Never Late, Never Away (Vivian and Finnick)
Chapter 2248

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 2248

As Jessica busied herself with some of Liam's matters, a group of relatives hovered anxiously over her shoulder. They seemed to be on the lookout for something else.

"Jessica, how are your parents' assets going to be split?"

"That's right, Jessica, since you're the only child, they should have left everything they own to you, shouldn't they?"

"Um, Jessica, our family business has recently run into a spot of trouble. Will you be able to help us out?"

Jessica found herself suddenly overwhelmed with a surge of requests for financial aid. Wryly, Jessica pondered to herself, Why are all these people actually here for? To grieve? Perhaps merely to borrow money? Jessica felt a sudden chill in her heart, as if icy fingers had suddenly reached out and grabbed it.

"Jessica, our family is facing some difficulty as well. We're all family here, aren't we? You won't be able to spend all that money by yourself anyway. Help us out a little."

Jessica felt her blood turn cold. She suddenly developed a sense of loathing for the feverish, groping crowd surrounding her.

How could those who claimed to be her own family make such requests at a time like this? Shouldn't they have been comforting her? Shouldn't they be mourning for the departed, rather than their own financia losses?

"Here, Jessica!" Larry suddenly bellowed.

Larry had perceived that Jessica's relatives, having sunk their teeth into her like a pack of hungry dogs, would not relinquish their hold so easily. Jessica was still considerably naive and would not quite know how to defend herself against them.

"What's up?" Jessica demanded in a low voice as she slunk over.

"Are they borrowing money from you? Ignore them," Larry said easily, giving Jessica an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

Why? Confounded, Jessica looked up at Larry cynically.

"In any case, don't promise anyone anything yet. I'll explain to you afterward. Go on back, then. They're waiting for you," Larry said lightly.

"Jessica, we're starting!"

"That's right, it's almost time!" The urgent cries from Jessica's relatives came, forcefully hauling her.

"Coming!" Jessica yelled back.

The vast blue ocean stretched out before them as far as the eye could see. The sea was as smooth as glass, disturbed only by the occasional ripples formed by seagulls dipping into the water. Above them was an azure sky dotted with white clouds. The scene was so tranquil that it was almost surreal.

"Dad, Mom. Rest in peace. Don't worry about me. I'll live a good life," Jessica whispered.

The urn in Jessica's hands felt unendurably heavy. Tears rolled down her cheeks unchecked, framing Jessica's face in a portrait of melancholy.

Jessica closed her eyes, savoring her final few moments with her parents. They were well and truly gone now. Within a few moments, Jessica would be left all alone in this world without anyone by her side. "Dad, Mom. Rest in peace," Jessica repeated. Taking a deep breath, she scattered the ashes into the sea.

Bang! A deafening clap of thunder suddenly roared overhead. Without any warning, torrents of rain began pouring down moments later.

"It's raining! Let's go!"

"Mom, it hasn't ended yet..." Jessica could hear a small child's concerned voice faintly over the sound of the thunderstorm.

"Who cares whether or not it's over? Let's go home. This has nothing to do with us anymore." The mother replied impatiently.

"What about that woman?" The child cried insistently.

"That's none of our business! She can choose to die out here if she wants!" The mother retorted.

The crowd quickly scattered, fleeing towards shelter. Only Jessica and Larry were left rooted to the spot, already drenched by the downpour. No one had stepped forward to comfort Jessica. When the rain came, no one had thought to offer her an umbrella or even pull her along in their desperation for refuge from the rain.

The situation seemed utterly absurd to Jessica. Unable to contain the mix of rage, grief, and sheer incredulity that swept over her, Jessica began to laugh.

"She's crazy! Ms. Zimmer has gone insane! Let's go!"

It seemed to Jessica that despite the howl of the wind and rain, the harsh mocking of her relatives still managed to rise above the tumult somehow. Jessica's relatives had always flattered her and fawned over her. Now that they stood to gain nothing from it, their past affections were revealed to be nothing more than pathetic attempts to secure a share of the inheritance.

Jessica wiped at her tears resentfully. Disregarding the rain that was battering down upon her, Jessica slowly finished scattering the rest of her parent's ashes into the turbulent ocean.

I'll make them regret ever treating me this way! Jessica swore to herself. I'll show them that they shouldn't have messed with me.

"Are you OK?" Larry asked, striding over to Jessica with a worried frown on his face.

Jessica turned and gaped at Larry in shock. Didn't he leave along with the rest? she thought, startled.

Jessica turned to face him squarely, then asked out of curiosity, "Why didn't you leave? What are you waiting for?"

"What are friends for?" Larry responded breezily. "Caspian's here, too." He jerked a thumb towards the figure standing under an umbrella a little way off, watching them.