Chereads / REVIVE: AMERICA 1995 / Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: The Bereaved Wife

Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: The Bereaved Wife

Half an hour ago, after returning from the family cemetery, Milo had been staring blankly at the cold buffet. Sitting in a corner, his aimless gaze swept across the entire venue. Those who didn't know him would think he was still grieving for his brother's death.Because everyone knew that the Blackburn brothers had a truly excellent relationship. The elder brother had risked being mauled by a mother bear to protect his younger brother, covering for his escape. At the time, this story even made the local news in Massachusetts. When Paladin ran for office, this incident earned him a lot of points. Who wouldn't want a brother who would risk their life to protect them? And to ensure his brother's successful election, the younger brother, without consulting his family, had acted impulsively as a hotheaded sixteen-year-old, driving a sports car to ram into a party competitor. He hadn't considered that if this tactic could be used so casually, the Blackburns wouldn't need such an important member to take such risks... This incident also made the news, but it was later suppressed.The two brothers: one was bright, promising, and had an unlimited future; the other was dissolute but willing to go to jail for his brother. Such children, such a brotherly bond, had once made countless family elders in the circle envious. At that time, everyone thought that the Blackburn family would rise in their generation. It was precisely because of this that the Harrisons, who were far more powerful than the Blackburns, had chosen Paladin as their son-in-law.Now, Paladin was gone! On the surface, many people had come to mourn, but who knew how many of them were secretly applauding Paladin's death? If the last male member of the Blackburn family were to sink into depravity and become a true wastrel, that would be even better!Besides the Blackburn family themselves, there were also those who relied on the Blackburns. No one would truly grieve for Paladin's death. That was reality."Milo..."A fat man walked up to Milo and looked at him with concern. The man was too tall, too big, and too fat. He blocked Milo's view. Milo refocused on the fat man, "What's up, Wendy?"Wendy Arris was, on the surface, a lawyer, a celebrity agent, and the general manager of a small Hollywood company. In reality, he was also the youngest son of Kim Arris. He was Paladin's childhood playmate and had grown up to become Milo's assistant. The Hollywood company he managed was owned by Milo Blackburn. This was also one of the reasons why Milo was so despised by families in the same circle. A good-looking young man from a prominent political family in New England, he had gone to California to mess around in Hollywood, and his main purpose was to have an easier time playing with women... If that wasn't being a wastrel, then who was?Looking at Milo's handsome face, Wendy Arris said softly, "I've done what you asked me to do the day before yesterday. But I didn't buy much. Even when we offered twenty dollars, we still only got 200,000 shares, and it cost us all our liquid funds."After listening to Wendy, Milo nodded, "200,000 shares? That's already pretty good. Wendy, you did well.""But we don't have much money left in the account. Miramax is now urging us for follow-up investment..."Milo's gaze, which had been fixed on the front, suddenly tightened, but he waved his hand, "Just ignore them."Wendy said, "But if we don't continue to invest, according to the contract, all the money we invested before will be lost.""It doesn't matter. I've already slept with the leading ladies and supporting actresses in those two movies. Just consider that money as a tip for their girlfriends..."Wendy: "..."Three hundred thousand dollars, just to get a few women, that was too expensive. But since Milo insisted, Wendy had no choice."Hey, Wendy," Milo said suddenly, his finger pointing to the left. "Isn't that guy bothering Hayley the one from the Bayards, Craig?"Wendy Arris quickly looked over. The portly man saw a man talking to Paladin's widow.Wendy nodded, "Yeah, that's Craig Bayard. He's here today representing the Bayards at Paladin's funeral.""I heard he was one of Hayley's most ardent pursuers," Milo replied. As one of Paladin's childhood friends, even though he'd been following Milo for a few years, Wendy was very familiar with many things about Paladin.The portly man hesitated before nodding and whispering, "That's right. Even after Hayley married Paladin, he kept pestering her for a few years. Paladin hated him...""You're not lying to me, because Paladin did tell me about this. He said he hated Bayard," Milo said softly."Yeah, that guy also competed with Paladin for the position of Attorney General. But he's a Republican, and he couldn't beat us in Massachusetts," Wendy said."That's good, then I have no worries," Milo replied.Hearing Milo say this, and seeing the unfriendly look in Milo's eyes as he stared at Craig, Wendy suddenly felt a chill run down his spine."What are you going to do, Milo? Today is Paladin's funeral, and Craig is representing the Bayards!" Wendy lowered his voice."What am I going to do?" Milo sneered, "I see my brother's former rival harassing his widow, not long after my brother's funeral. What do you think I'm going to do?""Ah?" Wendy wanted to say that things weren't as bad as Milo thought. But the portly man saw that Milo, who had been lounging on the sofa, had already stood up and was striding towards Hayley and Craig.Wendy didn't know what Milo was going to do. But he knew that whatever Milo did now would be inappropriate. This was Paladin's funeral! And Craig Bayard wasn't one of those Hollywood characters who would just take Milo's bullying without fighting back.Wendy hurried after him, but he couldn't keep up with Milo. Plus, he was overweight. By the time Milo reached Hayley and Craig, Wendy was still a long way behind."Hi, Milo. My condolences. I'm so sorry to hear about Paladin," Craig greeted him with a smile as soon as Milo approached.Milo ignored him and looked at his sister-in-law, Hayley. She was beautiful, with a slender waist. Dressed in a black dress, her waist was cinched in tightly, making her chest appear even more prominent. She was backlit, her eyes filled with the sadness of a recent bereavement. She was actually six years younger than Paladin and only four years older than Milo."Is he harassing you, Hayley?" Milo asked Hayley, not looking at Craig.Hayley was startled by his question. Actually, no. Craig might have had some thoughts, but he was too stupid to do anything to Hayley at Paladin's funeral. Craig was just trying to comfort Hayley. After all, he had been one of Hayley's suitors before she married Paladin."No..." Hayley began to speak, but Milo was quicker.He grabbed a nearby glass, filled with the martini served at the funeral, and poured the entire contents over Craig's head without warning."You filthy bug, fuck you! Stay away from Hayley! Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? Paladin has only been in his grave for a short time, and what are you trying to do?! Fuck you! I'll say it again, stay away from Hayley!" he roared. (End)