Chapter 0001; THE FUNERAL

“Please Sandra, I beg of you.”

Philip fell to his knees, pleading his sister-in-law for mercy, his voice trembling with desperation.

“Get your filthy hands off me! Have you no shame? She exclaimed as she walked away.

Philip grasped the edge of her garment, lowering his head as he remained on his knees. He pleaded with Sandra to return the money she took from him, but she remained adamant.

Moreover, he had been depending on her family financially. Sandra did not feel like she was indebted to him in any way.

She was disgusted by his presence and was even more annoyed that he chose this moment to confront her. Today was her grandfather's funeral and her aunt Martha was currently giving a memorial speech.

Martha stood on the stage with a microphone held close to her mouth as she said with all her might,

“My father was vile and evil, he was an inconsiderate man! May his unwary soul remain troubled; he shall never find peace, and I hope you perish in hell, Micheal Peterson …”

Her bitter voice daggered through a room full of mourning and sorrowful folks.

Martha was about to round up her speech when Philip arrived. The guests exchanged shocked glances, gasping at Martha's words.

Martha's harsh criticism of her father had already ruined the funeral. Journalists and reporters gathered as Michael was a man of influence.

People began pulling out their phones to capture the unfolding drama, turning it into a spectacle.

Philip's arrival made things worse.

Everyone in the audience tilted their heads back to see who was causing the commotion behind them. They remained silent as they glared intently as if watching a theater play.

Sandra angrily grabbed Philip's necktie fiercely, tightening it until he nearly choked and began to gasp for breath.

She leaned in as she whispered into his ears, “ Get up and disappear while I'm still being nice; you are embarrassing me!”

Philips's intention was not to stir chaos at the funeral, but his best friend fell into a coma after being involved in a tragic accident.

The doctor informed him that they could no longer further his treatment.

He knew what to expect from Sandra; he was familiar with her tactics, but he was determined to help his best friend, Alfred, who had been with him through thick and thin.

“My best friend's life is at stake. Please have mercy, I beg of you. If I don't act quickly he will die.” Philip begged, bowing his head as embarrassment washed over him.

Elena, Philip's wife, was present when all of this was happening, but she remained silent and held back sitting on a chair, sensing Sandra's temper.

Sandra spat on his face and said “You ungrateful bastard, after all our family has done for you, yet this is how you treat us. Is this how you repay our kindness? “

Philip's arms were shaken as he laid his hands on his face, he was extremely embarrassed. He felt warm saliva melt down his cheeks. He was disgusted!

Everyone stared at him as he stiffened himself to the ground like a sculptural piece. At that very moment, he wished for the ground to open and swallow him up.

He began to regret coming to the funeral.

Elena couldn't stand her husband being ridiculed by Sandra anymore, she got up from her chair and said,

“Why are you being so difficult, Sandra? Please return the money; it doesn't belong to you; it's his friend's insurance claim; we should not be arguing on a day like this; at least, let's respect Papa.”

Sandra gazed at Philip. She didn't move an inch to look back at her sister and said, “Why waste money on a pending Ghost?” she raised a brow.

‘Ghost? Did she just call my best friend a ghost ?’ Philip muttered to himself.

A voice from the stage said in disgust, “What is this outcast doing in our midst? Coming in the middle of a funeral to cause a nuisance, and who on earth wears white to a funeral?” she yelled angrily.

“Elena, your husband is such a disgrace to our family!”

Philip stared up at the person who had just spoken. It was Martha, Elena's aunt.

He had left his house in such a hurry after receiving a call from Alfred's doctor. He didn't even notice that he wasn't wearing the appropriate outfit for the occasion.

Martha despised her late brother's children and everyone associated with them. She hated them from every fiber of her being.

Sandra and Elena became Martha's biggest rivals a week before her father died after he declared in his will that Sandra was to take over his company, Carlson's architectural firm.

She desired for her daughter to become CEO of Carlson. Moreover, she was the first child, and Sandra's father was the second.

But despite everything Eugene did to please her grandfather all her life, he still didn't favor her, and Martha was annoyed; she felt stabbed in the heart by her father's actions.

Philip was not in control of his temper anymore. He wished he could give Sandra a taste of her own medicine but he endured and stayed humble, ignoring Martha's words as he continued to beg Sandra.

Elena pitied him and said, “Help him save his friend, please.” she pleaded.

“No! I will not allow him to ruin your life. Elena, this man is hypnotizing you, you deserve someone better.”

Elena was angered, irritated.

Sandra was embarrassing her in public, and it sickened her. “I appreciate your concern, but I'm a grown woman. I am capable of making decisions,” She said, with her shoulders held high.

Martha got down from the stage and strode to her seat as if she owned the place.

She sat and crossed her legs on the chair with her chest held high as she proudly adjusted her sunglasses and vintage scarf which was tied across her face,

“Your grandfather said you were the best for this position, yet you couldn't even manage a funeral successfully, you and your sister are failures. It's a shame Father couldn't notice that!” she chuckled.

“Why blame us for your child's incompetence?” Sandra roared at the elderly woman. “ Papa said Eugene doesn't have what it takes to become a leader. Those were his words, not mine.”

Wiring her a dangerously intense stare, she said, “If you're so bothered about that, you might as well go ahead and join him in his grave. You'll have all the time in the world to question him! ”