-ˋˏ ༻Chapter 14༺ ˎˊ-

Despite his precarious state, Sean's lips curled into a faint smile. His eyes were half-lidded but still managed to meet her eyes. His breathing was shallow, but his expression held a strange air of resignation.

Layla stared at him, her heart thudding in her chest, unsure of what to make of that smile.

"S-sean..?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Haah... In our next life.... Cough-let's never meet again cough—ugh"

Once he finished his sentences, he coughed another lump of blood. Strangely enough, he felt peaceful and sleepy. He closed his eyes as he lay limply in her arms and exhaled his last breath then second later. Layla's eyes widened in horror at his words, her heart dropping to her stomach when she felt his motionless body in her arms.

"Wait—no.. don’t… please.."

She held him tightly, tears streaming down her face, the cold reality sinking in. Suddenly, the footsteps she heard before reached the rooftop.

A group of nurses and doctors flooded onto the rooftop, their eyes widening at the sight before them. The trace of blood, Sean's unconscious body, and Layla's tear-streaked face all came into their vision.

One of the doctors quickly stepped forward, assessing the situation with a professional eye.

"Please step aside.." he urged Layla, who clutched onto Sean desperately.

Layla hesitated for a moment, her heart screaming to not let go of him, but she knew she had to move. Reluctantly, she gently laid him down on the ground and moved aside, tears making everything look blurry and surreal.

The doctors and nurses immediately sprang into action, their movements practiced and efficient. They quickly began to perform CPR and other lifesaving measures on Sean, their voices a flurry of medical terms and commands.

Layla stood there, watching them with wide, tearful eyes, her heart in her throat. It all felt like a nightmare, a terrible nightmare that she couldn't wake up from. Each second felt like an hour, each beat of her heart a painful reminder of the gravity of the situation.

She watched as the doctors and nurses worked, their faces a mix of concentration and urgency. Each chest compression, each breath given were like prayers, hoping against all hope that he would pull through.

The minutes seemed to stretch on, the tense silence on the roof only broken by the sounds of the medical team's work and Layla's silent prayers.

Suddenly, the lead doctor looked up, his face solemn.

"We're losing him..." he said quietly, his voice low and grave.

Layla's heart froze in her chest, her breaths coming in short, shaky gasps. She watched in horror as the doctors and nurses redoubled their efforts, trying to bring him back. But deep down, she could feel the cold grip of despair closing in. Her tears fell like rivers, a silent, broken whisper escaping her lips,

"No… No, please no… no, no, no…"

The minutes ticked by, each one seemingly longer than the last. The doctors and nurses' movements became more frantic, their voices strained. But their efforts were in vain. Finally, one of the nurses gently laid a hand on Layla's arm.

"I'm so sorry..." Those words hung in the air, carrying a finality that no one wanted to accept.

Layla's heart shattered, her body shaking as the realization sank in, Sean was gone. She wanted to cry out, to scream, to do anything to stop this nightmare. But she could only watch, frozen with fear and helplessness.

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Sophia's mind felt like it was on overdrive, the news of Sean's passing hitting her like a punch to the gut.

"What...?" she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

She couldn't fully wrap her head around it, it seemed impossible, unreal. She remembered seeing him just that morning, and now he was...

Her eyes widened, tears welling up as she tried to make sense of it all. She started shaking, her breath coming in shallow gasps, the reality of the situation crashing down on her.

"No...no, it can't be.. it can't..." she mumbled, her voice cracking as she tried to hold back a sob.

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The days that followed were a blur of numbness and pain. Everything seemed strangely detached, as if happening to someone else, not her.

The funeral was a solemn affair, the air thick with the weight of grief. People came and went, saying things meant to offer comfort but that seemed to fall on deaf ears.

The sky was cast in a grey hue, as if mirroring the gloomy mood of the day. Sean's body was laid to rest in a simple yet elegant casket, surrounded by wreaths and flowers that seemed to symbolize his youth and life that was mercilessly cut short.

