Chapter 36

“Looking at Angelia, she’s all alone, so pitiful. Mrs. Diana Senior’s daughter, Mrs. Diana Senior’s granddaughter, they are all pretty.”

“Are there no men in your family?” someone asked Angelia.

Angelia hung her head and couldn’t say a word.

If Sammie came, she would take a knife and chop him up.

But that coward wouldn’t dare to come!

“Oh, aren’t you Alyssa’s father?” a rural woman recognized Jerome who had just arrived.

“Finally, there’s a man.” people in the village said.

After all, many people saw Alyssa walking around the village with Jerome that day. The rural woman gave a set of clothes to Jerome for Angelia, “Quickly change into them. You came too late. It’s not good to have no man during the mourning period. It’s easy for the widow and orphan to attract evil spirits.”

Jerome glanced at Angelia.

He changed into the clothes and shoes and knelt beside Angelia.

Angelia felt someone beside her and looked at Jerome, meeting his gaze.

Every time she needed someone the most, he was the only one by her side.

Her eyes turned red again, and a misty moisture gathered, forming tears that fell down.

“Don’t cry, I’m here,” Jerome comforted her.

The words “I’m here” hit her tear ducts even harder.

Jerome held her cold hand and promised, “I’ll be with you and help you observe the mourning period for your grandmother together.”

Angelia couldn’t speak, but nodded.

“As the grandson-in-law, you hold onto the photo. When it’s time for the ritual, I’ll tell you to kowtow, and you just kowtow. What’s the name of the grandson-in-law?” the psychic medium said.Angelia frowned, not wanting to use the name Sammie.

But even if Jerome pretended, it was too shameless to use his name too.

She hesitated and then heard Jerome reply, “Jerome.”

The psychic medium wrote the name Jerome on the notebook and gave the photo to Jerome.

Jerome held the photo and Angelia looked at him, grateful but also apologizing to her grandmother.

When her grandmother was alive, she was afraid that her grandmother would worry, so she told many lies.

Now that her grandmother is dead, if there really is a soul, she shouldn’t hide it, and her grandmother should see it clearly.

She bowed her head with remorse.

After kneeling for half an hour, the ritual ended.

The psychic medium said to Jerome, “Now we’re going to the crematorium, and you’re the only male relative in your family.

You need to support your wife and kowtow when you walk and set off firecrackers.”

Jerome nodded.

A rural woman gave Jerome a bundle of straw and reminded him, “Kneel on the straw.”

“Thank you,” Jerome said.

They walked and kowtowed along the way and finally arrived at the village where they got on the hearse.

Angelia hadn’t slept well the night before, and she had been crying for too long.

She was physically exhausted and could feel her feet getting weak while walking.

She persevered and didn’t faint, because what if her grandmother needed her?

Jerome looked at her with concern, put her head on his shoulder, and said in a deep voice, “Rest for a while, I’ll call you when we get there.”

Angelia smelled Jerome’s comforting scent and felt that with him around, she could let go of her burden and relax a little.

She closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.When crossing the bridge, my granddaughter shouted below,” reminded the psychic medium.

“What did she shout?” Jerome didn’t understand the local customs.

“She asked her grandmother to follow,” said the psychic medium.

Throughout the journey, it was Jerome who shouted.

When they arrived at the crematorium, there were two families queuing in front, and the crematorium staff arranged a rest area.

Jerome did not wake up Angelia and said to the casual people, “You go first, I’ll stay here with her.”

He turned Angelia over and slept on his lap.

Angelia was sleeping too deeply, showing no signs of waking up.

“Angelia’s husband is pretty good, he cares for her,” said a villager.

“Ah, this girl has a bad fate. Her mother abandoned her when she was young. I heard she had excellent grades and was admitted to the best university, but unfortunately, she was still driven out by her family without the love of her parents,” said another.

“If you want to say, it’s all Mrs. Diana senior’s fault. She was also a flower in the county at the time. The mayor’s son was interested in her, but she chose to marry a dying man instead, and was also driven out by her family. This man never came back, saying he died in battle. Who knows?”

“Stop talking. Mrs. Diana senior has suffered enough. Let’s help if we can,” said a rural woman.

It was unclear how long had passed when Angelia was awakened by a burst of trumpet playing.

She saw herself lying on the bed in the west room, thought of her grandmother, didn’t even wash her face, and came out of the room.

It was already evening.

Over twenty tables were set up outside, and the people from the village had come over, preparing to eat.

The trumpeter finished playing the last piece and sat down.

The chef was cooking, and some villagers helped to serve the dishes and wash the dishes.

Angelia walked into the living room.

Jerome was kneeling in front of the altar, burning paper money.She looked at her grandmother’s smiling and loving photo on the altar, her heart aching and tight, her eyes getting red again. She knelt in front of the altar and kowtowed.

She was sorry for sleeping so long, she shouldn’t have. She should have stayed with her grandmother.

Jerome came over to help her up and said, “Don’t blame yourself. Even if you didn’t sleep, you still have to stay up all night tonight. Your grandmother knows your intentions.”

