Chapter 16 Desperate Measures

• The other will was left for Martha. When Calvin opened it, he found an address written in the very last line.
• Without wasting a moment, he dashed out of the room, his long strides carrying him quickly toward the car.
• The drive to the western suburbs wasn't far—just over twenty minutes—but it felt like an eternity to Calvin.
• He couldn't understand how someone who had once shone so brightly, radiant as light itself, could choose such a dark path.
• Meanwhile, Paula was also on her way to the western suburbs, driven by the intent to secure three hundred million by fetching Cecilia for the wedding.
• At the cemetery on the western outskirts, the rain poured down mercilessly.
• Cecilia lay collapsed in front of her father's tombstone, the relentless downpour soaking her through. Her long dress clung to her frail frame, and she lay there, delicate as a wisp of duckweed, as if she might vanish from the world at any moment.
• In the midst of the drizzle, Calvin quickened his pace, rushing toward Cecilia.
• “Cecilia!” he called out, but there was no response.
• The only sounds in the air were the wind and the rain. When Calvin reached her and took hold of her, he noticed the empty medicine bottle lying by her side.
• With trembling hands, Calvin scooped her up.
• She's so light!
• He called out to her, panic rising in his chest. “Cecilia, wake up! Whatever you do, don't fall asleep!”
• Without wasting any time, he began making his way down the mountain, carrying her as quickly as he could.
• “Mrs. Smith, we've arrived,” the driver announced as they pulled up to the cemetery.
• Paula gazed out the window and saw an unfamiliar man holding... Cecilia. Her anger flared.
• “You've got some nerve, Cecilia!” Paula snapped as she stepped out of the car, holding an umbrella against the pouring rain.
• Dressed in a festive red gown, the hem now drenched, Paula marched forward with an impatient expression, ready to confront her daughter.
• But as she got closer, she noticed how weakly Cecilia leaned against Calvin, her face pale, her eyes tightly shut. Paula froze in place.
• “Cecilia...” She was about to ask what had happened, but then her gaze fell on the medicine bottle that had been carried by the wind. She quickly picked it up and saw the large characters on the label: Sleeping Pills.
• At that moment, Paula remembered Cecilia's words from a few days ago. “If I were to return my life to you, would you cease to be my mother? Would I no longer owe you the debt of giving birth to me?”
• The umbrella slipped from Paula's grasp, landing on the ground. She clenched the medicine bottle in her hand, staring at Cecilia in disbelief, her eyes wet with tears she could no longer distinguish from the rain.
• “You ungrateful wretch! How dare you do this!” Paula's voice trembled with rage. “Your life was given by me!” Her red lips quivered as she spoke.
• Magnus, who had been sitting in the car, saw his mother standing in the rain, staring down at the cemetery. He had no idea what was going on but rushed over, only to be stunned by what he saw.
• He hadn't expected Cecilia would actually...
• When he regained his composure, he was somewhat panicked, “Mom, what should I do? I've used all of Mr. Larke's money to start a new company.”
• Hearing this, Calvin finally understood why the once cheerful and strong Cecilia had been reduced to this.
• Paula's grip tightened on the bottle, her gaze turning fierce as she glared at Cecilia. “I always said we shouldn't have had you! But your father insisted!” Paula's voice was filled with venom. “Now look at what you've done. You'd rather die than let us live in peace!”
• She roared in exasperation, “Why didn't you marry first, then die? Why!”
• Calvin couldn't bear it any longer. Watching the mother and son, his eyes rimmed red with anger. “Get out of my sight!” he demanded, his voice cold. “Don't make me repeat myself!”
• “Who are you?” Magnus stepped forward, his tone challenging. “She's my sister—what gives you the right to tell us to scram?”
• Ignoring Magnus's question, Calvin turned to Paula. “Mom, if we don't get her to Mr. Larke soon, we're done for,” Magnus reminded her, his voice laced with panic.
• Paula, regaining her composure, set her jaw with resolve. “Get her in the car,” she ordered. “Even if it kills her, she must attend the wedding!”