Chapter 5
660 Words
Rage surged through Flora.
"Yes," she said through clenched teeth. "I was jealous. I'm sorry, everyone. I'm sorry, Ms. Sawyer."
She bent down in a deep bow, then turned and hurried away.
The media still would not let it go. Questions kept crashing in from every direction.
"Will your wedding still happen as planned?"
Jonathan did not even look at Flora. He spoke first.
"Of course," he said firmly.
The reporters slowly began to disperse.
Jonathan looked satisfied. He reached out for Flora's hand.
"Flora, I'll go with you to the hospital. Your mother's surgery should be done by now."
She shoved his hand away in disgust and ran out without looking back.
She barely made it outside before crashing into a young nurse.
The nurse looked terrified.
"Ms. Keenan, hurry," she said, out of breath. "Go to the hospital. Your mother is trying to jump from the rooftop."
Flora froze for a second.
Then she ran.
She rushed to the hospital in panic, stumbling all the way. A crowd had already gathered below the rooftop.
Her adoptive mother sat quietly on the edge. Her eyes looked empty. She stared down at the crowd like she had already given up.
"With a shameless daughter who twists the truth, no wonder she wants to die," someone said.
"I heard she is very sick. Now that Flora cannot skate anymore, she has nothing left. Jonathan is different. He is the heir to Lane Group. Maybe she is trying to force the marriage," another voice added.
"So pathetic. All this just to get into Lane Group. No shame at all. They're both the same," someone sneered.
Flora heard every word.
Her anger exploded.
"Shut up!"
She dropped to her knees on the ground. Tears streamed down her face.
"Mom, come down," she begged. "Please come down. I will not marry him. We will start over. Just us."
Her adoptive mother suddenly heard her voice.
Her empty eyes lit up for a moment.
"Flora, you came?"
"Tell them," she cried out. "Tell them everything was fake. They forced you, right?"
"That man already betrayed you. I saw it myself yesterday. We do not need him," she said bitterly.
Flora shook her head hard.
"Yes. I do not need him. Just come down. Mom, I only need you."
Her adoptive mother's gaze slowly went blank again. She looked at Flora with deep sorrow, like a broken puppet.
"It is my fault," she whispered. "This sickness dragged you down. I am sorry, Flora.
"If I am gone, no one can force you anymore."
She slowly stood up. A faint smile touched her lips.
Then she opened her arms like a falling leaf in the wind and stepped off the edge.
"Flora, you have always been my pride and joy," she said softly.
Flora screamed.
"No!"
A heavy thud echoed through the air.
Bright red blood spread slowly as her adoptive mother lay still on the ground.
Flora's mind shattered.
She crawled forward on shaking hands. Her voice broke apart.
"Mom, don't leave me."
No one noticed Nina slip away in the background with a faint smile on her lips.
Jonathan rushed forward and pulled Flora into his arms.
"Flora, I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I did not think it would come to this."
Flora's eyes turned blood red with rage. She lashed out at him.
"Jonathan," she screamed emphatically, "you killed my mother! You told me she was already in surgery.
"Why did she watch that press conference?"
Her voice broke into a scream.
"Everything was a lie. I will make you pay!"
Reporters rushed forward again. Cameras flashed.
"What really happened?"
"Was everything at the press conference a lie?"
"Why did her mother jump? What did Jonathan do?"
Jonathan panicked. He struck the back of Flora's neck hard.
Her breath stopped.
Her body went limp.
She fainted in his arms.
He lifted her up.
"Flora is overwhelmed with grief," he said coldly. "Stop bothering her."
- Writer
