Chapter 943
Spoiled (Lily)
On the 28th floor, where Miahâs family resided, the hallway led to two different paths. On one side, there was a secure exit staircase, while on the other side, there was a window that opened to allow ventilation. An adult could easily leap through it and escape.
Blake had sensed the despair and lifelessness in Miahâs motherâs eyes from the moment she uttered her first words. So, the instant she rushed towards the window, he quickly stepped forward and intercepted her.
Miahâs father was shocked and immediately embraced Miahâs mother. âLet me go⦠Let me go!â she cried.
âI want to go with our baby. Let me go. I canât bear the thought of our baby walking that dark and long path aloneâ¦â
âWhat if she gets scared? What if she gets lost? What if she canât find Jannat and is left all alone?â
It was said that ghost spirits had to traverse Golden Ridge and Hellhound Ridge, where chickens would peck at their eyes and dogs would bite off their limbs. The ghost spirits would have to run desperately forward.
When Miah was little, she was pecked by a rooster, and that same day, she was hospitalized with a fever. The incident left a deep psychological impact on her.
The thought of her little child, who had been sheltered in her arms since infancy, having to walk those paths alone, facing chasing chickens and dogs she rarely encountered, was unbearable. It broke her heart.
Miahâs mother cried, her tears dried up, and her despair became evident. Her eyes grew increasingly red and swollen as if one could expect blood tears to flow at any moment.
Miahâs father held onto Miahâs mother tightly, unwilling to let go. At that moment, his mind, once consumed by the fantasy of resurrecting Miah, cleared up considerably. Ever since Miahâs passing, he and his wife had plunged into a delusional pursuit of bringing Miah back to life, as if they had lost all purpose in their world with their daughterâs absence. The search for a way to revive Miah had become their new motivation to keep living. But in this process, he had inadvertently neglected his wifeâs emotional well-being. Instead of consoling her, he had blindly followed her into a dead-end.
Now, if his wife were to take her own life as wellâ¦
Miahâs father held Miahâs mother tightly, and even this grown man couldnât hold back his tears. âLet our baby goâ¦â his voice hoarse, he continued, âItâs all fate⦠Forcing her to stay, is it truly for her good?â
âPerhaps in her next life, she will be reborn into a wonderful family, blessed with wealth and prosperity⦠a healthy body, a peaceful and happy lifeâ¦â
Growing up like any other child, going to kindergarten, attending schoolâ¦
Growing up, getting married, having childrenâ¦
âWouldnât we be hindering her then?â
It wasnât right to forcibly hold her back, to let her stay until she was spirited away, leaving nothing behind. It shouldnât be like this!
Miahâs mother collapsed to the ground, finally understanding.
She lay on her back, tears streaming down her face, clutching her chest, hating her helplessness, blaming herself for not protecting her child.
Lilly watched, feeling a pang in her heart.
What if one day she, too, left in the same way?
Would Granny also be devastated, overcome with griefâ¦
Lilly shook herself out of her reverie.
She steadied her emotions and said, âAuntie, if you were to take your own life, even in death, you wouldnât be able to accompany Miah.â
âSuicide is considered âevilâ towards oneself. It would be taken by Behemoth and Leviathan and subjected to judgment⦠You think that by ending your life, you can be with Miah, but in reality, it wonât happen.â
Miahâs mother was truly hopeless this time.
With a heart as lifeless as ashes, she realized there was nothing she could do.
She could only watch helplessly as her child departed from her sideâ¦
âIâm sorry, babyâ¦â Miahâs mother cried while holding Miah, âItâs Mommyâs fault for not protecting you.
Iâm sorry, Iâm sorryâ¦â
Miah gently touched her motherâs head and softly said, âItâs okay, Mommy.â
âI am happy because Mommy and Daddy have always loved me.â Miah showed a sincere smile.
âThank you, Mommy and Daddy. Thank you so muchâ¦â
âI love Mommy and Daddy very much too!â she added.
Miah tenderly kissed her motherâs face and then her fatherâs.
She nestled in their embrace for the last time, cherishing the warmth of her parentsâ embrace.
Lilly glanced at the time and said, âLetâs go.â
Ultimately, they had to part ways. Lingering too long would serve no purpose but to deepen Miahâs motherâs sorrow.
Miah waved goodbye and, with a smile, walked towards the elevator, like a grown child leaving home for the first time.
Turning back to her parents, she said, âGoodbye, Mommy and Daddy. Take care of yourselves!â
The elevator arrived, and Miah followed the guide of the summoning spirit, returning to the hospital morgue to reclaim her half-face.
Then, she embarked on the Yellow Spring Route alone.
Throughout the entire journey, she would be on her own, showing immense strengthâ¦
Miahâs parents sat there in a daze for a long time. Lilly spoke softly, âUncle, Aunt, itâs time to go and bring Miah back for the burial. That way, she can reach the Hell Ruler Palace faster and find Jannat successfully.â
Miahâs mother remained silent, lost in her thoughts. Miahâs father stood up and said, barely audible, âThank youâ¦â
He glanced at his wife and continued, âIâll go now.â
He had accepted the reality of his daughterâs departure, filled with inconsolable grief, yet he had to support their homeâ¦
He had to take care of the arrangements, console his wife, and continue moving forward, carrying this family on his shoulders.
Lilly witnessed the farewells between Jannat and Miah, as well as their respective families.
Two different families, two different types of griefâ¦
Finally, she offered words of comfort, âUncle, Aunt, you must take care. Miah and Jannatâs reincarnation process takes three years. Who knows, maybe after three years, Miah will return.â
These words acted as a beam of light in Miahâs motherâs dark and despairing world.
Although she remained silent and dazed, a glimmer of hope flickered in her eyesâ¦
If the madness they experienced before stemmed from losing their will to live, they now had a new source of motivation.
After leaving, Josh asked, âLilly, can Miah be reincarnated?â
He remembered a similar precedent when Lilly had said that Tracy, the girl, would be reincarnated.