The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress
Chapter 136

Flair POV

He's gone. I am in a state of shock as Grayson assists me back to the limousine, my eyes streaming with tears. I no longer loved Johnathon but I grieved. As we headed to the Deluca mansion, I could see my husband's pained eyes on me. I knew it wasn't jealousy, but more helplessness that he couldn't take the aching of my heart or the pain in my chest away every time I remembered a good moment I had with Johnathon. It hadn't all been bad in the marriage. There had been good times. Just like there had been bad times. I hadn't broken down as much as Charlotte had though. If ever a woman had a breakdown it had been her at the funeral. Perhaps she had truly loved Johnathon and I had done her a disservice believing otherwise.

"We're here," Grayson said quietly, handing me a handkerchief to delicately wipe my eyes.

He waited patiently as I tidied my hair and reapplied my makeup, climbing out of the limousine and offering me his hand. I took it and felt the silent strength he offered me and the comfort I needed all without needing to speak a word. He was here for me and I wouldn't have it any other way. Rachel had not come to the funeral, simply because she had not been close friends of Johnathon and she felt it would be hypocritical to attend.

We silently entered the mansion which was teeming with a crowd of people. Charlotte sat on a sofa, a plate balanced on her lap as people came by and offered her their commiserations. There were people inside and outside the house.

"Let's go outside" I suggested tentatively "I could use the fresh air and Charlotte's crowded with enough people for now." Perhaps Grandfather was outside with Karen? There was no sign of them inside.

Grayson nodded in agreement. We made our way through the house, stopping every so often to greet some of Johnathon's friends who remembered me, before hastily making our exit, approaching Grandfather who stood outside with a drink in hand and a scowl on his face.

"Grandfather," Grayson said, causing him to turn around and the scowl to disappear from his face "Should you be drinking that?" he raised a brow and pointed at the alcohol.

"Trust me, sonny, today is the day for it" Grandfather muttered, holding the glass protectively "I dare you to try and take it" he threatened.

I held back my smile at his antics. He was just as ornery as ever.

"Very well" Grayson allowed "but don't overdo it. You have to think of your health" he reminded the old man.

Grandfather snorted "I've never felt better in my life. That heart attack was just a freak accident or something" he sneered "I haven't felt ill since I've been home."

He took a swig of his drink to prove his words while Grayson's lip twitched. Grandfather sighed "Who would have thought Johnathon would have died so suddenly eh," he said shaking his head "Bad luck for the young fellow."

A feeling of gloom descended on all of us. Grandfather sighed again. "It makes you think about your own mortality," he said evenly "and how much time you have left on this earth. Johnathon had so many years left and just like that, they were taken from him." "It was a complication from his injuries. Nobody could have foreseen it" I murmured, remembering what the medical personnel had told us.

"Injuries he wouldn't have if some bastard hadn't run him down," Grandfather said sharply "The authorities are useless. No leads, no CTV, no surveillance cameras, and eyewitness accounts all differ. Bloody hopeless" he muttered, shaking his head "we might never know who did it or why."

"It could have just been he was in the wrong place at the wrong time," I said quietly but Grandfather shot me a sharp look that said he believed otherwise.

"Pigs might also fly," he said a bit tartly and with a heavy dose of sarcasm that had Grayson shoot the old man a warning look.

I didn't take it personally. He was grieving as well in his own way. Perhaps he was regretting the cold way he had treated Johnathon or wishing he had been a little kinder to him. We all had our regrets. "Old man" Grayson began ominously.

"Grandfather, you mustn't feel bad. We can't undo what we did to Johnathon but we can help Charlotte and treat his child with love and care" I interrupted as the old man's eyes began to glisten.

"I was a right bastard to that boy and he never once said anything bad back to me," he said hoarsely "I wish he had now. It would make me feel the tiniest bit better."

I doubted it would have but I kept my thoughts to myself. Karen quietly joined us, a drink in her hand, still full to the brim. Her eyes were blank as though she was numb and emotionless.

"Karen, are you okay?" I asked quietly.