Angelia looked up at Jerome, her eyes still wet from crying.

Jerome felt sorry for her, “Did you take the medicine on the bedside table?”

Angelia shook her head.

He helped her up and gently scolded her, “I know you’re sad. Your grandmother is the most important person to you, but if you don’t take care of yourself, how can you take care of others? Taking the medicine is good for your body and throat. Is it uncomfortable not being able to speak now?”

She knew he was right. If she hadn’t broken down so much yesterday, she would have been able to send her grandmother to the crematorium today without passing out. If she hadn’t cried so much yesterday, she wouldn’t be unable to speak today, without even the strength to call her grandmother back.

Fortunately, Jerome came to help her. She couldn’t have made it alone. “You…” Angelia wanted to ask if he had eaten, but she had already used a lot of energy to say one word, and she couldn’t even hear herself.

She wanted to send him a message, but when she touched her pocket, she realized she didn’t have her phone. After thinking for a moment, she remembered that her phone was in her bag.

Where was her bag?

Seeing her confused look, Jerome asked, “Are you looking for your phone?”

Angelia nodded.

Jerome took her bag from under the altar and gave it to her, “It’s inside.”Angelia took out her phone and saw many of his contact information and text messages.

Yesterday she was too sad to look, so she sent Jerome his contact information and asked, “Have you eaten?”

Jerome’s phone rang, he took it out and felt her concern. Any kind of effort is worth it.

“I need someone to watch over here. The rural women brought me food at noon.” Angelia looked at him gratefully. When she was unconscious, he was helping her.

“You go eat something first, don’t starve yourself,” Angelia messaged him again.

“It’s you who should eat. Did you have lunch? Did you have breakfast? Did you have dinner last night? Fainting is related to blood sugar,” Jerome realized that his tone was not good. He softened his tone and looked at her swollen eyes.

“I’ll watch over here. You still have to watch over your grandmother at night. Eat more food to take care of yourself.”

Angelia thought Jerome was right, so she sent him his contact information, “I’ll go down and eat first, and you can eat after I finish.”

“Bring your medicine,” Jerome reminded her again.

Angelia nodded and went back to the west room. She saw the anti-inflammatory pills, painkillers, vitamins, and a box of chocolates on the table.

She peeled off a chocolate and put it in her mouth. The chocolate was very sweet, with a nutty aroma, and silky smooth flowing into her body.

After sleeping for a while, her mood had calmed down a lot and she had become more rational. She remembered that her grandmother still had a wish.

She didn’t go out to eat, but walked through the side door to her grandmother’s room and found the box on her grandmother’s bedside table.After opening it, there was a photo album, two letters – one addressed to Angelia’s mother and the other to her grandfather.

Angelia put both letters in her bag.

She didn’t know when she would be able to find her mother and grandfather, so she kept them in hopes of meeting them in her lifetime and fulfilling her grandmother’s last wish.

She opened the album and saw some old photos – some of her as a child, some of her mother as a child, and some of her parents’ wedding.

At the end were three photos of her grandparents when they were young, all in black and white.

One was of her grandmother standing alone by a willow tree, which Angelia took and put in her bag.

Another was a photo of her grandparents together, and the last one was a photo of her grandfather alone, also standing by a willow tree, wearing a hat from that time period, looking very thin and nervous.

To be honest, even if her grandfather stood in front of her, she might not be able to recognize him.

Black and white photos can be different from real life, and time can change a person’s appearance, character, and temperament.

She took her grandfather’s photo and put it in her bag.

She also kept a photo of her mother when she was young.

Angelia closed the album and walked into the living room.

“You finished eating so quickly?” Jerome asked in surprise.

Angelia shook her head, knelt in front of the altar, put the entire album into the furnace, and watched it burn into ashes.Jerome looked at her with concern, “Angelia, your grandmother wouldn’t want you to be too sad.”

Angelia understood.

She was upset, but besides releasing her emotions, it didn’t serve any purpose.

She looked at Jerome, took a chocolate out of her pocket, held his hand, and placed the chocolate in his palm.

“Thank you,” Angelia said hoarsely.

Jerome peeled the chocolate and handed it to Angelia’s mouth.

Angelia was stunned.

She gave it to him not to help her peel it, but to give it to him to eat.

“Eat something sweet, replenish your blood sugar, gain some strength, and feel better,” Jerome said in a deep voice.

Angelia opened her mouth, ate the chocolate, held another one from her pocket, and put it in his hand. “You eat.”

She turned and left.

“Angelia, over here,” a rural woman signaled Angelia to come over and deliberately left two seats.

Angelia sat down, and the rural woman poured her Sprite and comforted her, “You don’t have to be too sad. Your grandmother has been gone for a long time. Every time I saw her go for dialysis alone, I felt sorry for her. Now she is painless.”

Angelia’s throat was too sore to speak.

“Angelia, your husband is really good. When you fainted, he was busy taking care of you. You have good taste. This young man is really good,” the village people praised.

Jerome was good, but unfortunately, he was not her husband.

“By the way, Angelia, where is that girl Alyssa? Why haven’t we seen her?” another villager asked.

