Chapter 6
760 Words
Flora drifted in and out of a foggy sleep. She had no idea how long she had been unconscious. In her dreams, only childhood memories kept coming back.
Once, she fell into the artificial lake in the park while playing. Her adoptive mother could not swim. She still jumped in without a second thought. She pulled Flora up with all her strength and almost lost her own life.
On the way home from school, thugs once cornered her. Her adoptive mother rushed in with a knife and fought them head-on without fear.
When Flora won her championship, her adoptive mother stood outside the arena. She was so excited she told everyone she met, "That is my daughter. That is my girl!"
Now that same woman lay there, still and silent.
Grief kept eating at Flora's heart. A strange pressure rose in her chest. She suddenly sat up.
"Mom..."
Jonathan held her tightly.
"Flora, I'm sorry," he said softly. "I did not think your mom would do something like that. It was just an accident."
Flora pushed him away with a blank face.
"Jonathan, do you think a mere sorry can bring my mother back?" she said coldly.
Jonathan felt an uneasy chill in his chest when he saw her ice-cold eyes. He tried to hold her again, but she avoided him without hesitation.
"Jon, the funeral is ready," Nina said from the doorway like she belonged there.
If not for her lies, if not for Jonathan forcing Flora to apologize at the press conference, her adoptive mother would never have reached that breaking point.
Now Nina even had the nerve to be in charge of the funeral.
The moment Flora saw her, her whole body shook. She grabbed the glass from the bedside table and threw it.
"Get out!"
The glass struck Nina's forehead. She covered the wound and looked pitiful.
"Flora, I do not blame you for being upset," she said softly. "I only want to help. We should let your mother rest in peace."
"I told you to get out! Are you deaf?" Flora shouted. "I do not want to see you!"
Jonathan frowned. His face turned dark at once. He walked over and checked Nina's injury.
Nina leaned into his arms, looking weak and fragile.
"Jon, I'm fine. It does not hurt," she said faintly.
Jonathan turned his sharp gaze to Flora. It was full of anger.
"Apologize," he ordered.
Flora looked at him in disbelief. He felt like a stranger now.
"You want me to apologize to the person who killed my mother?" she asked. "Not a chance."
Jonathan's eyes turned cold. He ordered the servants nearby.
"Ms. Keenan is unstable. Watch her. She will attend the funeral tomorrow."
He left with Nina.
A servant Flora had never seen before walked in and kicked her hard in the knees. She fell straight to the ground.
"Mr. Lane said Ms. Keenan has been more and more unreasonable. She needs to be taught a lesson," the servant said flatly.
That night, they forced her to kneel through the entire night.
The next morning, Jonathan returned. The servant quickly reported.
"Mr. Lane, Ms. Keenan has come around. She is kneeling here as an apology to Ms. Sawyer."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Jonathan's eyes. He pulled her up from the ground.
"Flora, that is better. Let us go. The funeral is starting."
Flora looked completely lifeless. She said nothing. She held her adoptive mother's ashes and walked toward the cemetery.
Heavy rain poured from the sky.
The entire training base came to say goodbye. The procession stretched far. Nina stood among them again.
Jonathan spoke coldly to Flora.
"Do not cause trouble for Nina again. She already forgave you and still came to pay her respects. You should be grateful."
After kneeling all night, every step felt like needles stabbing her knees. Flora felt numb inside. She no longer had the strength to argue.
Thunder rolled above. Funeral music echoed through the rain.
As her adoptive mother's ashes were lowered into the ground, Flora felt her heart break apart.
She knelt in front of the grave and refused to stand.
"Leave me alone. I want to stay with my mom a little longer," she said quietly.
Everyone slowly left.
Nina sneezed a few times and was pulled away by Jonathan.
Time passed. Night slowly fell.
Behind her, Nina's voice suddenly rang out again. It was no longer soft or demure. It turned sharp and mocking.
"Flora, do you really think you are praying in front of your adoptive mother?"
- Writer