She blinked at me, as though she couldn't understand or comprehend my words. I gazed at her some more. She looked out of it. Had the day been too much for her to take that she had just become detached from it out of survival? "Karen," I said a little louder and she blinked, seemingly coming back to reality and smiling at me sheepishly. "Sorry dear, I'm a little tired" she apologized.

"Hmmph" Grandfather harrumphed "Or deaf" he muttered.

"Are you okay?" I repeated.

She nodded slowly "It's just been a bit much organizing the funeral and the wake. I'm just tired. Charlotte is more important at the moment, she's really suffering," she said forlornly "She's devastated by the loss of Johnathon. The only thing that seems to be keeping her going right now is the thought of the company."

"The company" I repeated, glancing at Grayson uneasily "She's still considering running it, even with Johnathon's death?" "Oh yes," Karen said looking at me surprised "she's determined to have it. After all" she paused and seemed hesitant "she did meet the conditions and I think it would be wonderful to have something to take her mind off her tragedy" she added, making me feel guilty as I glanced at Grayson, whose eyes had narrowed at her statement.

Grandfather was looking at Karen incredulously. "How can she be thinking of the company at a time like this" he said.

"Everybody grieves differently" I murmured, trying to keep the tension from becoming too much "Charlotte probably feels she needs something to keep her busy and her mind off her tragedy for the sake of the child she's carrying in her womb." Karen nodded, looking at me relieved, grateful I seemed to understand where she was coming from. Enjoy this chapter for free and stay updated with the latest version on Jo bnib.com. Don't miss out, visit it now. The truth was I didn't understand. I didn't understand at all. If you loved somebody and they passed, wouldn't you be so stricken with grief that getting through one day to the next was almost impossible, let alone trying to focus on running a company? I knew that if Grayson was gone, I would be unable to function, let alone think about anything else, but perhaps I was being judgemental and unfair. Everybody reacted differently to grief and death.

"Well, we can discuss all that at another time," Grandfather said quietly, a disapproving look on his face.

"Is there anything that Charlotte might need? Should we go inside and help her?" I asked Karen who hesitated.

"I came out because the crowd was overwhelming" she admitted wryly "Everybody seemed to want to offer their commiserations all at once. The maids have everything under control" she added with a quick glance at me "But thank you for the offer, Flair." There was a sudden murmur in the crowd, and they began to part as somebody began to make their way towards us. Father, Knox, and lan. I had half hoped they would show up, if only to offer their regrets to Charlotte but it appeared they had come for my sake, as Father reached out and gathered me into a tight embrace, stroking my hair and kissing my cheek. The bodyguards stayed subtly in the background. "I am so sorry for your loss dear heart," he said huskily, as he cupped my face "I might not have liked you marrying him, but I know you liked him. I'm here for you," he said firmly, and then reached over and shook Grandfather's hand "How are you doing John?" he asked, moving aside and chatting amiably to him as Knox reached over and hugged me.

"I'm sorry Sis," he said but there was an indecipherable look in his eyes, a flash of something that quickly faded as his arms wrapped around me "But sometimes things have to happen in order for things to become clearer."

I frowned. His words sounded almost cryptic and mysterious. Strange. But he hugged me tight and stepped back, allowing lan to reach me. lan's voice was low. "Death is always painful but sometimes it allows us to begin anew and fresh. There is always beauty even in the worst of times" he said, holding me.

"lan" I whispered as he tucked his head on top of mine "what are you and Knox..." I trailed off as Karen began to tap her glass, interrupting everybody around her.

"If I could have your attention please" she called out, her voice rising above the low hush of the crowd "My daughter Charlotte is grateful to everybody here and would like to make a speech thanking everybody and in memory of her husband Johnathon, her dearly beloved who has passed."

A look of expectation came over the crowd. Several people came out of the house to join us, presumably, the others had left already. Knox and lan shot each other looks. My father remained standing next to Grandfather. Knox silently slipped away as I shot a questioning look at lan who merely shrugged at me. Something was going on. But he remained tight-lipped, shaking his head at me and gesturing for me to look towards the front where Charlotte was beginning to emerge, a shaky smile on her face, tears glistening in her eyes. She cleared her throat and silence fell over the crowd as she began to make her important speech.