Chapter 9
Lydia had her father’s body temporarily preserved and dragged her soulless body back to the villa.
Julian had found Vera and begun secretly preparing for his fake death.
The incident with Mr. Hayes Sr. taking Vera made both of them unwilling to delay any longer.
Julian knew his grandfather well-having agreed to let him find Vera, he might change his mind at any moment.
He needed to escape with Vera.
Seeing Lydia’s condition, Julian and Vera were startled.
“What’s with the zombie look in broad daylight? Trying to scare us?” Vera said with displeasure.
Lydia seemed not to hear, mechanically walking toward the stairs.
Passing Julian, she paused briefly, looking up at him with hatred in her eyes.
“Julian, do ghosts exist after people die?” Lydia suddenly asked.
Julian froze, looking at her in confusion. Seeing her devastated and in pain, he assumed she was dreading his death and tried to comfort her. “When someone’s dead, they’re dead. Don’t dwell on it.”
“I see.” She continued walking, leaving Julian with an inexplicable sense of unease.
“Lydia, don’t think about killing yourself over me. You should live well.”
Lydia forced a slight smile. Kill herself over him?
He was delusional.
Julian and Vera’s wedding was scheduled. During this time, Julian continued pretending to be terminally ill, occasionally coughing up blood.
This worried his grandfather, who kept bringing in specialists, hoping Julian could live a few more days.
The wedding dress was a pure handmade luxury design that Vera adored, and the venue was Starview Observatory.
The only attendees were Julian’s friends and Lydia.
The ceremony began with the officiant bringing the couple forward, exchanging vows and rings, completing the ritual.
Lydia stood silently in the corner, as if everything were irrelevant to her. She was simply waiting for Julian’s “death.”
The moment the couple left the venue, Julian collapsed dramatically. Blood flowed from his nose and mouth as he was rushed to the hospital.
“Lydia, I’ve wronged you, making you a widow so young. If there’s another life, don’t marry me again.” Julian stared directly at Lydia before being wheeled into the emergency room. “You must live well. I’ve had my sperm frozen-you can have a child to keep you company.”
“After I’m gone, Vera will leave too. Don’t give her a hard time.”
Julian’s performance was convincing, even shedding a few tears as if he truly regretted dying.
Vera clutched his hand, crying hysterically. She fainted before he even entered the emergency room.
“Go in peace. I’ll live well,” Lydia said flatly, avoiding his outstretched hand.
Julian’s heart sank sharply as he looked at her uneasily, wanting to say more but already being wheeled in.
After two hours of “rescue efforts,” Julian was pronounced dead.
His grandfather became emotionally overwrought and collapsed, being rushed to another emergency room.
Only via red calmly to the wade Alvey everyone left, wie weet to the offwe to brain the death certificate, hand pulliam’s “body” cremated, and
to come tec
Che quickly signed inheritance agreements with lawpers, securing everything that was rightfully hers.
Mi Hayes & suffered a stroke, leaving Lydia to handle Julian’s funeral arrangements.
Julian’s fores al was grand, with nearly everyone in LA aware of his death. The Hayes mansion was packed with mourners.
Midway through the funeral Lydia quietly slipped away.
She returned to her room and changed into a wedding dress sent earlier by the Winters family Carrying a bouquet of bright red flowers, she walked through the corridor and out of the Hayes mansion
Lydia’s actions caused an uproat-Julian wasn’t even buried yet, and she was already eagerly donning a wedding dress to marry someone else!
Some called her shameless.
Others said the shock had driven her insane.
Regardless of how loud or harsh the gossip behind her grew, Lydia ever looked back
As she got into the wedding car, she spoke softly.
“Julian, your show’s over. We’re done. Now, if’s time to extile your deber