Angelia felt uncomfortable. Alyssa was still in Sammie’s hands, and her mood became even heavier.

She had to save Alyssa first, took out her phone, and sent a message to Sammie. “Where’s Alyssa? My grandmother has passed away. Can she come to pay her respects to my grandmother?”Sammie immediately replied with a short message, “I’m sorry, Angelia, my mom went too far. She found out about Huamei hospital through my credit card, and I couldn’t stop her. I’m sorry.”

She won’t forgive. “What about Alyssa?” Angelia emphasized.

“Don’t worry, I won’t divorce you, and I’ll take care of Alyssa. I’m currently being held at home by my mom. Take care of yourself, and when she calms down, I’ll be able to come out.”

Angelia saw Sammie’s message, and it implied that he still wouldn’t let go. She had the urge to smash her phone!!

But she had no way to make Sammie let go.

“Angelia, you should send some food to your husband. He didn’t eat much for lunch,” the village wife said.

Angelia hesitated.

The only person who could help her now was Jerome.

She picked up a bowl of food and brought it to Jerome. He was still burning paper money, very pious and meticulous.

Angelia was moved.

She put the bowl in front of him and gestured for him to eat.

Jerome handed her the bowl back, even though he was wearing mourning clothes and eating messy food, his nobility was innate, naturally elegant and never losing his grace even in distress.

Angelia squatted down and waited for him to finish eating.

Jerome looked at her animal-like appearance and asked, “Do you have something to tell me?”

“Do you want more?” Angelia asked in a soft voice, afraid that he hadn’t eaten enough. She told him about Alyssa’s situation, and he lost his appetite.

“Add half a bowl of rice, have you taken your medicine?” Jerome asked.

She had forgotten to take her medicine.

Jerome saw through her at a glance. “Take your medicine first, then serve me rice.”

Angelia nodded and went to the kitchen to pour some boiling water, taking her medicine.

Her phone beeped.

She saw that it was from Sammie, and she couldn’t hide her annoyance as she opened it.

“Angelia, I know you’re angry and hurt right now, and I’m sorry. I won’t let Alyssa come back, and you must resent me, but I don’t want to lose you. You’ve already lost your grandmother, and you don’t want to lose Alyssa too, do you?”

Angelia’s heart tightened, and she became anxious. She replied, “What do you mean?”

Sammie called her before she could send the message.

She answered.

“I suddenly thought of something. Your grandmother passed away. Did Jerome go too?” Sammie asked in a panic.

Angelia gritted her teeth and didn’t reply.

“You can call me despicable or shameless, it doesn’t matter. If you tell Jerome about this, I promise to send Alyssa to a place where no one can find her. If Jerome wants to find Alyssa, he will definitely ask the Chief of Police for help. To be honest, the Chief of Police is my friend now, and he will definitely tell me. Don’t act rashly and do something you will regret.”

Angelia wanted to curse Sammie out for the truth, but her throat was sore and she couldn’t speak. Instead, she had some time to calm down. If she cursed Sammie, he might do something terrible. Also, if she cursed him, Sammie would know and he might tell Jerome. After losing her grandmother, Alyssa couldn’t have any more problems.

“You have to treat Alyssa well,” Angelia asked hoarsely.

“What’s wrong with your throat?” Sammie asked her.

Angelia didn’t want to talk, so she didn’t say anything. Sammie thought it might be because Angelia had been crying for too long, and said, “Of course, if you hurt her, you will leave me. I’m not stupid. When I get out, I’ll take you to see her.”

“Okay,” Angelia said with just one word before hanging up the phone. She had to think carefully and not act impulsively. She had to weigh everything carefully.

Angelia went to serve dinner for Jerome and found that the villagers had almost finished eating. “Angelia, I’ll accompany you tonight. Your husband has been busy all day and hasn’t rested yet. He has to get up early tomorrow. Let him rest,” the rural woman said.

Angelia typed on her phone and showed the rural woman, “It’s okay, I slept a lot during the day. I can be alone at night.”

“You’re such a child. If you need anything, just call me,” the rural woman said kindly.

Angelia brought food to Jerome and saw that he was secretly yawning. When he looked at her, he looked energetic again. After giving him the food, she sent him a message, “You didn’t sleep much on the plane and came here so early today. Don’t stay up with me tonight. Rest early.”You can’t stay alone all night, there are many things waiting for you to do tomorrow. What if you faint?” Jerome reminded Angelia. Angelia pointed to the sofa in the living room and messaged him, “I will sleep on the sofa for a while tonight.” Jerome was still worried and said, “You stay in the first half of the night, and I’ll come over in the second half so that you can rest, and I can rest too.” Jerome didn’t need to worry so much. Angelia remembered all the good things he had done for her, even if he didn’t like her, she still liked him.

A psychic medium walked in and said to Angelia, “Tomorrow is the last day, can you settle the accounts first?” Angelia didn’t want to owe anyone money, nodded, and shook her contact information, indicating that she would pay through contact information.

She settled the money with the psychic medium, and the message reminded her that she had 21,620 Dollar left in her bank account.