The drive was about two hours away from New York.
Ryan didn’t take his eyes away from the road ahead. How could he? Not to jinx it, but he just didn’t want to end up dead crashing against a trailer truck. Like a certain someone he knew.
But, to drive all the way to Lancaster for his hated father’s funeral, who would have thought?
Violet did, obviously.
If not for her, Ryan would never head there in the first place. No. He wouldn’t even humour the idea.
Alas, she knew when something was wrong, could smell it even when he didn’t say anything about the call.
“What is it?” Violet asked with furrowed brows, looking strangely at him as she picked on the simple breakfast he made. The coffee was especially good. He got the beans fresh from a farmer in Brazil.
He shrugged, “Nothing.”
A pink streak crossed her face. Perhaps she thought he was awake, to begin with. Perhaps, she knew ab
As much as Howard was a billionaire, he was the type to have everything in his own home. Including his own funeral.The atmosphere was high-strung with tensions. One which should not exist in an event like this. However, when Edric was the one who headed the whole event, it was to be expected.People in their black suits and black dresses, holding a glass of something to relax for a while. Carnations around the corridor, on each corner of the rooms, with one grand coffin made from the best wood material, polished to a shine, and half-opened to the guest.It was propped up in front of the room. Taller than any of them from being placed on a high platform. Even dead, Howard refused to be lower than anyone.Ryan turned his eyes away from the coffin that seemed to call his name.Many people looked at him and Violet when they stepped feet inside the house, and even more so when he stopped on his track, rerouting away from his father’s coffin.
Ryan gripped his wife’s hand as he looked around the room.Aside from the carnation flowers and mourning people in black attires, the room itself was kind of ordinary. At least, for people who was born with silver spoon in their mouth. But, for him … it was just his old childhood house.The same wall his father pushed him against, so that he could easily ram his fist against Ryan’s tiny stomach. The same dining table where his father held him, so that he could lash the belt on his unguarded back. The same ceiling he saw, when his father kicked him again and again.Nothing changed.Except that his father was dead, waiting patiently in his coffin to be buried later today.From the corner of his eye, he saw someone from his past.The woman looked younger than his father. Probably in her late forty or early fifty. Wearing a black dress like any other. The only thing differentiating her from the guest was that she already had a
Chaplin.Rhea watched his movie show once while helping at her uncle's run-down bar. The little television perched on the corner of the room became her sole focus that night. A black and white movie, without any sound, uttered. 'Hilarious,' she thought for the first time. She tumbled down the floor, hitting the table with her palm she should have cleaned, and accidentally spilled the half-empty glass of faded blue liquid. Her stomach hurt, laughing too hard, and she wheezed her breath. She never thought that there was something else that could beat Chaplin's funny show. But then again, she had yet to watch a show called Mr Bean. Her high school classmate back then often talked about it. They said Mr Bean was way funnier than Chaplin. Well, Rhea would only validate their claim after she watched it with her own eyes. So, before that happened, she would stand by her opinion that Chaplin's show was the most hilarious one throughout the entire history of mankind. Now,
Peeep![Congratulations!]TEETS’s notification chimed in the form of a mechanical voice, and a transparent dark panel floated before him. Its golden lines and white letters informed him of his recent progress.[Objective 4 achieved.][However, as TEETS is unable to give Mission and Ability regarding this Objective due to close proximity against another Host, TEETS will offer to level up three Active Abilities or one Passive Ability of Host’s choosing.]Ryan was surprised by it.Not for the special treat, per se, but for the fact that TEETS still counted this as him achieving his objective. He wasn’t the one who killed his father, but somehow TEETS trusted that. Or it could be because of what he did at the end of his eulogy. Perhaps that might be counted as killing his father’s reputation.Nonetheless, he was glad by this turn of events.Ryan couldn’t help the smile, and so he asked TEETS to show hi
Ryan and Violet's new home was located near Orchard Beach, no more than an hour's drive from the Crowne residence.They had a second-story patio overlooking the beach, letting the sea wind caress their face whenever they stood by it. They could garden in there, too, as Ryan specifically wanted the house for it.Violet didn't care, as long as it was far from the traffic and she had a beautiful view every time she opened the window. Especially this morning, right after she woke up from sleep."Beautiful, isn't it?" Ryan said as he brought plates to the dining table. "I wonder why you don't move out of your family's house.""Clearly, that's because I don't want to live alone with you," Violet said, rolling her eyes at his smile. "Scum.""Ouch." Ryan glanced at her the second time, noticing her messy hair and sleepy look. "Didn't sleep well?""Thanks to your creepy family, no.""Well, they tend to make me have nightmares, too. Even after
"Mr. Wilder, can you comment on your inheritance to overtake Ashford Group?"Then, someone else shouted, "Are you surprised that the shareholders are behind your nomination to take over the company?"Ryan faltered a step, sparking a shutter of flashes as he gripped Violet's shoulder more tightly at what he just heard. "What?"Arms clutching recorders immediately shot towards his mouth. With a vacant look in his eyes at the barrage of cameras inching ever closer, he glanced around as if someone would explain the meaning of this nonsense about him taking over the company.The more he remained silent, the more the reporters pressed the same questions over and over again like a broken record. Was he going to take over the Ashford Group?How did he feel about his father's death?Was he ever close to his father?"No comment," Ryan grudgingly spoke.And there he was, thinking that all of these clamoring reporters were here for Violet'
[What is your fifth objective?] 'Why, to expose my mother-in-law's infidelity, of course.' The transparent dark panel floated in front of him, showing his submitted objective. [New objectives have been submitted.] [Objective Five: Expose Marissa Crowne's infidelity.] He couldn't wait to do that. But all things take time, including this. He had to plan it beautifully so that he could make an explosion. But, for now, he had to take other matters first, like– "Oh, and what's this news I heard about?" Jared said to Ryan, looking him up and down in a condescending manner. "I heard that you are the long-lost son of Howard Ashford, who was presumed dead ten years ago. Is that true?" Ryan looked his brother-in-law in the eye. "What if it is?" "Nothing, really." Jared walked away with Violet in his hand, "Even if you return to your old family, I doubt it will be any different. Besides, for a family with unlimited source of money and influence, it's just strange, how you remain under the
That noon, Ryan spent his time sleeping.As opposed to what he said earlier, sleep quickly claimed him when he entered his old bedroom. A small place he called home for the last two years and a half since he was brought here by Violet’s late grandfather.No one bothered him there.Cinos had come earlier and begged him to drive the Spider again. Ryan let that boy run around with that expensive fast car, let the reporters chase Cinos for once, thinking it was him. Then, Bill came around and said he’d prepare some meal later, but he wasn’t that hungry.Liz didn’t say hi, but she peeked at him from Bill’s shoulder and nodded once. Remembering their first meeting, Ryan would call it progress.After that, he was left alone with his thoughts, and then he fell asleep. It was a good nap, he must say. After his hated father’s funeral and the final goodbye he delivered, his energy was spent. He had slept well the night befo