The day of the funeral.
The weather was less than ideal. Thick clouds obscured the sun, only occasionally and stingily shedding a sliver of sunlight.
For the most part, it remained gloomy.
Instead, gusts of cold wind swept through the trees in the cemetery. The guests' whispers, accompanied by the chill wind, somehow felt all the more desolate.
"Although a bit rushed, the funeral is still quite grand."
"I heard it was organized by Antonio and his mother."
"Hiss—no wonder Madam Anna and the young masters and misses aren't here. So that's why. A woman's jealousy... Fernand has already gone to heaven, yet she still can't let it go?"
"By contrast, look at how heartbroken the one crying over there is. I somewhat understand Fernand now; a love that comes from the heart truly is different."
"..."
The wind carried these words to the ears of the woman in front of the coffin. She paused for a moment... then began to cry even more sorrowfully. Suddenly, she threw herself onto the coffin and cried out:
"Fernand, take me with you!"
"I can't live without you!"
Saying this, she tried to lift the lid and jump in, but the crowd hastily pulled her back and tried to console her.
The discussions grew even more heated.
Mixed in were criticisms of Anna and her children.
Suddenly, someone mentioned Su Ning, "Why didn't that Su from the East come? Have any of you seen an Eastern face?"
Everyone shook their heads in tacit agreement.
In truth, one of the main reasons many of them had come was Su Ning.
Who didn't know?
The actual owner of Swire Shipping had become this wealthy tycoon from the East. Those with deeper insight also knew of her other identities—
An owner of wealth even greater than the exaggerated descriptions in the newspapers.
"Didn't they say she was deeply in love with Antonio? Why didn't she come to the funeral?"
"Perhaps it's an Eastern custom."
"Hmph, do you actually believe those reports? I've seen the way that Eastern Su interacts with Antonio... She truly is a woman as arrogant as a king. She treats Antonio not like a lover, but like a subject."
This statement was very profound.
Thinking back to Antonio's previously precarious situation, everyone exchanged a knowing glance. Someone teased:
"It seems we underestimated Anton."
"That's why I've always said that women are flawed and imperfect beings. It's best if they are strictly protected, carelessly embroidering lace as the angels of the household. They shouldn't participate in men's competitions."
"Otherwise, failure is destined."
"Exactly."
"What's even more terrifying is that when they face setbacks and want to retreat to the family, they still can't receive the love they should have... Look over there—"
The crowd followed the gaze.
They saw Antonio surrounded and comforted by several girls. The one closest to him had an especially intimate posture. Everyone recognized her as Miss Faust.
Her family ran the premier shipyard in Portugal.
Someone even pointed out.
The two had dated for a while in the past.
So, was this a rekindling of an old flame?
...
"No, we are just friends."
When someone spoke up with malicious intent, before Antonio could even reply, Miss Faust spoke anxiously, blinking her eyes:
"Right, Anton?"
Her voice uncontrollably revealed a trace of sweetness.
"That's right."
Antonio was a bit displeased. It was too obvious. He had clearly told her that he had no choice right now and couldn't show any flaws before successfully marrying Su Ning. She couldn't even manage this much. How shallow and frivolous.
If it weren't for those ships.
He wouldn't have given her a second glance. Just a few ambiguous words and a smile, and she actually thought she was his true love? How could that be?
The only one he loved in this life was Wan'er!
Of course, he still had to endure for now.
Thus, he said, "Miss Faust is my best friend. Thanks to her sincere comfort, she helped me get through the most painful moments."
As soon as these words came out.
Miss Faust was deeply moved. Biting her lower lip, she was just about to say something.
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside—
Wearing a black veil hat and dressed in black, Anna arrived with her children in a grand procession. Sharp-eyed people also noticed a group of Eastern-looking people following behind.
It was Su Ning.
Unlike the others.
Antonio's main focus was actually on her. When he saw that face, overwhelming negative emotions struck him, accompanied by a nervous heartbeat.
Why would she come?
Moreover, she came with the detestable Madam Anna and her group.
Easterners were conspicuous after all.
By this time, others had also recognized Su Ning. He forcefully suppressed his chaotic thoughts and eagerly stepped forward, deliberately showing a surprised and intimate posture:
"I didn't expect you to come. Why didn't you tell me earlier so I could pick you up directly? Anna and her people didn't hurt you, did they? Let me apologize to you on their behalf first. The funeral isn't over yet, you can still say goodbye to my father."
His voice was neither high nor low.
Many people heard his words, and Miss Faust's eyes dimmed for a moment.
Then she cheered herself up again.
It didn't matter.
Anton was forced into this. It was all a trick of fate, actually making him encounter the same situation as Mr. Fernand, where lovers couldn't be together and another person had to intervene for various reasons.
Feeling an unfriendly gaze.
Su Ning felt a slight tension—
Could it be that someone anticipated she would come and wanted to assassinate her?
Following the gaze...
It was nothing.
Su Ning didn't react to his words. Antonio forced down his gloominess and opened his mouth, acting even more concerned, but was impatiently interrupted after just a few words.
"Speak a human language."
He choked.
How was Portuguese not a human language!
Grinding his teeth, he repeated it in Chinese. Su Ning didn't even give him a glance. Looking at Anna and the others not far away, she said leisurely:
"When the tiger is away from the mountain, the monkey crowns himself king. What right do you have to apologize on behalf of Madam Anna? An illegitimate son born to a mistress actually has the nerve."
Mistress, illegitimate son.
Antonio's face twitched as he growled:
"Su Ning, don't go too far!"
"Say that again."
Su Ning gave him a cold look, and Antonio's intelligence returned.
He said submissively:
"I mean, this is my father's funeral and many people are here. At least out of respect for the deceased, please don't cause a scene. Let my father go in peace."
"What a coincidence," Su Ning's lips curled into a smile. "My goal is the same as yours. It's all to let Mr. Fernand go in peace."
Antonio froze.
Just as he opened his mouth to say something, he saw Su Ning raise a finger to her lips.
"Shh, be quiet."
As her voice fell.
Over there, Anna had already reached the coffin and suddenly threw the lid open.
The crowd gasped in shock.
The woman was crying so hard she could barely catch her breath, suddenly throwing herself forward to cover the coffin with her body.
"I know you hate me, despise me. You can do whatever you want to me, whether it's beating or scolding, I'll accept it. But don't do this to Fernand. He was your husband too, the father of your children. I beg you, leave Fernand his final dignity."
Every word was wept in blood, extremely moving.
Slap—
Anna didn't even blink.
A sharp, resounding slap struck the woman across the face. The sheer force of the blow sent her crashing to the floor. Clutching her cheek, she looked up in sheer disbelief.
"You... you hit me?"
For all these years, no matter what she had said or done, Anna had never laid a finger on her, all for the sake of maintaining her laughable aristocratic grace!
"Didn't you say you would accept whatever beatings or scoldings I gave you?" Anna's expression was icy as she casually shook out her hand. "Why the surprise now?"
She shifted her gaze to the coffin, its lid pushed partially open. Despite being preserved at a low temperature with ice, too much time had passed; the face inside had already begun to distort and decay.
Her voice was chillingly flat.
"It is precisely because we were husband and wife that I made this trip. Preserve his dignity? If I hadn't come, falsifying his time of death would have been bad enough. But to steal his cherished burial items, the ones he chose while he was still alive, just to sell them off for cash? What kind of dignity is that!"
