Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
His lips were very, very close to mine. I saw that his eyes were closed. Not knowing how to react, I sat there stiffly. Suddenly, there was a loud honk and the car behind us frantically urged us to drive. Ravi opened his eyes and saw the bright green light. He sighed and stepped on the accelerator.
Our car pulled up to a private cemetery on the outskirts of Philadelphia.
âWhy are we here?â I shrugged and turned to look at Ravi.
Ravi glanced at me and let out a long breath. His hand was on the steering wheel, and his fingers kept tapping.
âListen, Irina. What Iâm about to say might shock youâ Ravi looked at me with an extremely serious expression. âBut believe me, I can help you.â
I nodded while sensing that something bad was about to be said.
âI got the news yesterday that your mother passed away.â Ravi lowered his voice and spoke to me as gently as he could. âI wanted to tell you yesterday, but I didnât want you to know too soon.â
I stared at Ravi blankly. I hoped he was joking, but his expression told me that was true.
âNo way. Sheâs always been healthy.â I kept shaking my head. My vision was fading, and tears fell down my cheeks as my breathing became labored.
âThe exact cause of death is unclear.â He wiped the tears off my face with his thumb.
âYou should have told me sooner.â I sobbed so hard tears kept falling from my eyes.
Ravi said nothing, but kept wiping my tears away.
He looked at his phone and said, âGet out of the car. Remember, you have to stay by my side.â
Ravi opened the car door for me, and I saw him pull a bouquet of flowers out of the trunk and hand it to me. I took the flowers and followed him into this private cemetery.
He walked over to a tombstone filled with flowers and stopped. I saw the name engraved on the tombstone: Sara Diaz. Tears instantly welled up in my eyes. I covered my mouth with my hand and couldnât believe the reality of what I was seeing. I squatted down and placed the flowers in front of the tombstone. I touched the name on the tombstone and tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.
Mom had been waiting and enduring all her life. When I was young, Mom and I lived together, and Dad would occasionally come over to see us. It was only when I was six years old that my mom and I moved into the big house where my father lived. All these years, I had been punished, scolded, and imprisoned by Raul for random reasons. My father had ignored it. It was my mom who protected me time and time again by using her body to block the vines in Raulâs hands, and she even secretly sent food to me when I was imprisoned. My momâs years of forbearance were exchanged for such an ending. I felt so hateful.
I stood in front of the tombstone with my fists clenched for a long time. Ravi was by my side. He didnât say anything and just stayed with me.
âLong time no see, Cecilia,â I heard a familiar voice. I turned around and saw Raul standing there. His thugs were coming at us from different directions with guns in their hands.
âI knew you would come and see this b*tch!â
âLong time no see. Youâre still as full of sh*t as ever!â I gritted my teeth and glared at him fiercely.
âMy sister has grown up. She knows how to run away from marriage and talk back to me!â He turned to look at Ravi and sized him up. Then, he shook his head and said to me, âYou ran away from the marriage for this brat? Tsk, tsk, like mother like daughter. Youâre both sl*ts.â
âYou coward! You only know how to bully defenseless women and children! You killed my mother! It was you!!â I clenched my fists and was almost hysterical.
âShe died a worthy death since this news lured you out. Come with me!â His thug walked towards me and tried to take me away.
âWait a minute,â Ravi shouted, then pointed at Raulâs head and body.
I looked in the direction of Raviâs finger, and saw that several red laser points had appeared at Raulâs temples and heart. His thugs stopped.
Raul looked down at the bright red laser on his black suit with anger in his eyes.
âYou better believe in these snipersâ marksmanship. Tell your men to put down their guns and retreat!â Ravi ordered.
Raul waved his hand. His thugs carefully placed their guns on the ground and slowly stepped back.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw one of them attempt to pick up his gun. There was a gunshot and the man fell to the ground. There was a small red wound on his forehead. I didnât dare to look at him and turned my head away.
Raul looked at the manâs body, and the anger in his eyes gradually turned to fear. The others, afraid that they would be treated as the next target, did not dare to move rashly.
âYou saw it.â Ravi shrugged. âI wasnât joking with you.â
âWhat do you want?â Raul looked at Ravi nervously with beads of sweat on his forehead.
Ravi turned to me and gave me a look.
âDid you kill my mother?â I asked Raul through gritted teeth.
âI didnât kill her..â