Chapter 2
Inside the Greenhills Funeral Home, my son and I lay there, our bodies shrouded in white sheets. We were just waiting for our appointed time. Once it came, they'd send us off to the crematorium.
My mom was hunched over, her tears long since dried up. Her cloudy eyes were left with nothing but numbness.
Because she was elderly and both deaf and mute, the staff at the funeral home kindly let her wait in the VIP lounge.
I followed her in, and as soon as we entered, I saw Asher holding Grace in his arms, trying to comfort her.
Grace was clutching a fancy LV bag, her face pale and her eyes red from crying, looking so fragile and helpless that anyone would feel sorry for her.
When Asher looked at Grace, his deep eyes were full of heartache and affection.
Grace said, "Asher, my little girl is gone, and now my sweet puppies will never have their mother again.
"I want to keep a bit of Emmie's ashes after she's cremated and make a bracelet out of them, so she can always be with me. What do you think?"
Emmie, Grace's beloved girl, was a French bulldog that Asher had given her when she was sent abroad.
Upon hearing that, Asher's eyes filled with even more pity, and he held her tighter.
The next moment, I saw my mom standing in the doorway.
The affection in Asher's eyes disappeared in a flash, replaced by obvious impatience.
He let go of Grace and walked over to my mom, his brow creased in irritation.
He quickly signed, though clumsily, "Mrs. Bennett, why did you follow me here? Please stop messing around with Emily, okay? I'll go to the hospital to see her once I'm done here."
"Grace and I are just friends. Don't read too much into it," he added.
My mom's tears had long since dried up.
Now, there was nothing left in her eyes but emptiness as she stared at him. After a moment, she turned aside with a cold face and walked away.
She was getting ready to go somewhere else. Despair was written all over her hunched figure.
Watching her hunched figure fade away, I couldn't hold it in anymore. Tears streamed down my face, falling to the floor one after another.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I never should've ignored your warning and let myself fall for Asher," I said.
Grace stepped forward, blocking my mom's way, and spoke softly to Asher. "Could you translate for me? Please ask Mrs. Bennett to help me pass on my apologies to Emily.
"Emmie died from postpartum hemorrhage, so Asher came to stay with me. I don't want them to get the wrong idea."
Her explanation was gentle, sounding so sincere.
But in her eyes, one could see a glint of barely hidden provocation and smug satisfaction.
She named the dog Asher gave her Emmie. That alone was a slap in the face.
Asher actually left me on the roadside with my water already broken, just to help her deliver that dog. If that was not showing off, I didn't know what was.
My mom didn't even spare her a glance. She just made a sign to Asher, a gesture that clearly meant bad woman and mistress.
Grace had no idea what it meant.
But Asher's brow furrowed even deeper, his voice tight with barely suppressed anger. "Mrs. Bennett, Grace hasn't eaten all day because she's devastated over Emmie's death. Could you please stop accusing her like that?"
"I've already explained. Grace and I are just friends now," he added.