AN UNEXPECTED GROOM

Roxane’s expression was dull and she didn’t react.

Enzo’s phoenix eyes looked at Sebastian skeptically as he asked:

– Can you do it or not?

Sebastian’s deep eyes were filled with heartache. After a moment of silence, he lowered his head and whispered in Roxane’s ears.

She suddenly trembled. Then, it seemed as if his senses and his soul gradually returned to him. Shortly after, she let Agnes go. His lips and teeth were stained with blood; they contrasted sharply with his extremely pale face. She turned to look at Enzo calmly and shouted with a bloody mouth:

– Brother…

Enzo was relieved when he saw that she had finally come to her senses. He held her hand and said:

– I am here. Your brother is here…

– Grandma… left…

Roxane’s eyes were red as she looked at Enzo. Then she lowered her head.

Enzo’s eyes turned red and tears shone in his eyes. Even though he seemed uncaring and wasn’t very close to his grandmother, she was his biological grandmother after all. How can you not be saddened by the death of a family member?

Roxane frowned. An expression of sorrow and also confusion could be seen as she muttered:

– Grandma is gone…

It was as if she couldn’t understand or accept her grandmother’s sudden departure. She had just seen her grandmother yesterday. They talked and laughed, and she even promised to bring Sebastian to visit. She even bought her grandmother the peach pastry she loved.

Enzo’s tears couldn’t help but flow when he saw the state Roxane was in. Not wanting to be seen by others, he quickly turned to the side and wiped away his tears.

– You you…

Roxane didn’t seem to hear Enzo. She got off Agnes’ body and stood up. Her head was bowed as she left the room, muttering to herself:

– Grandma is gone, grandma is gone… I won’t see her again. I can’t talk to her, I can’t hug her, I can’t feel her warmth anymore…

Sebastien and Enzo stood up. They exchanged a look and saw similar worried expressions on each other’s faces.

Roxane was raised by Old Madam Alvarez, so her bond with Old Madam Alvarez was very deep. Now that she was gone, how could Roxane bear such a blow?

After leaving the security room, Roxane walked out of the hospital into the scorching heat. Despite the scorching sun, she was cold. It was as if countless icicles were piercing his body and heart.

– Grandmother…

She stopped walking. She felt like she couldn’t breathe. She raised her hand and pressed it to her heart. A pained expression appeared on her face as she pursed her bloodstained mouth. Her voice was broken and sounded like the cold of winter as she called for her grandmother.

The moving and colorful scene before her was reduced to only black and white. After a while, the white disappeared, leaving only darkness.

The leaves returned to the earth, the birds returned to the forest, the fish returned to the sea and Roxane returned to the darkness.

At this moment, Sebastian who was walking saw Roxane’s slender body tilt to the lifeless side and fall to the ground. She was like a butterfly that had been swept into the mud by a storm.

-Roxy!

For the first time, a horrified expression appeared on Sebastian’s face, which had always been calm and collected. His dark eyes shone with despair and fear. He felt like his heart had been broken and his soul was torn apart.

…

Roxane didn’t know how long she had been unconscious. When she opened her eyes, her expression was dull. She felt strange and cold as she looked around.

A sound came from the door.

When she turned her head, she saw Sebastien enter with a glass of water.

Seeing that she had woken up, Sebastian’s tense expression eased slightly and showed a hint of relief.

– You’re awake.

Roxane looked at him quietly with her big teary eyes. His expression remained dull.

Sebastien walked over to the side of the bed and helped her sit up before sitting down and said:

– Drink water.

Roxane blinked several times before obediently drinking half a glass of water.

– Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? Sebastien asked, gently wiping the water droplets from the corner of his lips.

Roxane lowered her eyes and did not speak.

Based on his previous experience, Sebastian pretty much guessed that she didn’t like to talk when she was sad. It was as if she had sealed herself. He was very worried, but he didn’t dare rush her. He said softly:

– Grandma’s body has been brought back. The funeral takes place at home, so it will be convenient for relatives and friends to come and pay their respects.

Sebastien was also very worried that if Roxane did not see her grandmother, she would collapse again.

Roxane’s eyelashes trembled slightly, but she still said nothing.

Sebastien took a deep breath before patiently asking:

– Do you want to go down and see grandmother?

She didn’t react for a while. Then she turned to look at him without a word.

Although she didn’t say anything, he seemed to understand her. He turned around and took out a black dress for her from the wardrobe before helping her change. Then he found her a black hair tie. He wasn’t used to tying her hair up, so he awkwardly tied it into a low ponytail, trying to keep each strand of hair in place. Then he took her hand and went downstairs.

When she came downstairs, she saw her grandmother lying peacefully in the coffin, which was placed in the hall. Her grandmother looked like she was sleeping.

Joel and Sabrina were dressed in mourning clothes as they knelt before a brazier to burn offerings for old Madame Alvarez.

Enzo wore a black shirt, which he barely wore, and knelt down next to his parents. His head was lowered and he was silent.

Sebastian led the wooden Roxane deeper into the room that had been transformed into a mourning room. When she saw her grandmother’s photo, she thought her grandmother looked kind and loving. It was obvious that his grandmother was very easy-going.

When Sabrina saw that Roxane had woken up, she quickly got up and asked with concern:

– Roxane, are you okay? Are you not feeling well?

Joel also stood up.

-You were unconscious for a day and a night, and you didn’t eat anything. Why don’t I ask Aunt Cecile to do something for you?

Roxane looked down and said nothing.

Joel was worried and anxious.

– Say something. If you feel sad, you can tell dad.

Joel reached out his hand to kiss Roxane. However, she didn’t grow up alongside him, so there was always a gap between them. Even cuddling didn’t feel natural like it does for most fathers and daughters.

To ease the embarrassment, Sebastien said:

– I’ll ask the kitchen to make him some porridge. She hasn’t eaten in a while so it’s nice to eat something light like porridge.

Joel nodded.

– All right.

Sebastien looked down at the silent young woman and said in a low voice:

– Go prostrate yourself before grandmother and burn offerings…

Then he bent down and arranged the futon so she could kneel on it.

Roxane did not kneel on the futon, choosing to kneel on the cold floor as she bowed three times in front of the coffin with a solemn expression. Then she collected a pile of paper offerings before placing them in the blaze.

The dancing flames reflected on his face, but the warm color could not dispel the coldness.

Enzo saw his sister’s sad face and felt a dull pain in his heart. No matter how hard he tried, it seemed like he couldn’t protect her from being hurt or sad.

After the kitchen prepared appetizers and porridge and brought them to the hall, Sebastien led Roxane to the round table. He asked her to sit down before placing a spoon in her hand. He said :NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

– Be good and eat something. Don’t let grandma worry about you.

Roxane looked at him.

Sebastian nodded slowly as if encouraging her.

She lowered her head and ate the porridge slowly. It was the only thing she ate.

…