Chapter 4

Nathan didn't reply.

The next morning, he finally called me. The moment I answered, I could hear the anger he was trying to suppress in his voice.

"Olivia, what did you mean by that message you sent? Mom's perfectly fine at home! Why would you curse her like that? She has treated you so well all these years. How can you be so heartless?"

"How do you know she's fine at home?" I immediately asked. "What, did you go back and check on her?"

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Then Nathan scoffed.

"Layla had a fever last night. I stayed at the hospital to take care of her. Anyway, Mom would never be in trouble. If you keep saying ridiculous things, I'll lose my patience with you!"

Before I could say another word, he hung up.

I sat there holding my phone, completely stunned.

A moment later, Nathan sent me another message.

[I've already had your mother's body sent to the crematorium. When you have time, go pick up her ashes.]

-

When I walked out of the crematorium holding Natalie's ashes, I ran into Nathan and Layla by the lake. They had just left the hospital.

Nathan looked upset. He was probably still angry about the message I sent him last night.

"Maybe we shouldn't hold a funeral. Those fancy ceremonies are just for the living, anyway. Layla said they're a disturbance to the dead and a waste of resources. I think she has a point. What do you think?"

I let out a cold laugh.

Of course. It was Layla's idea again.

"I don't have an opinion. Do whatever you want."

After all, it wasn't my mother who died.

Hearing that, Nathan's expression softened slightly. As if he suddenly remembered something, he stepped forward and pulled me into his arms.

His voice was surprisingly gentle.

"That's better, Olivia. Be reasonable, and I won't treat you badly. I know you're hurting because of your mother, but death is something we can't change. You have to keep moving forward, don't you? Come on. Don't be angry with me anymore. Have you thought about where you're going to bury your mother?"

Before I could say anything, Layla quickly spoke up. "I think this place is actually pretty good. It's peaceful, and the scenery is beautiful. Why don't we just bury your mother here?"

I frowned. A bad feeling immediately rose in my chest.

"There isn't even a cemetery here. How are we supposed to bury her?"

Layla looked at me calmly. "Ms. Smith, who said someone has to be buried in a cemetery? Isn't there a river right behind you?"

I understood what she meant almost instantly.

A wave of anger rushed through me. My voice turned cold.

"Are you crazy? Don't think I don't know what you're really trying to do!"

Layla's eyes immediately turned red. She looked hurt as she grabbed onto Nathan's sleeve.

"Mr. Carter, I was only trying to help. How could Ms. Smith say something like that about me? I just feel sorry for you. Ms. Smith's mother has been sick for so many years, and you've already done enough for her. If you buy a cemetery plot, that's another huge expense.

"If that money could be donated to charity, it could help so many people. There's nothing wrong with a water burial. Mr. Carter, don't you think?"

Nathan hesitated. There was a struggle in his eyes.

Layla continued softly. "If you think it's inappropriate, then just pretend I never said anything. I'm sorry. I'm only a servant in the Carter family. I should have remembered my place."

Seeing her like that, Nathan immediately felt sorry for her.

"What are you talking about? You're not my servant."

Then he turned to me.

"What are you still standing there for? Do what Layla suggested."

I was completely stunned.

I didn't even have time to care about the pain spreading through my chest.

The words came out before I could stop them.

"Nathan, are you even human? That's your own mother! Are you really going to treat her like this? You're a billionaire CEO. You can't even bring yourself to buy your own mother a burial plot? Aren't you afraid people will criticize you for this?"

Nathan froze. A flash of pain crossed his eyes.

However, Layla immediately stepped in.

"Mr. Carter, don't blame Ms. Smith. She only said that because she's worried about her mother. She didn't mean it."

Just as expected, the pain in Nathan's eyes was quickly replaced by overwhelming anger. As if he had finally reached his limit, he stepped forward and snatched the urn from my hands.

Without saying a word, he opened the lid and poured the ashes into the river. The ashes scattered and disappeared into the flowing water.

"Olivia, I warned you that if you keep talking nonsense, I'll lose my patience. Do you see this? This is what happens when you refuse to listen!"

I stared at him in disbelief.

My emotions were a complete mess, and for a long time, I couldn't say a single word.

Before I could react, Nathan's phone rang.

It was his father, Edward Carter.

"Your mother's dead, and I'm only finding out now? If the doctor hadn't called me, I'd still have no idea what happened! You disgraceful son! You actually let her die on the operating table just to save 30,000 dollars!"