All Chapters of The Poor Billionaire Heiress Returns!: Chapter 131 - Chapter 139

•NOAH•The day of Donald’s funeral came sooner than I expected, and I felt sick the moment I stepped out of the car and saw the hearse parked in front of the church, because seeing it made everything real in a way nothing else had.I stood still beside my grandfather, staring at the coffin being carried inside by the men in black suits, and my chest tightened when I realized that my brother was inside that box and that I would never see him alive again.I didn't know what I was supposed to feel, because Donald had done terrible things, but he had still been part of my life since childhood, and there had been a time when he had been someone I trusted and defended.“We should go inside,” my grandfather muttered, patting my back.I nodded, even though my legs felt heavy, and I forced myself to walk toward the church entrance, trying to prepare myself for what was waiting inside.The church was already full of people dressed in black, and their voices were low as they spoke to each other,

•GISELLE•The sound of the soil hitting the coffin was something I knew I would never forget. My body still reacted whenever I looked at a grave. My stomach sank and I swallowed, instinctively taking a step back in case someone would try to push me back in. But Noah was beside me with his grandparents. After the funeral arrangements went sideways yesterday, they planned to bury the body with just the four of us with the twins. It was such a sad discovery that Donald had more victims that we thought he had. Some of them only showed their faces when they heard he had died. The news of his death was all over the news stations. Everyone in the country knew of his crimes and how he had incoincidentaly died from the same fate. He knew how all his victims felt, and I hoped Ashley would find peace. Noah stood beside me, silent and still, his eyes fixed on the grave as the workers continued their task. I could see the exhaustion in his face and in the way his shoulders were slightly sl

•ASHLEY•[FIVE YEARS LATER]Sometimes it still felt unreal to me how much life could change in five years. There had been a time when I couldn’t even imagine surviving another month without feeling like I was falling apart.But now I was sitting in the passenger seat of Atlas’s car with our daughter asleep in the backseat, watching the familiar streets of Chicago come into view as my heart filled with anticipation.I glanced back at Chelsea, who was fast asleep in her car seat, her small head tilted slightly to the side and her lips parted, and I smiled softly because she was the greatest gift life had given me after everything I had endured.Atlas reached for my hand and squeezed it gently, his thumb brushing over my skin in a way that grounded me instantly.“Are you nervous?” he muttered.I shook my head. “No,” I answered. “I’m happy.”He smiled at me before returning his attention to the road, and I leaned back in my seat, my chest tightening slightly as memories of the past mixed

•AURORA•The bright lights above me were harsh and too bright as I stood in the middle of the set with dozens of people moving around me and cameras positioned at every possible angle. I reminded myself to stay focused and remember every emotion my character was supposed to feel, even though my mind kept drifting to how strange it was that this had become my life. There had once been a time when I was just another girl running through the halls of our home with my brothers and sisters, laughing without responsibility, without expectation, and without knowing that one day millions of people would watch my face on screens and believe every word I said.“Places, everyone!” the director called out loudly, and the noise around me began to quiet as the crew prepared for the next scene.I took my position, standing near the large window that had been built specifically for this set. I stared outside even though there was nothing real beyond it. My character was supposed to hate the man

•GISELLE•[THIRTY-ONE YEARS LATER]The house was full during the holidays when our kids and grandkids came to visit us. Christmas had always been important to us, but now it meant something more meaningful, because every year we were still here felt like a gift that neither of us took for granted.Our children had arrived days ago, filling every bedroom and every corner of the house with their presence. And now our grandchildren filled the spaces in between, and every time I looked at them, I was reminded that everything Noah and I had endured had been worth it.Twenty-two grandchildren.Even now, the number amazed me.They were everywhere. My goodness. I didn't even know their names. It was hard now to memorize names or anything, but Twenty-two was a great number to remember. Some of them were gathered around the dining table, finishing the last of the desserts that had taken hours to prepare, while others sat on the floor near the fireplace, talking quietly with each other. A fe