Chapter 320

Aubree thought she’d misheard, and was frozen for a few seconds before slowly saying, “Are you sure?”

Brielle, oblivious to her friend’s tone, nodded affirmatively. “Yeah, just heard it at the office, and now I’ve packed up at home. Sorry, Aubree, it looks like I can’t celebrate my birthday with you, after all.”

Aubree, holding a glass of wine, pondered for a moment and gently set it down. “No biggie. Tell me, what do you want for your birthday? If not a mansion, how about an emerald? Andrew mentioned that Infinity Brilliance discovered this incredibly rare emerald, roughly valued at seven million. Infinity Brilliance is looking for a buyer, and I bet Andrew is thinking of getting it for Tessa. How about I get it for you with Andrew’s money?”

Seven million? Aubree had always been generous, but she’d never splurged quite like this.

“Aubree, you don’t have to. It’s way too much.”

There was silence on the other end before Aubree muttered, “If you’re going to the Radiant Light Church, could you could you pray for me or something? Just, you know, to keep me and Andrew together forever, and to never part. Even just to annoy him would be fine.”

Brielle could only guess at the pain behind Aubree’s words, but she agreed, nonetheless.

By six in the evening, Brielle’s doorbell rang. It was the doorman. “Ms. Brielle, this was left for you.”

Brielle was taken aback. Her mind flashed back to the last unsettling delivery of three severed fingers, her brow furrowed.

First, she received flowers, then fingers, what could it be this time?

“Ms. Brielle, you must accept it. The person who sent it said it’s something you need.”

Brielle knew this mysterious sender meant her no harm, despite the macabre gesture of fingers.

“Alright, thank you.”

Once the doorman left, she opened the box. Inside was a black ceramic urn and a note.

The note read:

-The Haywood family discarded Julian’s remains. These are his ashes, Brielle. You must need them, right?

Were these Julian’s ashes?

The Haywoods had taken Julian’s body, and she, not being a direct relative, had no legal claim over it.

She had hoped for a shred of decency from them, for a proper send–off, but it seemed the Haywoods could always stoop lower than she expected.

Tears welled up in Brielle’s eyes. Besides the urn and the note, there was nothing else in the box. The Haywoods had cold–heartedly disposed of Julian, just to strike at her. She had thought they took the body to leave her in anguish, not realizing they were capable of such. heartlessness.

Brielle lowered her gaze, holding the urn close, and feeling truly grateful to the mysterious person.

Tomorrow, she’d take it to the Radiant Light Church, to cleanse away the Haywood’s bad vibes, hoping Julian would be reborn into a loving family.

She placed the urn in a prominent spot in the living room. Her lips curved into a faint smile, anticipating the next day.

As the clock struck twelve, she awoke briefly. Whispering ‘Happy Birthday‘ to herself, she drifted back to sleep.

At six in the morning, she was up again, carefully packed the urn in bubble wrap, and placed it in a suitcase.

Brielle packed light, with just two outfits and some spare change for the church’s donation box. She felt an unusual restlessness, and was checking the time every few minutes, eager to know when Patrick would come to pick her up.

Around nine, her phone rang. It was Patrick. “Ms. Brielle, I’m sorry, Mr. Dorsey had an emergency and can’t make it.”

Brielle paused, wondering why Max hadn’t told her himself. “Why the sudden change of plans?” Patrick hesitated before replying, “Some urgent business came up.”

Brielle had a hunch it was something he couldn’t discuss with her. “Alright, I understand.”

“Ms. Brielle, I can come to pick you up if you’d like to go. I’d be happy to drive you there.”

“No need, I’ve decided not to go. My leg’s still healing, and I prefer to rest at home.”

Actually, her leg was fine, but she chose to go alone.

After hanging up, she didn’t hesitate to grab her suitcase and drive off, beginning her journey to the town, which she wouldn’t reach until tomorrow. She filled the trunk with water and snacks, and hit the road, deliberately keeping her mind clear of Max.

By six in the evening, she stopped by a riverside, bathed in sunset hues, to rest and saw a news alert on her phone.

Dorsey International’s CEO spotted at the airport, possibly to greet his fiancée? Wedding bells were imminent for the two powerhouses.