Layla sat there, in a daze, watching as strangers came to pay their respects, their faces a blur of condolences.

In the distance, she could hear the priest's words, the murmurs of the guests, but none of it seemed to reach her. It was like she was trapped in a bubble, her mind refusing to accept the reality of what had happened.

At the end of the ceremony, she found herself standing alone by the grave, the only sound the gentle rustle of the leaves in the trees. She looked down at the freshly turned earth, a silent tear rolling down her cheek.

In the distance, the chairman who's none other than her father watched and accompanied by his loyal subordinates.

"Inform the Aldmoor family that we can proceed the discussion about marriage arrangements by the end of this month"

"Understood, chairman." The aid responded and nodded politely before excused himself to follow the order.

The chairman's eyes stayed fixed on Layla for a moment longer, his expression unreadable. He was a man who had always put his family's ambitions ahead of everything else, including sentiment and feelings. He let out a scoff, a hint of disdain in his voice.

"That girl..." He murmured, his words carrying the weight of disapproval

The detective, dressed in a black jacket and a serious expression, approached Layla, his steps silent on the quiet cemetery grounds. He reached her side, his eyes scanning the area for a moment before he leaned in slightly, speaking in a low voice.

"Excuse me..." He said quietly, his tone cautious and discreet.

"Can I have a moment with you, ma'am?"

Layla turned towards him, her eyes still puffy from tears. She was caught off guard by his sudden approach, her heart jumping in her chest. She wiped a away a stray tear, nodding reluctantly.

"Yes?"

"Uhmm... can we move to more secluded area? Because what I'm about to inform you is something related to the car accident that involved your husband." The detective responded in whisper.

Layla felt a pang of dread mixed with curiosity at his words. She cast one more glance at her father's retreating figure before nodding and letting the detective lead the way towards a quieter area of the cemetery.

They found a quiet spot under a large tree, away from any prying eyes or ears. The detective looked around once more, satisfied that they were in a secure spot. He then turned to Layla, a solemn expression on his face.

"Before we begin, I need you to understand that what I'm about to tell you is highly confidential."

Layla nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She braced herself, preparing for whatever bombshell he was about to drop.

"Ok. I understand." She said quietly, her eyes locked onto the detective's face.

The detective nodded in response, seemingly satisfied with her understanding. He took a deep breath, his gaze heavy and weighted, as if he was carrying a heavy burden.

"We have reason to believe that the car accident your husband was involved in... was not an accident."

Layla's eyes widened in shock at his words, her heart skipping a beat.

"What... do you mean?" She managed to stammer out, her voice barely above a whisper.

The detective glanced around once more, making sure no one was within earshot.

"Evidence from the scene suggests that the accident was intentionally caused. The truck that hit the taxi your husband was in, it didn't just veer off the road by chance. It was forced to do so." He explained in an even tone.

"When we searched the driver, it was nowhere to be found and we believed that they had run away."

Layla's mind was reeling, her heart racing. She could hardly believe what she was hearing.

"But... but... why? Why would anyone do something like that?" She managed to ask, her voice trembling.

The detective's face remained solemn, his eyes sharp and observant.

"We don't know for sure yet, but we believe that the accident was meant for your husband. We're still investigating, but the evidence is pointing towards a deliberate act."

He paused for a moment, letting that information sink in. Layla stared at him, her breaths coming in short, shallow gasps.

"Wait... does that mean... it was... murder?" She managed to whisper, her voice barely audible.

The detective's eyes flickered. He was treading on thin ice, the words he was about to say were heavy and would change everything.

"Based on the evidence we have so far... yes. It seems likely that the accident was arranged by someone who wanted your husband dead."

Layla's world started to spin, her head becoming light. She staggered backwards, leaning against the tree for support.

"Murdered..." She echoed, the word tasting like poison on her tongue.

Tears welled up in her eyes, rolling down her cheeks. The realization of what had actually happened was overwhelming, sending a wave of horror, grief, and disbelief coursing through her veins.

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