Chapter 31: Chapter 29: The Funeral

Theodore Lockwood, Silas Lockwood’s father, had undergone heart surgery last year. Everyone thought he was recovering well, but the day before Silas and Lydia Sinclair’s engagement, he died of cardiac arrest in a hotel gym due to improper exercise.

The entire Lockwood family was thrown into chaos.

Upon hearing the news, Isla Prescott immediately rushed to the Lockwood residence.

Mrs. Lockwood, Yvette Shaw, was so overcome by the shock that she fainted. As the family’s only son, Silas Lockwood had no time to process the agonizing grief of his father’s sudden death before he had to start dealing with the pressures facing the Lockwood Group.

In the face of life and death, romantic entanglements and all past grudges seemed insignificant.

Isla Prescott stayed by Yvette Shaw’s bedside all night, caring for her. Yvette Shaw was delirious in her sleep, her condition deeply concerning. It wasn’t until she woke the next morning that she could muster the strength to arrange Theodore Lockwood’s funeral and discuss postponing the engagement with the Sinclair Family.

Theodore Lockwood’s funeral was held at the Meritopia Funeral Home.

The mourning hall was set up in the main building of the funeral home. The space, with its nearly ten-meter-high ceiling, was decorated in a solemn and dignified manner. A massive memorial portrait of Theodore Lockwood hung in the center. In the photograph, Theodore was dressed in a suit, his gaze sharp and penetrating, so vivid it was as if he were still of this world. Beneath the portrait rested a priceless coffin of golden-silk nanmu wood, surrounded by white funeral wreaths.

As the Lockwood family’s adopted daughter, Isla Prescott, dressed all in black, stood with Yvette Shaw and Silas Lockwood beside the wreaths to accept condolences from the guests.

A heavy rain fell on the day of the funeral. Despite this, the street outside the funeral home was filled with luxury cars. The elite of Meritopia were all in attendance.

Shane Sterling arrived with two senior executives from the Sterling Group to offer his condolences. He wore a black suit, and perhaps because it was damp with rain, the fabric seemed a deeper black than usual, lending his presence a gravity and composure greater than ever before.

Upon entering, he followed custom by writing his name in the gilt-edged guest book. In the few seconds after he set down the pen, he lifted his eyes and glanced at Isla Prescott.

Their eyes met across the room.

Shane Sterling was the first to look away.

He walked straight to Theodore Lockwood’s memorial portrait and bowed. Once finished, he made his way to Yvette Shaw.

“Auntie, my condolences.”

Shane Sterling took Yvette Shaw’s hands in both of his. Haggard, she nodded. Shane then silently patted Silas Lockwood on the shoulder, letting his hand rest there for a moment as if to lend him strength.

Finally, he approached Isla Prescott.

“My condolences,” he said to Isla Prescott, his tone polite.

Isla Prescott shook his hand.

Soon, the next group of mourners entered.

Isla Prescott had no time to spare for Shane Sterling, unable to even glance at his retreating figure.

The funeral was a long and elaborate affair.

By the end of the day, Isla Prescott was exhausted to the bone.

Silas Lockwood had it even worse.

He had barely slept since Theodore Lockwood’s death, and his body had reached its absolute limit.

The moment the funeral ended, Silas Lockwood slumped onto a sofa in the lounge and fell fast asleep.

As Isla Prescott passed the lounge, she saw him dressed only in his shirt, huddled in a corner of the sofa with his brow deeply furrowed. A sudden wave of sorrow washed over her.

She turned back, found Silas Lockwood’s suit jacket, and draped it over him.

“Dad… Dad… Don’t go…”

Silas Lockwood sobbed softly in his sleep. His hand shot out, gripping Isla Prescott’s arm tightly.

“Dad… Dad…”

Silas gave a sudden, forceful tug, and Isla, caught completely off guard, was pulled into his embrace.

Startled, she was about to struggle free when she caught a glimpse of a tall, imposing figure flash past the doorway out of the corner of her eye.

It was Shane Sterling.

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