Chapter 532
“Idris doesn’t deserve any of this. Why are the kids even bullying him?” Amelie asked as she lowered her own phone. “Did you read the rumors that are again spreading online about Zilia and Casaio p>
“Some people simply enjoy bullying others. They get a twisted pleasure in that,” Gabriel stated. Running his hand through his hair, he added in a low voice, “If I were there, I swear I would have punished those kids so severely they would forget how to even look into anyone’s eyes again p>
“Calm down, my love. I think Brother Casaio will handle it well,” Amelie stated, trying to soothe his fury. She then glanced at Noah, who was sleeping peacefully inside his soft blanket, finding a moment of quiet peace amidst the chaos.
“Also, with kids, you can’t be too tough,” she asserted, looking back at Gabriel. “You have to make them understand, not punish them severely. It’s better to involve their parents p>
“People are strongly against Brother Casaio’s leadership now,” Amelie continued, bringing up the political trouble. “They don’t see him as the next Alpha King. Did you read the articles published regarding the same? Juniper did truly bad things to them p>
“Yeah, that bitch ruined things for them,” Gabriel agreed with a bitter tone. “Idris is being bullied because of the chaos she created. However, Casaio knew the potential consequences of his choices when he stood by Zilia. I just hope Dad won’t be considering turning toward me with this idea of taking the throne,” he said, feeling instantly anxious at the prospect.
A sudden knock on the door grabbed their attention, and Gabriel immediately turned to open it.
“The grandmother’s health has deteriorated suddenly,” Karmen informed them, his face pale with alarm.
“What?” Gabriel panicked instantly, his worry about the throne vanishing. He gazed at Amelie, who had already gotten out of bed.
“I’ll stay with Noah,” Gabriel said.
“The maids will look after him,” Amelie opined.
“I’ve asked one to come here,” Karmen told them.
“Forgive me for waiting; you all wait. I’ll stay with the little boy,” the maid said humbly.
“Thank you. Noah is asleep for now,” Amelie told the maid. The maid nodded, and the three of them, Amelie, Gabriel, and Karmen, left hurriedly for Ravenna’s room.
They found Ravenna looking frail. Carlos was holding his grandmother’s hand, his face etched with worry. He was whispering to her, trying to comfort her. “Grandma, I will live well. Why do you worry about me? And the doctor told you to rest p>
Amelie walked up to him and gently rested her hand on his shoulder. He promptly turned his head, putting on a brave, though shaky, smile for her. “Amelie, you are here. Grandma just got a little sick. She will be fine soon,” he insisted, trying to convince himself as much as her.
He returned his gaze to his grandmother, Ravenna, who had closed her eyes. “Find your happiness, boy. That is what I desire for you,” Ravenna said in a low, weak voice as her breathing started to diminish. And before anyone could fully understand what was happening, her heart stopped. The hand Carlos had held suddenly dropped lifelessly to her side.
“Grandma!” Carlos again grasped that hand, but it was already as cold as ice. “Why isn’t she responding? Doctor, please check her! I think she just fell asleep, doesn’t she?” His eyes met the doctor’s frantically, and he stood up from the chair.
Amelie could not stop her tears and began weeping softly.
“Your grandmother is no more, Carlos,” the doctor informed him gently, confirming the loss after checking Ravenna’s pulse.
“But she was—” Carlos began, his voice trailing off as he struggled to decipher the moment. He stood frozen, utterly numb for a brief eternity.
Then, he heard Amelie sobbing uncontrollably nearby, and the sound shattered his paralysis, finally forcing him to confront the grim reality. He lowered himself onto the mattress next to the bed and hugged his grandmother’s lifeless body tightly, clinging to her. Tears welled up in his eyes, quickly followed by a heartbreaking sound of pain that erupted from him.
Amelie turned her face away from the devastating sight, burying it slightly as Gabriel stepped closer and wrapped an arm around her, holding her securely in a silent, comforting side-hug. The small room was filled with the overwhelming silence of death and the profound sounds of grief.
In the evening, after the solemn burial ceremony had finished, Carlos locked himself alone in his room, unable to face anyone.
Amelie approached his door, wanting desperately to knock and offer comfort, but she stopped herself, respecting his need for space. She leaned against the wall next to the door and glanced at Gabriel, who instantly understood what she wanted him to do.
’I will be with Noah,’ Gabriel mindlinked silently and left, giving her the space she needed to wait for Carlos.
She gently wiped the lingering tears from her swollen eyes. She reflected on how fortunate she was to have met a kind lady like Ravenna, who had not only poured out the love of a grandmother but had treated her with such kindness and acceptance from the very beginning. While she was thinking about the good times she got to share with Ravenna, the door suddenly opened, and she quickly straightened up.
“Amelie, what are you doing here?” Carlos asked, his voice hollow with grief, surprised to see her standing there.
“I-I wanted to be by your side, but you’d shut the door,” said Amelie gently. “So I thought I would just wait for you p>
“Amelie, why are you so good to me?” Carlos murmured.
“What do you mean? Anyone in my place would have done the same,” she replied sincerely. She then wrapped her arms around him and sniffled, trying to offer strength. “Grandma is now resting in peace. During her last moments, we were all with her. She was not alone, Carlos p>
He embraced her tightly, finally allowing his tears to flow freely again in her arms. “You are right,” he choked out. “My grandmother was surrounded by all the lovely people she cared about p>