Tangled Hearts

Chapter 5: The Final Goodbye

Henny Chan’s death, though shrouded in uncertainty, was officially ruled a suicide. The investigation was brief, and soon enough, the focus shifted from the mystery of his death to the task of laying him to rest. The small, quiet funeral home was filled with mourners—family, friends, and colleagues—each paying their respects to the man who had once been a pillar of strength in their community.

Cathy stood by her father’s casket, her heart heavy with grief. The past few days had been a blur of pain, disbelief, and anger. The reality of her father’s death was still hard to accept, and the sight of his lifeless body made it all the more real. She felt numb, barely able to hold herself together as people came up to offer their condolences.

The air in the room was thick with the scent of flowers and incense, a mix that only seemed to deepen Cathy’s sadness. She wanted to cry, to scream, to do anything to release the pain that was tearing her apart, but she couldn’t. Not here, not in front of all these people. Instead, she kept her face composed, nodding politely to each person who approached, though she barely registered their words.

As Cathy stood there, lost in her own world of sorrow, she noticed a stir among the mourners. Heads turned, and the whispers grew louder as a tall, distinguished man entered the room. Edward King, the powerful millionaire who controlled the vast King Conglomerate, had arrived. His presence commanded attention, and even in a room filled with grief, his arrival sparked a wave of curiosity and awe.

By his side was his son, Rey King. Rey had the same aura of confidence and power as his father, but there was something more—something that made Cathy’s heart skip a beat. She had known Rey when they were children, back when their fathers’ businesses had brought their families together from time to time. He had always been handsome, but now, at twenty-one, he was breathtaking.

Rey looked bored, as if he would rather be anywhere else but there. He scanned the room with mild interest, his eyes eventually landing on Cathy. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and Cathy’s heart fluttered in her chest. But the moment passed as quickly as it had come, and Rey’s gaze moved on, uninterested.

Edward King made his way through the crowd, nodding politely to those who greeted him. When he reached Cathy, he offered her a warm, if somewhat formal, smile. “Cathy,” he said, his voice deep and smooth, “I’m so sorry for your loss. Your father was a good man and a dear friend.”

Cathy forced a smile, grateful for his words. “Thank you, Mr. King. My father always spoke highly of you.”

Edward nodded, glancing at the casket. “He’ll be missed by many.” He then turned his attention to Alodia, who had positioned herself nearby, ever vigilant. “Alodia, my condolences. I know this must be a difficult time for you.”

Alodia’s eyes lit up at Edward’s acknowledgment, and she stepped forward, her demeanor suddenly more poised and confident. “Thank you, Mr. King. It’s been a trying time, but we’re doing our best to hold everything together.”

Edward gave her a nod of respect. “That’s good to hear. Henny built something worth preserving. I’m sure you’ll manage things well in his absence.”

As Edward and Alodia continued to talk, Cathy felt herself fading into the background. She couldn’t help but notice how Alodia seemed to command Edward’s attention, her charm and grace on full display. It was as if she were already moving on, securing her place in a world where Henny was no longer a part. Cathy’s heart ached with the realization that her father was truly gone, and with him, any sense of security she had once known.

As Cathy watched the exchange between Edward and Alodia, she felt a presence beside her. Turning, she saw Rey standing there, his gaze fixed on something—or rather, someone—across the room. Cathy followed his gaze and felt her stomach drop when she saw who he was looking at.

Eloise.

Eloise, with her delicate features and graceful demeanor, was standing by the entrance, talking quietly with a family friend. She was dressed in a simple black dress that somehow made her look even more beautiful, her long dark hair cascading over her shoulders. There was an elegance to her that drew people in, and it was clear that Rey had been caught in her spell.

Rey’s lips curved into a slight smile as he watched Eloise, his eyes filled with interest. He didn’t seem to notice Cathy standing right beside him, didn’t see the way her face fell, the way her heart shattered for the second time in so many days. All he saw was Eloise.

Cathy’s breath caught in her throat. She had always had a crush on Rey, ever since they were children. He had been her secret fantasy, the boy she had admired from afar, even though she knew she could never be anything more than a distant acquaintance. But now, seeing him look at Eloise with that same admiration, that same interest, was too much to bear.

Cathy wanted to turn away, to leave the room and escape the pain that was now ripping through her. But she couldn’t move, couldn’t tear her eyes away from the scene unfolding before her. She watched as Rey made his way across the room, his focus entirely on Eloise.

When he reached her, Cathy saw Eloise’s face light up with a shy smile. Rey said something, and Eloise laughed softly, her hand coming up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. It was clear from their body language that there was an instant connection, a spark that had ignited the moment they laid eyes on each other.

Cathy felt a wave of nausea wash over her. This was supposed to be her father’s wake, a time to mourn the loss of the man who had been her everything. But now, it felt like her world was collapsing all over again. First, she had lost her father, and now, she was losing the one thing she had secretly held onto for so long—a sliver of hope that maybe, just maybe, Rey would notice her one day.

But it was clear now that he never would.

As Rey and Eloise continued to talk, oblivious to the rest of the room, Cathy felt tears sting her eyes. She couldn’t stay there any longer. Without saying a word, she turned and hurried out of the room, desperate to escape before anyone could see her break down.

She found herself in a small, dimly lit hallway just outside the main room. Leaning against the wall, Cathy let out a shaky breath, her body trembling with the force of her emotions. She pressed her hands to her face, trying to hold back the sobs that threatened to escape.

How could everything have gone so wrong? How could she lose so much in such a short amount of time? Her father was gone, her family was fractured, and now, the one person she had silently hoped for was slipping through her fingers.

It was too much. Cathy slid down the wall, her knees giving out beneath her, and she buried her face in her hands, finally allowing herself to cry. The tears came in a flood, hot and fast, and she couldn’t stop them. All the pain, all the fear, all the heartbreak came pouring out as Cathy wept alone in that dark hallway.

She didn’t know how long she sat there, but by the time the tears finally stopped, Cathy felt hollow and empty. The world she had known, the world where her father was alive and Rey was a distant dream, was gone. And in its place was a cold, harsh reality that Cathy wasn’t sure she was strong enough to face.

But she had no choice.

She had to keep going, had to find a way to survive in this new world where nothing made sense anymore. Wiping her tears away, Cathy took a deep breath and forced herself to stand. She couldn’t hide forever. She had to return to the wake, had to say goodbye to her father, even if it meant facing the pain all over again.

As she walked back into the room, Cathy steeled herself, trying to push down the hurt and anger that still simmered inside her. She could see Rey and Eloise still talking, still lost in their own little world. But this time, Cathy didn’t stop to watch. She couldn’t afford to. She had to focus on what mattered—honoring her father’s memory and finding a way to move forward.