But what greeted her was the impersonal chill of a mechanized voice.

“The number you have dialed is currently switched off. Please press 1 to leave a message."

The automated message bore into Ariana's heart like a drill, its relentless repetition echoing in her ears.

Her phone slipped from her grasp, its screen continuing to glow ominously as it Lay discarded. Ariana curled up, her head buried in her knees, her body wracked with sobs.

She had braced herself for this outcome, yet the reality still stung, sparking an uncomfortable frisson of fear.

Why wasn’t Theodore resurfacing? Was he truly enacting his death? Was she merely caught in the throes of a delusion, a fantasy of her own making?

Soon enough, Sunday rolled around, escorted by a dreary drizzle that matched Ariana's mood. An ostentatious funeral was underway at the East Cemetery.

Both Darian and Jasper had always harbored a bitter envy towards Theodore. Their resentment was so potent that they had resorted to various underhanded schemes to undermine him, even dabbling in assassination attempts.

In the wake of his demise, however, they left no stone unturned in orchestrating a grand farewell for Theodore. Not only did they extend invitations to prominent business associates, but they also beckoned every single employee of the Anderson Group to partake in the event.

Decked out in a black gown, a matching hat, and cradling a black umbrella, Ariana loomed at the cemetery's entrance. Her lips twisted into a sardonic smile as she observed the assembled crowd. Their garb might be befitting a funeral, but she couldn't help but wonder how many of them were genuinely grieving for Theodore.

Darian and Jasper, in particular, tried their best to don a sorrowful facade as they greeted the guests. But Ariana saw past their pretense; their eyes were alight with joy, their posture radiating an unmistakable pride.

Even the visitors milling about, who appeared to be connected with the Anderson Group, showed a surprising level of intimacy with Darian, to the point of nearly clasping his hand and congratulating him outright.

The gathering didn't resemble a funeral; it was more akin to a raucous carnival.

Ariana's gaze turned icy as she surveyed the scene, a sneer curling her lips. Imagining the kind of spectacle that would ensue if Theodore were truly dead filled her heart with a suffocating sorrow, almost as though the air had been sucked out of her Lungs.

Gathering her composure, Ariana brushed away her tears and ventured into the heart of the funeral.

As Ariana walked into the cemetery, many people turned to look at her.

“Who is she?"

"I've never seen her before, but I have to say she's quite beautiful. I guess she must be from a wealthy family.”

The people present whispered while staring at Ariana.

Ariana was relatively unknown in the business world, so it was understandable that these people didn't know who she was.