The CEO’ s second choice novel Chapter 47

　　Sebastian

　　The air is thick with mourning. And sick curiosity.

　　Elena and I are leading the funeral procession as we leave the church for the cemetery. She has been quiet ever since we came back from Paris and I have to admit that it was jarring. Where our villa used to be filled with her voice and laughter, now there was… nothing. I know it has to do with not making peace with my mother before the accident. Elena has a soft heart, so this is affecting her more than it has me. I have never had a proper relationship with my parents, but they doted on Elena, my mother even more so.

　　When we arrive at the cemetery, I lace my fingers with hers and hold her close. The Dumont tomb isn’t too far into the cemetery and we reach it sooner than I anticipated. My eyes fall on Robert and Eliana as they take up the front with me. Robert looked crushed at this. And I know he wasn’t faking it because Eliana has said he has been hitting the whiskey harder than usual. Our eyes meet and I see nothing behind his own but pain. I never knew that he and my father were that close, which just goes to show how close I was with him. I almost knew nothing of Spencer Dumont. He only taught me from a young age how to be business savvy and I must say I was thankful for his tutelage. Without my father’s lessons instilled in me, I wouldn’t be where I was right now. I send up a thankful prayer to him and God for giving me a father as amazing as him.

　　The preacher takes centre stage in front of the tomb and starts his sermon as my parents’ caskets get wheeled inside and placed in their respective slots. I held Elena close and felt her body tremble with sobs and as soon as the pastor ended his sermon and the tomb closed, Elena fell to the ground and a loud wail emanated from her. Oh, love! I held her as she continued to sob. “I didn’t make amends, Sebastian! I didn’t apologise and now I will never get the chance to!” She exclaims and what else could I do but comfort my wife as she let out her pain. “Shhh, my love. It’s okay, It’s okay, Mother knew, she knew but she was just stubborn.” I tell her and Elena looks up at me. “Really?” she asks, looking so small.

　　I nod sadly, it was true. My mother planned to invite us over for supper when we got back and apologise to Elena in person. I tell her this, and it seems to make her sob even louder. “I’m so sorry, Mirabelle!” she calls out and I continue to stroke her hair and kiss it while whispering assurances. I looked up and caught Eliana’s eye. She seemed shocked at her sister’s mourning, but then again I understood why. My mother never liked Eliana when we were together. Robert, on the other hand, has sat down and is currently sobbing silently, understanding Elena’s tears all too well.

　　“Come, my love. Let’s go home.” I tell her as she wipes her tears away and blows her nose. She nods and holds out her hand for me to take when she gets up and we make our way to the waiting Phantom. Elena was in more pain than she let on and I am not sure I can do much more than be there for her. Their deaths took a lot out of her, but she didn’t know what this meant for us now.

　　The reading of my parent’s will was a day ago, and they named me the sole beneficiary in all of Dumont Enterprises, even our Paris branch. But I have handed Paris over to Robert when before he was only CFO, now he was CEO and Paris Dumont Enterprises belonged to him. When I did this, he looked shocked, as if he did not expect it but it was the least I could do after my father barely left him anything. What made me so special in my father’s eyes that he left his legacy to me? My mother left her gems and Dumont Castle to Elena, as well as her library collection hidden in The Alps. I haven’t told Elena this yet, but I will soon.