Chapter 47

Even though the left side of the corpse’s skull was so badly dented that it was barely recognizable, Eliana could still tell that it was her brother. She silently stared at the corpse’s deformed features, tears cascading down her cheeks and onto its dirty hands. Who would have thought that Bryan Harvey, a member of the formerly prominent and distinguished Harvey Family as well as a charming and notorious playboy in Mallstrick City, would suffer such a tragic demise? Eliana wept quietly as she reached out to wipe away the dust that had gathered on the corpse’s cheek - alas, it was so thick that no matter how hard she tried, she simply couldn’t wipe it clean of the dust. As Eliana caressed his face, she couldn’t help but suddenly snort and break into both tears and laughter simultaneously. She drew her face close such that her lips were by the corpse’s ear - she whispered into it, “Bryan, it’s alright...you can finally rest in peace now,” she swallowed, “It’s alright, really...in fact, it’s amazing. After all, it’s better to die...than to live and suffer.” Travis turned to see the look on Aidan’s face as soon as these words left Eliana’s lips - alas, the latter’s face did not change. He looked emotionless and vacant as he stared at Eliana mourning over her late brother. Eliana sobbed as she gently pressed her forehead against the corpse’s chest - “Bryan, are you still there? Can you hear me?” she said softly, “If you see mom, please tell her that I’m so, so sorry - it’s all my fault. I’m sorry that I didn’t take good care of you - you welcomed me on the day that I came into this world. And now, on the day that you’ve left this world, I’m sending you off - everything that you’ve done, everything that has happened...it’s alright. I forgive you, Bryan - you may rest in peace now…” After finishing her words, Eliana looked up at Travis - “Can you do me a favor?” she asked quietly. “Sure, what is it?” Travis replied immediately. “I...I want Bryan to be sent to a mortuary...to be cleaned up by an embalmer. I want him to depart from this world, clean as pure as he was on the day that he was born - I, I’m afraid...that my mother wouldn’t be pleased should she see him in such a wrecked state…” Eliana croaked hoarsely. Travis immediately nodded this - “Of course I can do that for you,” he reassured, “I’ll arrange for someone to do it right away.” Eliana then turned to Aidan - “What do you want to say?” the latter asked coldly. Eliana sighed internally when he responded - “Can I...can I ask my father and Eddie to come and see my brother off?” Aidan was quiet for a moment before he replied icily, “You can forget about Eddie Harvey - he wouldn’t want to see Bryan Harvey.” Eliana furrowed her brows at this - “You’re not Eddie,” she retorted, “How would you know what he wants and what he doesn’t want?” Aidan did not say anything in reply to this. Eliana was desperate - “Aidan,” she swallowed, “I understand that you despise me, Bryan, and everyone else in the Harvey Family - but please, he’s...he’s dead now. Won’t you please let my family see him off? After all, he’s a member of the family…” Before Eliana could complete her sentence, Aidan cut her off - “Robert,” he commanded. Robert immediately stepped forward - “Follow Eliana’s wishes and make the necessary arrangements,” he ordered. “Yes, Second Young Master,” Robert instantly obliged. … And so, Bryan’s corpse was taken to a mortuary by a hearse that had been arranged by Travis to be cleaned up and prepared for burial. Eliana no longer had any tears left to cry; she simply sat there, her expression blank and vacant, looking neither sad nor happy - she simply looked empty. Knowing that Aidan was on bad terms with Eliana’s father and brother, Travis pulled his friend away and left Eliana with Robert so that they could receive them together. Eliana went in to have a glimpse after the embalmer was done working on Bryan to make sure that the job had been done decently before going to greet Richard and Eddie Harvey. Eliana couldn’t help but feel tears well up in her eyes at the sight of her father and brother - it’d been three years since she’d last saw them. Richard looked significantly older - there were now wrinkles etched on his face and his hair was much greyer than before. Eddie, who’d once looked so healthy and full of vitality that he’d been dubbed the most handsome young boy in all of Mallstrick City, now looked so thin that he looked almost malnourished… “Ellie!” Eliana bit her lip, trying her best to hold back her tears but to no avail - tears began to cascade down her face before she knew it as she rushed forward to hug her father and brother. “Dad, Eddie,” Eliana sobbed, “I’m so, so sorry - it’s all my fault. It was me who’d destroyed the Harvey Family and killed mom...I’m so, so sorry for putting the two of you in the situation that we’re in today.” “Ellie, please don’t say that, it’s not your fault,” Eddie reassured, “All of this happened because of Bryan, Aidan, and those vicious people from the Nelson Family.” Eliana couldn’t help but feel surprised - after all, Eddie was usually polite and peace-loving. Never had the former seen her brother look this spiteful and haughty. “Eddie...what are you talking about?” she couldn’t help but ask in confusion, “Isn’t it because of me that you…”