My words caught everyone's attention, and they looked atin disbelief.
"Call the cops?" The neighbor I had entrusted seemed to grasp the situation. He immediately picked up his phone and made the call.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtI kept my gaze on Melanie, who stood coldly and impatiently beside Matthew. After a while, I picked up my phone and called the cops.
Before they arrived, Atlas had arranged for us to see the body. Matthew didn't move. He stayed on his knees, wailing, refusing to look up.
"Matthew, go see your mother!" I said it coldly, but he remained motionless. "This is your last chance." His hands on the ground tightened, but he didn't lift his head.
"Grandma... I want Grandma!" Ava's cries were heartbreaking. After sthought, I stood up slowly and headed inside. Ivanna and Lauren stood by my side.
"We'll accompany you." "I want to see Grandma!" Ava cried. "Mommy, I want to see Grandma too!" I smiled sadly and said, "Be good! Mommy will go for you. Grandma wouldn't want you to cry." Then I walked into the emergency room resolutely. There were no medical staff inside, and the stark white of the sheet under the shadowless lamp was glaring. This place was already a realm of the departed, and it felt even more eerie at this moment.
My heart pounded violently. This was the first tI had seen someone lifeless. She had been a family member closely tied tofor over a decade, my child's grandmother.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmIvanna whispered, "What if...we just let it go?" I stood silently for a long tbefore straightening up and moving forward.
Gently lifting the sheet, I saw her face, seemingly sleeping peacefully. At this moment, she appeared gentle and benevolent. From now on, she would be beyond pain, worry, and suffering.
Then, I calmly told Lauren. "Lauren, go buy the best funeral clothes for her. The very best, just like the ones she always wore." Lauren turned and quickly left, returning shortly after. Trembling, I helped her put on the clothes. It was the first tI had dressed Grace. Enduring the process with tears, I smiled and looked at her serene appearance.
"Mom, you can go in peace now. There will be no more pain in heaven. From now on, you'll be free and happy. I can only escort you this far," I said, then looked at her for a moment before covering her with the sheet. Matthew suddenly burst into the room. He looked atdistressed, then shifted his gaze to the stark white sheet. "Chlo, I-" I looked at him coldly and walked past him, not wanting to say another word.
Exiting the emergency room door, I teadied my emotions and saw Johnson approaching through the crowd. He quickly ran over, and efore he could say anything, I sked him to assist Matthew in Landling the funeral arrangements. The neighbors had gathered, and the police were there. The leading officer approachedand asked, "Ma'am, did you call the police?" "Yes," I affirmed, then pointed to Melanie, hiding in a corner with a bruised and swollen face. "She abused her seriously ill mother- in-law and caused her death." "Chlo, you're spewing nonsense. Accusingwill not end well for you..." Melanie's voice trailed off.
I looked at her coldly. "Officer, the witnesses and evidence are all here. I'll provide a more detailed report and evidence later." Then I turned to the neighbors and said, "I know someone recorded today's events. Please give the video to the cops. Let's give Grace scomfort and a proper farewell. She had a hard life and endured humiliation. I hope we can send her off peacefully. Thank you all for your help." As I finished speaking, several neighbors held up their phones, saying, "Rest assured! I've got it!" "I have it, too!" "I've got the full footage. I'll hand it over to the officer!" "Don't worry! We'll send Grace off properly!" I nodded at them. "Thank you, everyone." "Then let's all go to the station!" Two police officers walked toward Melanie. She screamed, "Chlo, you're making false accusations! It was her who hit me..." The neighbors pointed at her indignantly. "You're still trying to defend yourself? We all saw what happened! There's even video evidence." Matthew, full of rage, rushed out from inside. He roared, "I'd like to see who dares to take her away!"