Chapter 806: Chapter 806: Through Wind and Rain, Arriving in Aethelgard
Last night, when Serena Sterling didn’t open the door, the aunts naturally knew that Mr. Crawford had already climbed in through the window, so they didn’t disturb them further.
Now, in the early morning, the aunts hurriedly came over, saying something big had happened. Serena felt a sudden jolt in her heart and instantly sat up on the bed.
The ominous feeling she’d had these past few days seemed to materialize at that moment.
Hayden Crawford also sat up, his sleepiness gone. His deep and narrow eyes had regained their clarity. He reached for a coat and draped it over himself, then went to open the room door.
Serena rose too, feeling the moment the door was opened, the chilly wind outside blew in, making her hands and feet icy cold.
Hayden, tall and handsome, stood by the door, looking at Aunt Sue outside. He spoke in a low voice, "What happened?"
Serena walked over.
Aunt Sue glanced at Serena, then at Hayden. "Sir, something happened to the Crawford family. You and Miss must brace yourselves. Mr. Crawford... passed away!"
What?
Hayden’s pupils suddenly constricted, his face changed dramatically in shock, "What did you say?"
How is that possible?
His father was only in his fifties. That night, before they left, they had dinner at home. That night, his father stood there, watching their car drive away, like a steadfast pine tree standing silently in the long river of time, still tall and handsome, yet covered in frost.
"Sir, it’s true. Your father passed away in his sleep, and your mother..."
Serena’s eyes were red, and she blurted out, "What about Aunt Yara?"
"Miss, Sir’s mother also... passed away the next day."
Hiss.
Serena took a deep breath. Upon hearing about Jude Crawford’s tragic death, she felt like the sky had fallen, so when it came to Aunt Yara, she already guessed the outcome.
Jude Crawford and Isabelle Willow both passed away.
They were gone.
Serena’s frail body swayed twice, then collapsed to the ground.
"Miss!" Aunt Sue exclaimed.
Hayden moved faster, immediately reaching out and pulling the collapsing Serena into his arms.
Serena trembled slightly, large tears rolled down from her eyes, and she buried her tear-streaked face into Hayden’s chest, suddenly unable to compose herself for crying.
How could this happen?
Hayden held Serena tightly. Men’s emotions are always so reserved and restrained; his long eyes were already tinged with red.
Overnight, he lost his father and mother.
"Mr. Crawford, we... should hurry back."
Hayden nodded, "Prepare the car, we set off immediately!"
...
The sudden tragic news disrupted all plans. Back at the Crawford family, the funeral had already commenced. Hayden and Serena must rush back to attend.
Aunt Iris was still in a coma, and the old Mrs. Crawford, with her white hair, had to bury her children. Serena was most worried about the old lady.
The luxury car was already prepared when Corvus suddenly ran over, "Master, Miss, we just discovered... the Merfolk Clan princess is missing. She must’ve taken the opportunity to slip away!"
Just now, amidst the chaos of preparing to return to Aethelgard, the Merfolk Clan princess slipped away.
Serena looked in the direction far away, frowning slightly, "Don’t worry, I’ll meet her again soon. Let her have a few days, we’ll head back to Aethelgard at once!"
"Yes."
...
Hayden and Serena rushed back to the City of Aethelgard. Jude Crawford and Isabelle Willow were jointly buried on the cemetery hill. The sky over Aethelgard began to drizzle again, chilly rain, mournfully poignant.
But the old Mrs. Crawford was stronger than they imagined. As the matriarch who had presided over the Crawford family for decades, she had weathered too many storms in her life. When Jude and Isabelle were brought back simultaneously, she sighed and murmured to herself, "Perhaps... it’s for the best..."
However, she did grow more white-haired. She did not attend the funeral but shut herself behind closed doors, leaving everything to Hayden and Serena to handle.
In the cemetery, Serena wore a black coat, her long hair tied in a low ponytail, pinned with a small white flower, holding a black umbrella, stood silently in front of the tombstone.
Jude Crawford and Isabelle Willow’s grace was thus fixed in everyone’s memories.
With rain drizzling, Serena’s pale eye sockets were still red and swollen. She murmured, "In fact, that night before leaving, I noticed Dad’s unusual behavior, but... it’s all my fault."
Serena blamed herself so much. If she hadn’t been deceived by the facade Jude Crawford put up, would everything have been different?
She saved many people, but she could not save the ones closest to her.
Hayden was also dressed in black, "Serena, don’t blame yourself; Dad had a heart condition, a heart disease needs a heart remedy. If he wouldn’t let you heal him, how could you cure him?"
In the end, it was because Jude Crawford had a difficult love life in his lifetime.
Serena remembered conspiring with the old lady, bringing in Jenny. Jenny’s arrival brought Jude a brief happiness, making sure he wasn’t alone but accompanied by the one he loved at his side.
She couldn’t do more, as everyone has their path of love to walk, which she couldn’t replace.
Looking at Jude Crawford and Isabelle Willow, Serena whispered, "If there’s a next life, I hope Dad will always be loved, and Mom will love bravely, not wasting love."
A gust of wind blew, dispersing Serena’s words into the air.
Hayden nodded, "They will."
"Has Zane... returned?" Serena asked.
Zane Crawford’s parentage had been revealed; he was Jude Crawford’s biological son, making him Hayden’s younger brother.
Jude Crawford didn’t know until his death. Isabelle knew, but she didn’t have the chance to reunite with Zane before she hurriedly followed Jude Crawford.
The day Isabelle saw the cold and charming Zane Crawford on the giant rolling screen in the mall, she didn’t expect that it would be the first and last time.
The mother-child bond between Zane and Isabelle was this shallow.
Mentioning Zane, Hayden’s handsome brow twitched slightly, he moved his thin lips, "Zane had participated in a cutting-edge medical research development a few days ago because it is confidential, we’ve only contacted his assistant. If he receives the news, he will definitely return at the first opportunity."
Serena knew that over these years, Zane had become a luminary in the medical world; she knew years ago, he could do it.
At this moment, a sound reached their ears; someone had arrived.
Hayden and Serena turned simultaneously, only to see an extended luxury business car slowly stopping. The assistant opened the rear door, and Zane had returned.
Today, Zane wore black, appearing handsome and aloof; he held a black umbrella, braving Aethelgard’s storm to arrive.