Ella jumped out of bed and ran to the door without putting on her slippers.
Samuel hurriedly hung up the phone and ran after her, "Calm down." Samuel wanted to stop Ella from her frantic running, and lifted her up in his arms.
Ella jumped off. Despite being barefooted, she didn"t notice how cold the floor was. "How can I calm down? Didn"t you hear my brother? My parents just died!"
Her parents were gone, and her husband wished to divorce her. Her troubles seemed endless.
She sprinted downstairs, and Samuel followed. He grabbed her arm just as she opened the door.
"Put on your shoes. I"ll take you there."
Ella couldn"t shake off Samuel"s hold on her arm. She quickly slipped into her shoes and waited for Samuel to take her to the hospital Eason had mentioned.
In the car.
Ella was now in a state of utter shock. She muttered, "Eason must have been arguing with Mama and Papa...That"s why he said that. But he can"t curse them in that way! Eason Bo, you are such an unfilial son... Samuel, my parents are still all right, aren"t they? Eason was just kidding, wasn"t he?"
Samuel"s heart ached when he saw her like this.
He grasped her little trembling hand, "You have to embrace reality."
Embrace reality? Ella shivered at the thought.
She was afraid. She was so afraid...
Samuel stopped his car in a relatively empty street, and pulled Ella close. He held the trembling woman to his chest. "I"ll be with you."
He"d be with her? Ella held him tight, "Samuel... I"m by your side... You"re with me... You will always be here for me, right?" Fear had been gnawing at her since she had heard the news, so much so that her brain was unable to construct a complete sentence.
Forgetting all past problems, Samuel stroked her long hair and said, "Yes, I"ll always be here." His presence soothed Ella.
Samuel took a tissue to wipe her tears, "Don"t cry. Let"s go and see what happened."
When they reached the hospital, Eason was in a ward, eyes glazed, sitting in a chair be
“Let"s go and register our marriage on your birthday!”
Marrying Daniel should have been her best birthday gift, but everything was ruined the moment when she caught him sleeping with another woman on the day before her birthday.
“He’s going to marry that woman! She... was my best friend!"
ld her that too.
Although Viola was sympathetic to Ella"s plight, she hadn"t wanted Jerry to come. After a few minutes, she took Jerry from Ella"s arms, "Jerry and I will be outside."
Jerry was Ella"s only comfort now. She didn"t let go, "Mother, let him be with me for a while, I"ll bring him to you later."
"Jerry is so young...I don"t want anything sinister to haunt him."
"Viola Yang!" Shouted Vincent, "What the heck are you talking about?"
Viola stared at him in disbelief. Was she wrong? Although unhappy, she dare not refute Vincent. Viola left the mourning hall.
Ella could not believe what Viola had implied. She now lost all respect for her mother-in-law...
Vincent was a little embarra.s.sed. He tried to explain to Ella, "Ella, Viola has different beliefs. Please forgive her." His wife was generally okay, but she didn"t know how to talk to people.
Ella tried to smile, "Sure, father." Then she watched Vincent take Melody"s arm, and lead her out of the mourning hall.
A man appeared at the door. He was dressed in a black suit and a black shirt.
He put a bouquet of white chrysanthemums in front of the portrait, and bowed respectfully three times.
"Sum." Ella was so touched by his act. She greeted him. Since her parents pa.s.sing, Sum had called frequently to comfort her. She was deeply grateful.