The Spiteful Bride, Marry to Rival's Son-Chapter 131

WHY KEEP A BLACK CLOTHES FOR SOMEONE WHO’S ALIVE

"I’m so sorry," Mia whispered. "I’m so sorry for what I said to him. I was angry and scared and I said terrible things."

"You were protecting me," Elena said through her tears. "You were trying to keep me safe."

"But now he’s gone," Mia sobbed. "He’s gone and the last thing he heard from me was that I didn’t want to see him anymore."

Stefan walked into the room carrying flowers. When he saw both women crying, he set the flowers down and went to them.

"Everything is ready for tomorrow," he said quietly. "The funeral home has everything prepared."

He pulled Mia into his arms first, holding her as she cried into his chest. Then he looked at Elena and stretched out his hand to her.

Elena looked surprised. Stefan had always been kind to her, but they weren’t particularly close. But she took his hand and let him pull her into a hug.

"Mose would want you to be strong and brave," Stefan whispered in her ear. "He would want you to take care of yourself."

Elena nodded against his shoulder, understanding what he meant. Mose had loved her and he would want her to keep living, even without him.

"The doctor said you can be released tomorrow morning," Stefan told Elena. "So you can come to the funeral."

Elena nodded. "I want to be there. I need to say goodbye."

The funeral was set for three days later. It was held at the biggest church in the city because so many people wanted to come.

Some came to pay their respects, but others came out of curiosity or to judge.

Stefan, Mia, and Elena entered the church together. Stefan walked in the middle with Mia on his right side and Elena on his left.

He had promised Mose that he would take care of Elena, and he intended to keep that promise.

As they walked down the aisle, people stared at them. Some looked at Elena with pity, knowing she had lost the man she loved.

Others glared at Mia with hatred, blaming her for what had happened.

The service was beautiful but heartbreaking. Stefan gave a speech about his friendship with Mose. Elena read a poem about love and loss. Mia couldn’t speak at all because she was crying too hard.

When the service ended, they walked out of the church the same way they had entered. But as soon as they stepped outside, someone in the crowd threw an egg at Mia.

At first, Mia thought it was an accident. But then another egg hit her shoulder, and then another.

"You killed him!" someone shouted from the crowd.

"Murderer!" another voice yelled.

More things started flying at Mia. Eggs, tomatoes, even rocks. Stefan and Elena tried to shield her, moving in front of her to block the projectiles. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Get away from her!" Stefan shouted at the crowd. "This is a funeral! Have some respect!"

But the crowd was angry and they weren’t listening to reason.

"She should die the same way he did!" someone screamed.

"She doesn’t deserve to live!"

"Justice for Mose!"

Stefan was getting ready to call his security team, but Mia stopped him.

"No," she said quietly, stepping out from behind Stefan and Elena. "Let them."

"Mia, what are you doing?" Stefan asked.

"This is my cross to carry," Mia said, holding her head up high as eggs and tomatoes hit her dress. "I did this. I have to face the consequences."

She walked slowly toward the car, not trying to dodge the things being thrown at her.

Her head was held high and her back was straight, even though inside she was breaking into a million pieces.

The things people were shouting hurt worse than the physical objects hitting her.

But she knew she deserved their anger. She had sent Mose away and now he was dead.

When they finally reached the car, Mia got in and immediately broke down. All the strength she had shown outside crumbled and she sobbed into her hands.

Stefan got in beside her and pulled her into his arms. "Drive," he told the driver. "Take us to the penthouse on Fifth Street."

As they drove away from the church, Stefan held Mia while she cried. Elena sat on the other side of her, holding her hand.

"I’m so sorry," Mia kept saying. "I’m so sorry."

"We all are," Stefan said quietly. "We all are."

The penthouse Stefan took them to was different from their usual home. It was smaller but more secure.

They had decided to move there after the funeral because too many people knew where they lived.

This place felt empty and cold. There was no cook, no household staff. Stefan had let everyone go after what happened, paying them more than they had earned to keep them quiet about the family’s business.

As soon as they got inside, Elena asked the question she had been dying to ask for days. But she hadn’t been able to before because they knew the Santiagos were watching them like hawks watching prey.

This new place was safe. Mose had set up the security system before everything the drama started. The cameras couldn’t be accessed by outsiders.

"How is he?" Elena asked quietly.

Stefan and Mia looked at each other before Stefan answered.

"The doctor said he’s still in a coma, but he’s responding to treatment," Stefan said. "He’s healing and his breathing is getting stronger."

Elena and Mia both let out long breaths of relief. Elena closed her eyes and whispered a prayer of thanks.

Elena started crying again, but this time they were tears of relief and joy.

The three of them went to their rooms to change out of their funeral clothes. Stefan and Mia shared a room, so they came out together. Elena met them in the hallway and together they walked to the back of the penthouse where there was a private courtyard.

They had brought their funeral clothes with them. Without saying a word, they threw the black dresses and suits into a metal barrel and Stefan lit them on fire.

Why keep a black clothes for someone who’s alive.