’re not buying!”
The agent hastily clarified, “No, no, the owner of this house passed away naturally. She was over eighty! She lived a long and healthy life until the end.”
The couple remained unconvinced, so they quickly left. A deal that had been all but sealed slipped away, and the broker grumbled, “Young lady, what’s your grandmother’s death got to do with me? The property was put up for sale by the rightful heir. If you’ve got a problem, take it up with the homeowner, alright?”
Naturally, Raylee had to make a fuss, and she immediately sought out the Goodridge family. They immediately emptied Goodridge Manor and even planned to sell it. If they haven’t lost all conscience, then there must be another motive!
Goodridge Manor held all her cherished memories with her grandmother. Hence, she was determined to protect it, even if it cost her life.
At eight in the morning, the Goodridge family was enjoying a lavish breakfast. Raylee stormed in and launched a tirade. “Grandma has barely passed away and her body just laid to rest. Yet you’ve already cleared out Goodridge Manor. How could you be so heartless? If all of you are so eager to sell the house, why don’t you just hurry up and join her? That way, she won’t be alone in the afterlife!”
At that moment, she was looking pale due to her weak physical condition. She couldn’t care less about her appearance. Looking disheveled and unkempt, she resembled someone who had just escaped from a mental institution.
Alaric slammed his hand on the table, reprimanding menacingly, “How dare you curse us so early in the morning? Do you even regard me as your father anymore, or have you lost all your manners? It’s really true that one can’t raise someone who’s not your own blood. Despite living in the Goodridge family for eighteen years, you haven’t learned even a shred of decency or manners!”
Harriet also expressed her disappointment, saying, “Ray-Ray, why do you have to be such a jinx? They say the tone of the day is set in the morning. No matter what, you shouldn’t be saying such negative things first thing in the day.”
“Isn’t what I said true? Since when did Grandma let you down?” Raylee thundered. “Even when she was on her deathbed, all of you didn’t bother to keep her company. And now, even after she’s gone, you won’t even let her rest in peace! What on earth had she done to deserve such cruel relatives like you?”
When Her Heart Turned to Stone