215 It Doesn’t Matter Who I Am
Frank’s funeral was held on Saturday.
Frank once said that he wished that he could be buried together with Anna’s mother, Olivia. When Shirley learned about it, she cried so hard at the funeral that she even fainted. She did, however, eventually agree to do so.
However, it didn’t matter if she said yes or not because Anna didn’t agree on this. Also, Anna’s aunt Selina refused his request. Therefore, Frank’s relatives found another cemetery for him and placed his grave just across the path from Olivia’s.
“Frank, don’t worry. I will take care of my daughter and manage the company well. As you know, my brother’s children are all adults now. So, they can all inherit your company according to your will.” Shirley said. Her words made the funeral look like a share distribution meeting instead.
Anna couldn’t take it any longer. She froze and stood there for a few moments before quietly walking away.
Anna felt sentimental.
Frank had started this business with no money at all. He had worked hard for the company all his life, but Shirley took it away from him when he died. To be honest, Anna didn’t think Frank would leave all of his possessions to Shirley and her family in his will. She felt that if he had considered the order, he would have given his money to Allie first.
However, Anna felt that since Frank had passed away, she no longer needed to be around the Gabriels. Before leaving, Anna paid a visit to her mother’s grave. She knelt and pulled the weeds away from the tombstone.
She wept out in despair after seeing her mother’s picture on the tombstone. She said, “Mom, do you see my father in heaven? I’ve actually taken it upon myself to forgive him. I don’t think you would want me to hate him, though. Grandpa told me that the biggest thing you used to expect from me was that I would live my life in peace.”
Anna talked to her mother until she felt she could no longer stand on her own two feet. Then, she was going to walk away when she saw a woman dressed in black standing behind her.
When Anna first saw the woman, she saw that she was wearing a white flower on her shirt, which was a stark contrast to her black shirt. Anna recognized that it was Shirley.
Shirley gave Anna a frigid stare and said meanly, “I‘ve been looking for you everywhere, and I wasn’t expecting you to show up here! Anna, I don’t have time to play games with you right now.”
Anna sensed the irony. Shirley used to always act like a good stepmother to Anna in front of Frank. After Frank’s death, however, she became extremely hostile toward her.
Shirley grumbled and gave Anna a dismissive glance. Her movements appeared to be quite smooth, as if she had practiced them. She said, “The funeral is over now, Anna. But,
are you sure you don’t want to hear his will?”
Anna frowned and asked, “Did his will mention me?”
Shirley burst out laughing, then said, “What a pity! You know, he didn’t even mention you in his will! That’s so funny! Although he loved you so much, he didn’t leave you anything.”
Shirley’s smug expression made Anna feel so uneasy that she wanted to vomit.
“Hey, Olivia, can you see what’s happening now? You loved your daughter so much, didn’t you? In fact, Frank didn’t think she was worth a dime. Did you know that he left your daughter with nothing?” Shirley said as she stared wide-eyed at Olivia’s picture on the tombstone.
She looked very resentful, as if she had finally found an outlet for her resentment that had been building up for years.
Anna stood in front of the tombstone, and then said grimly, “Shirley, I hope that you can respect my mother. She’s dead, and you have no reason to humiliate her.”
Shirley laughed and said, “Humiliate? Well, your mother used to humiliate me when she was alive. She thought she had the right to treat me that way because she was a rich woman. But, she died. Olivia, you have completely lost to me! Do you think your stupid daughter is a match for me?”
Hearing Shirley’s words, Anna shivered with anger. She said through gritted teeth, “Shut your filthy mouth!”
“What?! Who are you to tell me to order me? You know, I always wanted to do this to you long ago. “After saying that, Shirley suddenly put her hand up.
It was drizzling at that time. When Anna lifted her head, she felt a drop of rain fall on her eyelashes. She couldn’t help but close her eyes. And she realized it was too late, so she had no time to dodge away.
However, Anna did not get a slap from Shirley as she had expected. Shirley gave a startled cry, then asked, “What? Who the hell are you?!”
Anna then heard a voice that she was familiar with. That voice was low, firm, and seemed very domineering.
Shirley suddenly burst out laughing after looking at them for a while. She said, “Anna, you are indeed an expert at using men! You have already seduced Wayne, and you felt that was not enough. So, you also seduced another man. You’re really great good at that! You…”
2/3
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Falling in Love With A One-Night Stand