Chapter 96 - The Third Page (7)
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Mass chapter mission time! Support me in win win by unlocking the privilege chapters to get mass releases. MR will be given based on the following conditions:
1000 privilege chapter unlocks= 3 extra chapter mass release
5000 privilege chapter unlocks= 5 extra chapter mass release
10,000 privilege chapter unlocks= 10 chapter mass release.
This is applicable for every month! Please do support this book by buying as much privilege chapters as possible <3
....
The Song mansion was crowded with a lot of people wearing black clothes. They were downstairs, murmuring about the loss of a young girl. The funeral had just ended and the body was buried in a closed casket.
"I heard that a servant did it," one of the guests whispered.
"She was a mean child but to die like that…"
"It's a scary world," another guest said. "I feel sorry for the parents."
Seohyun was sitting next to the piano, lost and unfocused. She was in no mood to entertain guests but she had to endure it. Ever since they found Rachel's body and the police interrogation, she could not let herself grieve properly at all. Her heart was numb and dead but she had to live somehow. Every second of it was painful and Rachel blamed herself for not being a good parent.
What if she had stayed with Rachel that night? What if she had broken off her relationship with Changseob and catered to her daughter?
The detective had told her that she was a jealous mother. No matter how many times Seohyun denied it, deep down, she knew that the detective was right. She was jealous of her own daughter and it was something which would haunt her for the rest of her life.
"Mrs. Song you have our deepest condolences," one guest told her in a somber tone. Seohyun merely nodded, her red eyes dull and burning. She had been crying all night but was forced to hide her grief in front of the crowd.
Suddenly, the crowd was starting to annoy her. She was not sure why. Everything was a blur and she just wanted it all to end. She felt suffocated and lost in the middle of these people who were showing sympathy to her.
"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Song," another person was saying.
"She was so young."
"Everything will be fine…"
These were words of consolation and yet, Seohyun did not want any of it. Even the kind words felt like poisonous venom to her and all she wanted was to be left alone.
She got to her feet.
"I want everyone to leave!" she announced. "Please! I...I can't deal with this now! Please try to understand and leave!"
The guests were surprised but slowly, they began to leave the premises, muttering between themselves.
"We were just being kind," one guest muttered.
"People have no consideration," another one claimed.
"Let's just leave."
One by one, they began to leave until there was no one left except for Seohyun and the servants. She glared at them, silently ordering them to leave for their outhouse. Hana motioned all of them to follow her and they, too, left the main mansion.
As soon as they were gone, Seohyun collapsed on a couch, overwhelmed by the whole affair. She was finally letting go of her facade and broke down into tears. Clutching a pillow to her chest, she was crying hard, lamenting the loss of the daughter she had birthed and taken care of.
"I'm sorry!" she cried. "I'm sorry, Rachel! Please...please don't leave your mommy! Please come back…"
She wept alone for hours, regretting what she did to her own daughter.
"If only I had paid attention to you!" Seohyun cried out. "If only I was a better person! This wouldn't have happened! Come back...please…"
CRASH!
The sound of glass breaking startled Seohyun. She was now even more irritated. Who the hell stayed back in the house?
It's coming from the basement, she realized. Wiping her tears, she marched towards the basement. Slamming the door open, she turned on the light and was about to shout at the person who was disturbing her only to be shocked.
"Yohan?" she gasped.
Her husband was still in his hospital gown. He was staggering around, his movements stiff and weak but it was as if a strange mania had overcome him. Seohyun rushed forward to help him get to his feet. Supporting his weight, she led him to a corner and sat him there.
"Yohan, why aren't you at the hospital?" she demanded. "And why didn't they inform me that you were awake?
"No...time…" Yohan gasped. His usually neat hair was matted with sweat as if he had walked all the way home. His face was unkempt and he had a stubble. The coma had left him increasingly weak but Yohan seemed very determined about something.
"Take...me to my...room…" he begged. "I...must…"
"Yohan, you need to go to the hospital!" Seohyun scolded him.
"No…" Yohan insisted. "We-"
His words were cut off when the light bulb burst and sent flying pieces of glass all over the place.
"AHHH!" Seohyun screamed in fear. She held onto her husband's hands, both of them cowering against the wall.
"W-what was that?" Seohyun squeaked. Before Yohan could reply, the door to the basement shut. An invisible force locked the knob, making it click. Seohyun was thoroughly confused and scared but Yohan seemed completely calm.
"Seohyun…" he began. "Do you believe in karma?"
"W-what do you mean?" Seohyun stammered. To her further shock, Yohan turned to her with teary eyes.
"This is our karma," he replied. "For not taking care of our daughter. This is our karma."
Seohyun was confused but the sounds of footsteps were approaching them. She could hear the echo all throughout the room, coming closer and closer. Seohyun looked around for the person but there was no one around. Only Yohan seemed to know what was going on but he remained still as if he had given up.
The footsteps suddenly stopped, an eerie silence dawning over them.
"Yohan, what's going on-" Seohyun began but she was never able to finish the sentence. An ear piercing scream shattered the silence.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Seohyun shut her ears but Yohan looked ahead. He could not see the entity but he knew who it was. He saw it only briefly when he was almost plunging to his death that night at the party. Many people would think he was delusional but he knew what he saw. He could recognize the hatred in her remaining eye. After all, he turned her into a monster like that.
Slowly, his lips began to move.
"Rachel…" he whispered.