Chapter 53

“Relax, you’re my right-hand woman - I would never let anything happen to you. I make someone else the scapegoat and have them that the blame.” The man on the other end of the call drawled nonchalantly. “B-But...do you think that the other person would be agreeable to this?” Laura couldn’t help but still feel worried. The man chuckled, “It doesn’t matter whether they’re willing to take the blame - as long as I’m able to ensure that all of the evidence points to them, you can relax and be rest assured that nothing will happen to you and your goal to become Second Young Master Aidan’s wife.”  Laura heaved a sigh of relief after the phone call ended - she then walked over to the mirror and sat down. She stared at her reflection as she stroked her cheek slightly. Hmph - so what if I’m not as beautiful as Eliana? As long as I’m able to use my wits to my advantage, I’m sure that I would always have the upper hand over Eliana - I want to trample all over her! Oh, it’s such an amazing feeling… … Meanwhile, Richard and Eliana were on their way to place an urn containing Bryan’s ashes at the cemetery - the former held the urn carefully and stroked it as though he was handling a newborn child...he looked absolutely heartbroken and devastated. Even though Eliana knew just how sad her father was, she didn’t know how to comfort him - as such, she simply sat there in silence.  Richard finally couldn’t hold back his tears any longer when he watched Bryan’s ashes being lowered into the ground - he fell on his knees in front of the tomb and sobbed loudly as he knocked his head repeatedly on Bryan’s tombstone. “Lia, oh, Lia...I’m so, so sorry...I’ve failed you...I’ve failed as a father...please, don’t hate me...I’ve failed you so much…”  Eliana bit her lip and felt tears threaten to spill at the sight of her smiling mother on the tombstone - her heart was aching so, so badly. She turned to Robert and asked in an almost pleading manner - “Robert, would you please allow me and my father to spend some time alone together?”  Seeing that Robert was rather hesitant, Eliana added in a soft voice, “Don’t worry - Eddie is still in Aidan’s hands. There’s no way that we would run away knowing that he’s at stake.” Robert finally relented at this - “In that case, I’ll lead the men to wait for the two of you at the foot of the hill.” he replied respectfully.  “Thank you so much, Robert,” Eliana said in a quiet voice. Robert bowed to her and Richard, as well as the tombstones of Lia and Bryan, before leading the men away - he understood just how important it was for the father-daughter pair to spend some time to mourn the deaths of their family members.  As Eliana knelt beside her father, she swore in her heart that she would get her father and brother out of their hellish situations one day - she needed to see them smile again. It’d been a long time since she’d last seen them happy and contented.  Richard finally got up after half an hour - he placed some sacrificial items left by Robert in front of Bryan’s tomb as he whispered, “Bryan - you’ve departed from the world today. Go join your mother and please don’t break her heart again - take care of her and do your duty as the eldest son of the Harvey Family. Wait for me...I’ll be right with you soon. I’ll be sure to teach you well this time such that you don’t go down the wrong path…”  After he was done burning some incense for Bryan, Richard turned to look at Eliana grimly - “Ellie…” he murmured. Eliana tried her best to smile at her father, only to have tears threaten to spill from her eyes once again - “Yes, father?’ she gulped.  As Richard reached out to run his fingers through his daughter’s hair, he asked, “Do you still love him?” Eliana shuddered at the thought - she immediately shook her head without any hesitation as she sobbed, “No, I don’t love him, and I daren’t love him anymore - Dad,m oh, Dad...I regret everything that I’ve done so, so much…”  Richard held Eliana in his arms and stroked her back soothingly and comfortingly - “Eliana, oh, Eliana, it’s alright - everyone makes mistakes and finds themselves going down paths that perhaps weren’t the best for them. But do you know what? It’s not too late to change things - you’re still young and capable.”  Even though Eliana herself was in a despairing and seemingly hopeless situation, she nodded and reassured her father - “Yes, that’s right, - dad, please don’t worry. I will get you out of there one day…”  Richard held his daughter close as he murmured, “Ellie - I once promised you that I would get you out of the Nelson Family if you weren’t happy and ensure that you remain my happy little princess always. But look at me now...I’m utterly powerless and incapable. I’m unable to keep my promise to you - I’ve failed as a father…” “Dad, please don’t say that…” Eliana insisted, “You’re already the best dad in the world…” Richard chuckled bitterly, “We wouldn’t be where we are today if I’m the best dad in the world - Ellie, listen to me. Escape now.” “W-What?” Eliana was caught off-guard by her father’s words.  “I’m in poor health, and your mother and brother are you - it’s only a matter of time before I join them. I won’t be able to leave - but you can. You can escape. You’re still young and fit. Now that your brother is gone, you are the eldest child of the Harvey Family - so, can you please promise me that you would do something for me after I’m gone?”