Chapter 47
Vibeh she arrived as the venue, the eulogy was already being read aloud by the host.
na ne entends, es, all dressed in somber black, filled the room with a sea of mourning attire. Meblondered their crisp black suits, while women wore their elegant black dresses, recreation on overwhelming presence of solemnity.
The hemoroisptive was thick with grief, hanging over the congregation like a heavy shroud.
Jelene alght sight of Leanne, her furrowed brow and disapproving gaze conveying a
entreprimandnd.
Pepple meound he began to follow Jennifer’s stare, turning their heads towards Leanne.
Leance, 10 hotwanging to cause a scene and disrupt the respectful silence for the departed, pened atalhadorguretat fan from Jennifer and scurried over, crouching slightly as she quickit toobelsea at
Volsooperand shsseledled in than she noticed the man beside her stiffen..
leifers placerte baneres evenmore intense, as if her eyes were about to bulge out from
her face.de
The scrutinizing coks fromontesers in the room multiplied.
Leanna felt bewederecundacerechein rezes, sensing the awkwardness in the air and nstinctively alapboat at the hambabeside het And then she froze.
The mean snting nendo hetwossuutis is, but his elder brother, Phillip.
the brothers shared adstriking resepetanda ce in susture and features, making it difficult to listinguish them from behincind.
hillip, being the airiest, carried himself witwithdad geified composure, while Curtis had a store casual and relish chattar which was an argibly the more handsome of the two.
Raised from childhood as the heinepparent toneRetardison Group, Phillip exuded an fura of responsibility and nobility. Curtis, in the of ether hand, always had that rogueish,
ristocratic flair that drew attention.on
pelanthe felt as though she was sating on pinsiandindededles.
she rushed to the side of Phillip at such aloparavevant in full view of everyone was
alwd to wondertennifer was glaring at hater
be heing her discomfort, Phillip spoke in a deep voiced Bobon’s benervous. We’re all family
here.
ceapple apologized with an embarrassed expressionptim sorry, Phillip thought you were Curtis.”
Chapter 47
Both of them possessed unique wristwatches, gifted by a family elder and custom-made to be one of a kind, distinguished only by the initials on their dials. “CT” was for Curtis and “PL” for Phillip
Phillip had been away on business and had only just returned.
In her rush and under the intense scrutiny of Jennifer’s scaring stare, Leanne had mistaken the similar figure and watch for Curtis.
Such a mistake was almost an embarrassment to any eye-doctor.
“When did you get back?” she asked.
“This morning at six,” Phillip replied.
Leanne nodded, understanding that he must have rushed back just for the memorial
service.
“Curtis is in the back, Phillip added.
Leanne turned around, unprepared for the direct eye contact with Curtis.
He was seated a row behind, looking sharp in his immaculately tailored black suit and meticulously knotted tie.
He sat with his legs crossed, his handsome face showing an icy indifference devoid of emotion. His gaze was equally frosty.
When Leanne noticed the woman next to him, she was taken aback.
Suzan was clad in an elegant black dress with a scarf adding a touch of color around her neck, looking refined and tasteful.
Suzan offered her a smile, “It’s been a long time, Leanne.”
“Indeed,” Leanne responded with a polite and forced smile before shifting her gaze away.
The eulogy, eloquent and moving, failed to capture Leanne’s attention. The deceased was a mere acquaintance, someone she had only met once or twice during the Richardson. family’s holiday gatherings. Beyond the obligatory respectful exchanges due to her junior status, there was no real connection.
She knew Uncle Kyle had been close to Curtis, watching him grow up, but she had never really known him or received any kindness from him.
As the memorial drew to a close and others wept, Leanne couldn’t shed a single tear.
ad never been her forte.
soon as it was over, Jennifer beckoned Leanne over for a predictable scolding due to her late arrival and public embarrassment.
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