Sarah was finally laid to rest.
The Jackson family had decided not to pursue the matter, so they prepared an extravagant funeral for her. Emily thought it would not have mattered—a glorious ceremony would always mean a lonely grave.
Emily saw Manson at the funeral. It seemed like Second Young Master Jackson had grown thinner within those two days. Even though he looked at peace with the situation, he had also looked weaker.
In a big family like his, his father was not solely his. His father had other families inside and outside of the Jackson family, especially his children from his other women. However, Sarah was Manson’s only family member; it did not matter if he had a father or not.
How could he not feel hopeless after Sarah was gone?
Emily recalled Sarah’s words when she saw Manson’s figure from afar.
“Please…take care of…my son…once in a while…” Her voice still rang in her ears.
A sudden wave of sadness overwhelmed Emily, and her tears nearly trickled down her face. She hated eternal farewell between family members.
When it was their turn to burn the incense as offerings, Emily followed behind Hunter. She was not sure about her status when she burned those incense for Eldest Madam Jackson—Eldest Young Master Jackson had allowed her attendance when she requested to be there. For once, he had no sarcastic remarks for her.
“Second Young Master Jackson.” She went up to Manson and looked at his swollen eyes through her sunglasses and said, “My condolences for your loss.”
Her voice was hoarse, and she was not sure what to say to console that man.
Manson looked at her, his thin lips trembled slightly, but he did not reply to her.
Emily bit her lower lip and said, “Eldest Madam Jackson… Before she passed on, she asked me to tell you to take good care of yourself.”
Manson continued to stare at her in silence.
When Emily was about to turn and walk away, he suddenly asked, “Since she did not mind exposing what she did, why would she kill herself? What else did she tell you?”
Emily shook her head; Sarah had told her nothing else.
Manson stared at Emily; he still had a million questions for her since there were so many things that he could not figure out. However, Liam ushered her away.
“So many things to say to him?” Hunter grimly asked.
“I was just giving him my condolences.” Emily stood behind him with her head lowered.
“Who do you think you are to say such things to him?” Hunter sneered. “The person who forced her mother to die? Or the woman he loves?”
Emily shuddered. Hunter was so frank and did not leave any leeway for her.
Emily had not seen Manson since the funeral. Both of them lived at Jackson’s mansion, but their lives were separated because they were at different estate sections. There had been family banquets, but Hunter did not bring her to any of them. She had lived in the same household as everyone else, but she had nothing to do with anyone there.
A month later, Emily was in exam mode. Hunter had hired a private tutor for her to guide her through her coursework and subject revisions. She felt like she was under house arrest at WongRiver Pavilion for that full month.
Until the day of her examination…
“Emily, what happened to you in the past month?” Lois had cried when she saw her friend. Everyone knew that Eldest Young Master Jackson had kept her at home, but she did not let anyone visit her at the Jackson’s mansion. No one dared to go there either; they did not want to make things more difficult for her.
Emily’s eyes were moist too. She lowered her head as if that could remove her sadness and melancholy. She looked refreshed when she raised her head next.
“I’m okay. I’ve been fine. Don’t I look more fair and plum?” That was not a lie. Hunter had ordered her to eat well daily. If the servants reported that she had not eaten sufficiently, he would torture her until she cried that very night. His heart was stone cold, so it did not matter how she cried and begged, he would not forgive her so easily.
After it had happened twice, Emily did not dare to defy him anymore. She knew she had to eat a lot, and so she did! She did not dare to be careless about it.
Lois looked at her fair and delicate face; plum was not how she would describe her, but Emily would never get fat no matter how much she ate. She had looked healthier, indeed!
Lois did not know what to say, so she could only sigh. “But you…”
“I’m really okay! How am I here if I’m not?” Emily spun in front of her friends and said, “See? I’m alright.”
They did not say anything. She did look healthier, though not as lively as before, and more inert instead.
“It’s good to know that you’re alright.” Terry and Joe had rushed to see her when they knew that she would be in the university that day.
“No problem at all.” She nodded. However, she had something in her mind.
“I have half a day today, as long as I am home by 9 PM. I’d like to visit Sally.”
The exam had lasted the whole morning—it was for two subjects—and they had two more the next day.
After the exam, they did not rush home to study, like the rest of the students. Instead, they went to the hospital.
There was no change to Sally’s physical condition; she was still in a coma. However, her situation had gotten better.
“A mysterious man paid a huge sum of her medical fees, and they are now using the best medication and equipment for Sally.” She was also moved to a luxurious single ward room, and the hospital had arranged for two specialized nurses to care for her. Even though she was still unconscious, she had received the best care that the hospital had to offer.
“The doctor is still saying the same thing. They don’t know when she’ll wake up, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps next month, perhaps…” Lois did not continue.
Emily sat on the edge of the bed and held Sally’s hand. She tried to massage her gently to relax her joints.
Lois said, “The nurses would massage her joints and muscles to help relax her body, and they’re professional. Don’t worry about her.”
Emily nodded.
Nevertheless, as she looked at Sally’s pale face, her heart felt like a needle had pricked it—it was painful! No matter how painful she felt, though, Sally still did not wake up.
After they kept Sally company for about an hour, the nurse finally told them that they had to leave, and they did.
Emily followed everyone back to September Media. She did not expect to run into a man there…