The undertakers finally brought Jake's body.
He was dressed immaculately in a black suit, his hair neatly combed, and his face so peaceful it almost felt like he was only sleeping.
People slowly lined up to walk towards the coffin, each one pausing to pay their final respects. I didn't move. I couldn't. I just sat there, staring blankly at the stream of mourners, my body heavy, my heart shredded into pieces.
"Aurora… let's go and say goodbye," Angel's voice came soft, almost careful, like she was afraid I might break at the slightest touch.
"Hm…" I responded, my voice hoarse as tears clouded my vision. She took my trembling hand and guided me forward.
When the crowd noticed me approaching, they quietly stepped aside, creating a path for me. I walked towards Jake, my legs numb, my arms crossed tightly over my chest as if holding myself together would somehow keep me from falling apart completely.
The pain was beyond tears now. I couldn't cry anymore my grief was too deep, too raw.
I stood over him, looking down at his still face, my mind screaming for him to open his eyes. Slowly, I reached out, my fingers caressing his cold cheek. My lips brushed against his forehead, lingering there as if my warmth could seep into him and bring him back. My other hand ran through his hair, memorizing the softness I would never feel again.
"You shouldn't have done this to me, Jake… you shouldn't have," my voice trembled, each word stabbing my chest like a blade. "How do you expect me to live without you? How can I survive knowing that you are gone? How…? How…?"
I clutched my chest, a sob finally tearing its way out."You can bury him now," Maxwell's voice broke the heavy silence.Angel's arms wrapped around me, pulling me back gently. I felt her trying to guide me away, but as the undertakers closed the coffin and lowered it into the grave, something inside me snapped.
"No… No… NO!" I ripped myself from Angel's embrace and stumbled forward before anyone could stop me. I jumped into the grave, my knees hitting the damp earth with a thud."Aurora! Be careful!" Angel's panicked voice called from above, but I didn't care.
"What are you people thinking?! He's not going anywhere! No! I won't allow it! Do you understand me?!" My voice was hoarse and wild, echoing against the hollow grave walls.
I lay myself flat over the coffin, my palms pressed against the wood as I sobbed uncontrollably. "We're better off like this… I'll stay here with him. I'll be fine… I promise."
Maxwell exchanged a worried glance with his bodyguard and gave him a subtle nod. Two men jumped down into the grave, their strong hands gripping my arms."Let go of me! Don't touch me! How dare you?!" I thrashed violently, kicking and twisting in their hold. "Leave me with him!"
"Aurora, please… ask them to let you go," I begged Angel through my tears, my voice cracking. "Please, Angel…"
The sound of shovels scraping dirt filled the air. I saw them beginning to cover the coffin. Panic surged through me like fire."No! No, stop! Don't you dare cover him up! Somebody make them stop! Please! I'm begging you!" My scream ripped through the cemetery, raw and desperate."Get a hold of yourself, Aurora! You're creating a scene!" Charles's sharp voice cut through my grief like a slap.
Angel's eyes widened in shock, but Maxwell didn't even flinch he knew exactly how cold and heartless Charles could be.
I turned to him, my eyes blazing despite the tears streaming down my face. "A scene? You think this is a scene? Who even invited you here?! You're not his family!" My voice dropped into a venomous growl. "You will never understand the kind of pain I'm in right now. If you feel humiliated, then leave! No one wants you here anyway!"
Charles's jaw tightened, his lips curling into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Get her into the car," he ordered his men.Maxwell's guards released me reluctantly, but Charles's men were already there, grabbing me roughly by the arms."What is the meaning of this? Dad, let me go!" I snapped, twisting in his grip. "Angel! Maxwell!" My voice cracked.
Charles turned to them, his tone almost mockingly calm. "We'll be taking our leave now. Don't worry about her. Her mother and I will take care of her."
I scoffed bitterly, glaring at him like he was the devil himself. "You? You'll take care of me? Bravo, Charles. What a perfect place to show off your hypocrisy. At least have the decency not to pretend."