Chapter 54
Second Chances Protecting Mrs. Hall
Chapter 54 Ariaâs funeral was a subdued affair. The Wilson family had seen better days, and the attendance was sparse, with few relatives or friends present. Zoe was confined to her bed, leaving only Nora and Mateo to attend the graveside service.
Tears streaked Noraâs face as she watched a woman emerge from a black luxury car on the cemetery road. Her eyes, red and swollen from crying, widened in anger. âItâs you! Youâre the reason Aria is gonel How dare you show up like this? Iâll make you pay!â she shouted.
Emmaâs choice of attire was no accident. She often wore black and white, but today she had chosen a striking deep red dress, complemented by sunglasses and an unusual touch of red lipstick. Her outfit was more of a statement than an expression of grief.
âI dressed this way on purpose, but believe me; I had nothing to do with Ariaâs death. If you want someone to blame, go after Sebastian. Go ahead; kill him. Get your revenge, and see where that gets you.â Emma replied, her voice icy.
âEnough, Emmalâ Mateo interjected, raising his hand as if to strike Emma, but her bodyguards quickly stepped in to hold him back Emmaâs sneer was cutting. âWe both are your daughters. When Aria was causing me trouble, where were you?â
Mateoâs response was muted. He knew he had been unjust to Emma for various reasons, and his quilt made him avoid her.
Even now, he favored Aria. âAria was always with me. She was the closest to my heart. She was my daughter, not you,â he said, his voice strained.
Hearing this confession, Emma felt a sharp pang in her heart, but she masked her pain with a colder, more mocking smile.
âThatâs sad because Aria never really saw you as her father.â
Her words became increasingly pointed. âYou may have provided for her, but after she was released, she couldnât even be bothered to call you. But of course,â Emma continued, her tone cold and detached with a hint of malice, âthe dead are beyond our reproach. Arguing about it now is useless. Sheâs gone, and sheâll never have the chance to show you any gratitude.â
Nora, driven to madness, lunged at Emma but was swiftly restrained by the bodyguards.
Emma stood calmly, arms crossed, a cold smirk playing across her lips. Hidden behind her sunglasses, her expression remained a mystery, but the curve of her red lips hinted at a chilling amusement.
She held her posture, tall and defiant. âMateo, what a tragedy. Fate gave you two daughters, and yet youâve lost them both. Now, youâre left with nothing but this selfish, heartless woman by your side. Youâre going to pay for your fault with those final words, Emma turned and walked away Behind her, Mateo hurled insults at her retreating figure. âYou and your mother are nothing but monsters! I regret ever having anything to do with her, just for the company, and having a daughter like youâ
Noraâs laughter rang out, sharp, and unsettling, as she shifted from grief to verom. âAria may be gone, but she knew our love for twenty years! Your mother, on the other hand, never saw a good day. Do you know how miserable she was? She suffered a thousand times more than Aria. Iâll tell you. I was the one who killed her! I knew about her depression, so I messed with her meds. I taunted her daily with massages and pushed her toward suicide. I watched her jump! That was real misery!â
A scream suddenly shattered the eerie laughter, Nora hadnât anticipated the sharp pain that shot through her arm, the feeling of something her flesh. âMy arm, my hand... it hurts! Someone helpslâ
At that moment, Emma seemed like a vengeful spirit from the depths of hell, her mind a blank slate overtaken by raw matice. It was as if she was on a battlefield, where everything was obliterated in a haze of blood.
The air in the cemetery was heavy with the scent of blood. Mateo stood frozen, overwhelmed by fear. âHow dare your âSince youâve confessed to killing my mother, thatâs just perfect, I wonât let you die quickly. Iâll tear you apart. Today itâs the arm, tomorrow it might be more. Iâll take you apart piece by piece!â Nora was in agony, her right arm a bloody mess, blood pouring out. It hurts someone Chapter 54 helps!â
Emma looked on as the woman who had caused her so much pain now squirmed in agony, like an insect in its death throes.
With a powerful kick, she sent the nearly Nora sprawling onto Ariaâs grave.
Nora screamed as her back slammed into the ground, the shock knocking her unconscious. She slid off Ariaâs tombstone, leaving a smear of blood across the grave.
Back at the Icovine Estate, Liam found the atmosphere oppressively heavy. He had offered to go with Emma to the cemetery, but she had. insisted on facing it alone. Now, he sensed that something was terribly wrong.
In the wine cellar, Emma sat alone and slumped over, clutching a glass, half a bottle of whiskey already consumed. âArenât you happy?â Liam quietly approached.
âYes, I am. Because Aria is dead,â Emma responded.
Liam looked at her; clearly, she was drunk, her cheeks flushed, a smile playing on her lips, but her eyes revealed a profound loneliness.
Compelled by her sadness, he reached out and gently stroked her head.
Emma held herself together until Liamâs hand touched her, then she broke down, tears streaming down her face. âToday, I found out that my mother had died because... Nora deliberately messed with her meds. Damn it! Why didnât I realize sooner? I just canât accept that!â
She now found a way to move on, but her mother would never return. Even if Aria and Nora suffered a hundred deaths, it wouldnât bring her mother back.
Liam cradled Emma in his arms, her body limp from the alcohol, her defenses completely down.
âLiam, Iâm not a good person,â Emma confessed, staring blankly at the ceiling. âBut I want to be a good daughter and a good wife.â
Her hands were stained, she knew that. If killing Nora could somehow bring her mother back, she wouldnât hesitate. And even without the possibility of resurrection, she craved revenge enough to consider it.
Liam took her hand gently. âI donât need a âgoodâ person or a âgoodâ wife. I just need you, Emma,â he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Emma closed her eyes, her senses dulled by alcohol.
As Liam carried her upstairs, Emma suddenly murmured, âDonât worry about me. Go on ahead...â
Liamâs brow furrowed as he held her closer, thinking she might be caught in a nightmare about Stella, But her next words sent a chill through him. âI like you... I donât deserve you... Iâm not good enough for you,â she slurred, halfâasleep,