All Novel Sweet
Chapter 47
Chapter 47
When Leanne arrived at the venue, the eulogy was already being read aloud by the host.
The attendees, all dressed in somber black, filled the room with a sea of mourning attire. Men wore their crisp black suits, while women wore their elegant black dresses, creating an overwhelming presence of solemnity.
The atmosphere was thick with grief, hanging over the congregation like a heavy shroud.
Jennifer caught sight of Leanne, her furrowed brow and disapproving gaze conveying a reprimand.
People around began to follow Jennifer’s stare, turning their heads towards Leanne.
Leanne, not wanting to cause a scene and disrupt the respectful silence for the departed, quickly turned away from Jennifer and scurried over, crouching slightly as she tried to move discreetly.
As she settled in, she noticed the man beside her stiffen.
Jennifer’s piercing gaze became even more intense, as if her eyes were about to bulge out from her face.
The scrutinizing looks from others in the room multiplied.
Leanne felt bewildered under the weight of their stares, sensing the awkwardness in the air and instinctively glanced at the man beside her. And then she froze.
The man sitting next to her wasn’t Curtis, but his elder brother, Phillip.
The brothers shared a striking resemblance in stature and features, making it difficult to distinguish them from behind.Material © NôvelDrama.Org.
Phillip, being the eldest, carried himself with dignified composure, while Curtis had a more casual and relaxed charm which was arguably the more handsome of the two.
Raised from childhood as the heir apparent to the Richardson Group, Phillip exuded an aura of responsibility and nobility. Curtis, on the other hand, always had that roguish, aristocratic flair that drew attention.
Leanne felt as though she was sitting on pins and needles.
Rushing to the side of Phillip at such an important event in full view of everyone was bound to raise eyebrows, especially Jennifer's.
Sensing her discomfort, Phillip spoke in a deep voice, “Don’t be nervous. We’re all family here.”
Leanne apologized with an embarrassed expression, “I’m sorry, Phillip. I thought you were Curtis.”
Both of them possessed unique wristwatches, gifted by a family elder and custom-made to be one of a kind, distinguished only by the initials on their dials. “CT” was for Curtis and “PL” for Phillip.
Phillip had been away on business and had only just returned.
In her rush and under the intense scrutiny of Jennifer’s glaring stare, Leanne had mistaken the similar figure and watch for Curtis.
Such a mistake was almost an embarrassment to any eye doctor.
“When did you get back?” she asked.
“This morning at six,” Phillip replied.
Leanne nodded, understanding that he must have rushed back just for the memorial service.
“Curtis is in the back,” Phillip added.
Leanne turned around, unprepared for the direct eye contact with Curtis.
He was seated a row behind, looking sharp in his immaculately tailored black suit and meticulously knotted tie.
He sat with his legs crossed, his handsome face showing an icy indifference devoid of emotion. His gaze was equally frosty.
When Leanne noticed the woman next to him, she was taken aback.
Suzan was clad in an elegant black dress with a scarf adding a touch of color around her neck, looking refined and tasteful.
Suzan offered her a smile, “It’s been a long time, Leanne.”
“Indeed,” Leanne responded with a polite and forced smile before shifting her gaze away.
The eulogy, eloquent and moving, failed to capture Leanne’s attention. The deceased was a mere acquaintance, someone she had only met once or twice during the Richardson family’s holiday gatherings. Beyond the obligatory respectful exchanges due to her junior status, there was no real connection.
She knew Uncle Kyle had been close to Curtis, watching him grow up, but she had never really known him or received any kindness from him.
As the memorial drew to a close and others wept, Leanne couldn’t shed a single tear.
Grieving had never been her forte.
As soon as it was over, Jennifer beckoned Leanne over for a predictable scolding due to her late arrival and public embarrassment.