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__ The Next Day __
The whole mansion was eerily quiet as many servants picked up some luggages from the three cars which were parked inside the place.
They dragged the bags toward the large door that was widely opened then walked upstairs to the various rooms which had already been cleaned since yesterday.
The soft sounds of sobbing could be heard from one of the rooms which was at the farthest end of the hallway as its door was widely opened.
And inside the room, stood the family which had just arrived from City M.
They were all stood quietly while facing the bed where a girl was laying peacefully with her eyes closed and concurrent sighs could be heard now and then in the room.
And the middle-aged woman who had been crying softly and laughing at the same time was sitting on the side of the bed while holding the girl's hand with tears rapidly flowing down her face.
"My poor Pearl..." She whispered in her hoarse voice while stroking the girl's hair as her gaze was fixed on her beautiful face which had turned slimmer.
They were all shocked yesterday after being informed about this sudden news and couldn't believe any of it until they arrived here some minutes ago and were met with this sight.
Mira slowly wiped the tears that kept falling on her face and also had her gaze fixed on the bed as she wept softly while being held by Zach. She had never dreamed of seeing her friend's face again. However, seeing her now even though she was in this condition, her heart was filled with happiness as they could at least hope that one day, she would wake up again.
She sighed heavily as her husband patted her back, then after some seconds, she glanced sideways at Vivian who was standing silently at a corner while being hugged by her mother.
Zach also glanced at Vivian who was being hugged by the woman that kept sobbing happily and he sighed heavily.
He slowly released Mira and started walking toward his brother who was standing silently beside their father with Lucy clung tightly onto his arm.
Shoving a hand in his pants pocket, he carefully retrieved a small box from inside and then slowly gave it to his brother after glancing at the bed.
Carl took the box from his hand with a soft sigh then glanced at his father who slowly nodded back at him.
The middle-aged man sighed heavily then patted his shoulder and slowly walked toward his wife before he carefully helped her up from the bed.
"Let's go..." He muttered softly while walking her out of the room then everyone also start walking out of the room while glancing back now and then at the bed and shortly after, it remained only the guy inside.
After the door was closed, Carl slowly walked toward the bed, then breathed in deeply before carefully sitting down on the side of the bed with the small box still in his hand.
"Clara..." He called out softly then started stroking her hair carefully.
"Remember I promised to ask you something before traveling... " he slowly started with a sad smile then continued after some seconds.
"However, when I returned, you already forgot about me... I had to try again to win you back__" he chuckled sadly then took in another breath.
"You finally fell for me and also remembered me... However, it was too late again." He continued stroking her hair with the sad smile still on his face.
"After getting another chance again, I don't want to let it go... I'm very happy that I will finally get to ask you this..." He trailed off with another sigh as he stopped stroking her hair.
"Clara... Will you marry me?... I'll wait no matter how long it would take... I'll wait for your reply... Okay?" He finally muttered while his gaze had never left her face.
Then he sighed heavily and looked down at his hands before he carefully opened the box and a sparkling ring which was embedded with a huge diamond instantly came to light.
"Until then, please keep this in your possession, a symbol of my heart which only belongs to you... And will always do, forever..."
Picking up the ring, he carefully lifted her hand then slowly put it in her finger and sighed again. "Please wake up soon, okay? And let's get married," he muttered pleadingly then leaned forward and placed a soft lingering kiss on her forehead.
"I love you, Clara... As long as I live, my heart would only beat for you."
He held her palm and slowly caressed the ring which was glinting now and then on her finger while he spoke to her for a very long time before he finally stood up from the bed after kissing her forehead again.
He walked out of the room and after carefully closing the door behind him, he started walking through the hallway and downstairs toward the living room where the family was already waiting silently then his gaze darted to his grandparents, who were sitting side by side on a couch.
And they were both glaring at his father who had his head down and was sitting beside his stepmother, while Mira and Zach sat on another couch.
Sighing inside, he slowly came down the stairs, then walked toward the couch where Lucy was sitting alone at, as her fascinated gaze was fixed on the old couple. And he sat down beside her then turned his attention to his grandparents.
Compared to the gloomy atmosphere inside the bedroom a while ago, the atmosphere inside the living room was slowly becoming intense with each second and the middle-aged man nervously shifted on the couch, from the intense gaze of the old couple.
"Henry?" His wife whispered while nudging him slightly, as she also looked down, also not daring to meet the old couple's gaze who were fuming with anger.