Catalina's high-heeled shoes also ‘accidentally’ kicked over the incense burner on the offering table. The ashes were scattered all over the floor.
After the funeral, I stood alone in the empty funeral hall, looking at the mess on the ground. My daughter's last photo was of a grinning scar. I gently wiped away the dust on the glass.
I whispered, “Jocelyn, I will take you home.”
***
Back to the villa, I packed all my stuff in silence. I put my daughter's toys, clothes and picture albums into the suitcase one by one.
Finally, I picked up the divorce agreement on the coffee table. I also signed my name with a single stroke.
I said briefly, “Geoffrey Ethelbert, from now on, you and I will never see each other again in life or death. I swear!”
Before leaving, I looked back at this place that I once called home. The surface of the swimming pool was calm and wave-free as if it had never swallowed the life of a child. I closed the door and left without looking back.
I hugged my daughter's urn and said softly, “My lovely Jocelyn, we are free now.”
***
Meanwhile, at the other place, the banquet was filled with drinks. The crystal chandeliers were also shining.
“Mr. Geoffrey, congratulations. I heard that Ms. Catalina is pregnant?”
A certain boss smiled and toasted with Geoffrey. Geoffrey's lips were slightly hooked at this moment. His fingertips rubbed Catalina's waist and nodded.
Catalina shyly lowered her head and stroked over her flat belly. But a panic flashed under her eyes.
Right at this moment, Vincent Maverick, the president of Maverick Group, held up the champagne and walked over to this side.
Geoffrey frowned for a while. He stared intently at his business rival.
He had previously intercepted Vincent's overseas cooperation by underhanded means, causing the Maverick Family to lose hundreds of millions of dollars.
Now he was naturally a bit defensive towards him. Vincent's eyes were cold, but there was a smile on his lips that he was determined to win.
Vincent said, “I heard that on the day of the burial of Mr. Theodore’s grandchild, you were accompanying your new love to try on wedding dresses?”
Geoffrey's face sank suddenly. “Mr. Vincent, you will be held legally responsible for spreading rumours.”
Vincent laughed lightly. He then raised his hand to sign something. The next second, the giant screen in the banquet hall lit up.
The surveillance video of the emergency room resuscitation was played little by little until death was announced. The death certificate was written in black and white:
Name: Jocelyn Ethelbert
Cause of death: Acute respiratory failure caused by drowning.
And the time of death was exactly the day he gave little punishment to his daughter. On the screen, Geoffrey hung up more than a dozen phone calls, the last call recording only a few seconds.
I cried and called him at that moment. Unfortunately, he indifferently said, “If you want to die, die far away”.
Geoffrey stumbled back. He knocked over the champagne tower. He rushed to the front of the screen.
He said with a hoarse voice, “This…this is impossible!”
