He Came Back With Money After Everything Was Gone Chapter 04

He Came Back With Money After Everything Was Gone Chapter 04

In the morning, a light rain began to fall.

The cemetery was at Westside Memorial Park.

Alone, holding an umbrella, I watched the staff place the urn into the grave.

I thought I would cry.

But my eyes were only dry and swollen.

Not a single tear fell.

I placed a bouquet of white lilies before the grave marker.

“Dad, I’m leaving.”

The photo on the headstone was damp from the rain.

I raised my hand to wipe it, only to find my fingertips cold.

I could no longer touch his palm.

Many years ago, there had been another light rain like this.

That day, I had a high fever.

Dad carried me to the hospital on his back, and Nathan followed beside us with an umbrella.

He tilted almost the entire umbrella over me, leaving half his own shoulder soaked.

But now, on another rainy day, the man who said he would stay with me forever was not by my side.

When I returned to the city, it was already noon.

My black trench coat had grown heavy with rain.

Mud from the cemetery clung to my cuffs.

My reflection appeared in the car window.

My face was pale as paper.

I raised a hand to wipe the corner of my mouth, only to see ash from the burned offerings still on

my fingertips.

I went to the Reed mansion.

I was there to get the rest of my things.

When I opened the door, the sound of the TV came from the living room.

Nathan sat on the couch.

Chloe leaned against him.

A cashmere throw was draped over her shoulders.

That was the birthday gift my father had picked for me himself.

Back then, he had teased me for being afraid of the cold.

“Even after you get married, don’t let yourself suffer.”

But now, that throw was on Chloe.

She was curled up in my bridal suite, leaning against my husband, warming herself with something

my

father had left for me.

My fingers curled at my side.

I wanted badly to walk over and take it back.

In the end, I only looked away.

Forget it.

My father was gone.

What was a blanket compared to that?

When they heard the door open, both of them turned.

When Nathan saw me, his face instantly darkened.

“So you still know how to come back?”

His gaze fell on my trench coat, and his frown deepened.

“Who are you wearing all black for?”

After he said it, he brushed his sleeve as if warding off bad luck.

I looked down at the mud on my cuff.

I did not explain.

I was afraid that if I opened my mouth, I would not be able to hold back my sobs.

I ignored him and went straight toward the stairs.

Nathan strode over and grabbed my wrist.

“Can’t you hear me talking to you?”

“You hung up on me last night, blocked me, and now you’re showing me that grim expression.”

“Vivian Hale, do you think I’m too easygoing?”

I looked at his hand around my wrist.

“Let go.”

Nathan sneered.

Not only did he refuse to let go, he tightened his grip.

“Are you

still making trouble over the Hale funding?”

“Let me tell you something. You didn’t come to the gala last night, so Hale Group’s final chance is

gone.”

“This morning, I already had our partners pull back the temporary credit facility they had promised Hale Group.”

He stared into my eyes.

“Your father must be completely backed into a corner by the loan sharks by now.

Nathan looked down at me.

“Vivian Hale, aren’t you supposed to be so devoted to your father?”

“Kneel and beg me now.”

“Maybe I’ll let your father suffer a little less.”

I looked at him and said nothing.

My father had already been buried.

He would never suffer again.

Chloe stood from the couch and walked to Nathan’s side.

She looked at me with a faint smile.

“Miss Hale, Mr. Reed is only doing this for your own good. If you back down, this will all be over,

won’t it?”

She paused, then added softly,

“Chairman Hale is getting older. He can’t keep being cornered by creditors forever.”

“If something really happens, it’ll be too late for regrets.”

Nathan released my wrist.

“Enough. Stop making a scene. Go change. This afternoon, you’re coming with me to the family

estate.”

Just then, his phone on the coffee table rang.

It was Ethan Hale.

Nathan answered irritably.

“What is it?”

On the other end, Ethan’s voice was shaking.

“Nathan… where are you right now?”

“At home. Why?”

“You need to come to the precinct.”

Nathan frowned.

“Why would I go to the precinct?”

“Detective Miller from police headquarters just called me. He said Mr. Hale’s case has been closed,

and there are still several next-of-kin documents that need to be signed.”

“He couldn’t reach Vivian, so he called me.’

Ethan took a deep breath.

His voice was hoarse.

“Mr. Hale fell from the corporate rooftop three days ago.”

“This morning was his burial.”

The living room went dead silent.

Nathan’s hand, still holding the phone, froze in midair.

Slowly, he turned his head.

He looked at the black trench coat I was wearing.

He looked at the mud still smeared on my cuff.

It was as if he finally realized something.

“Impossible.”

His voice trembled.

“Vivian Hale, tell him not to make this kind of joke with me.”

Nathan stared at me.

“Vivian Hale, speak! Tell me this is a show you’re putting on to force me to invest.”

“Say it!”

I looked at him.

So even now, his first reaction was still that I was acting.

I did not explain.

I only took a sheet of paper from my bag and placed it on the coffee table.

Nathan lowered his head.

It was a death certificate.

The time of death was written clearly in the box.

It was exactly when he had turned off his phone and stayed with Chloe at the hospital.

Nathan’s pupils constricted.

The next second, the phone slipped from his hand and dropped onto the carpet.