Chapter14 The sudden appearance of my mother, and her words, struck like a thunderclap, shattering all of Edward's arrogance and forced composure. He froze on the spot for a long moment, his face draining of color as he surveyed the scene. It was only now that he realized every single mourner present-the relatives, friends, even neighbors of Margaret-were all from our side of the family. All this time, he had been so focused on shielding Claire that he hadn't noticed a thing. Now, seeing it clearly, a cold realization hit him. Something was very wrong. This funeral... was all wrong. "No... impossible. Absolutely impossible," he muttered, shaking his head. His gaze was drawn involuntarily to the urn on the floor, splattered with Claire's paint. The next second, he stumbled forward, desperate, trying to scrape away the paint from the portrait, searching for proof that it wasn't his mother. "Edward! What are you doing?" Claire screeched, disgusted. "It's filthy! They're lying to you! Don't believe them!" She tried to pull him back, but Edward seemed possessed, deaf to reason, lost in his panic. Only when he wiped the paint from the portrait and saw the familiar, kind face of his mother did he completely break down. "Mom?" he choked, tears streaming uncontrollably. "How is this possible?" "I don't believe it! I can't believe it! She was perfectly fine at home-how could she be dead?" Then he turned to me, eyes bloodshot, screaming. "Vanessa! You're lying to me, aren't you? You invited all my relatives here just to trick me, didn't you?!" I stared at him coldly, expressionless. "Edward, did you forget? Mom never missed your birthday. She came all the way from home yesterday to surprise you. And now... she's dead at the hands of your mistress. Not only did she not see her son for the last time, her funeral has been destroyed by you and Claire-the murderer!" My words hit him like a thunderbolt, leaving him stunned. All his pride, all his excuses, crumbled away. He staggered, grief and despair washing over him like a tsunami. "Ah! Mom!" He wailed, pounding his fists against the floor, frantically smearing the paint-stained ashes of his mother. He collapsed completely, trembling and incoherent, lost in grief.. "Mom, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry..." He slapped himself repeatedly, muttering incoherently. Claire, frozen in shock, stammered. "Edward... I... I didn't know she was your mom. I didn't mean it. You won't be mad at me, right?" I turned to her, voice cold. "You didn't know? My mother clearly told you who she was-she said she was Edward's mom. And you didn't believe her. Instead, you struck her so hard that she collapsed, clutching her chest. She would have been fine if she'd taken her medicine-but you snatched it away, ignoring my desperate pleas, and threw away the medicine that could have saved her! You killed my mother with your own hands!" Edward's eyes, red and brimming with tears, now burned with rage. He glared at Claire, teeth clenched. "Is what she said true?" Through tears, Claire defended herself. "I didn't mean to! How was I supposed to know she was some uncouth country bumpkin? Come on, Edward, forgive me. She was just an old woman. What difference would it make?. I'll take care of you instead!" Hearing this, Edward laughed-a sharp, hollow laugh. Claire smiled, mistaking it for forgiveness. "You're laughing, so that means you forgive me, right?" "I knew you were the best!" She entwined her arm around him, her grin sickly sweet. "Honestly, it's kind of good your mom's gone. No more mother-in-law problems for us!" Edward's laughter grew louder. "What a tragedy... what a curse!" Then, suddenly, he pulled a knife from his pocket and drove it straight into Claire's neck. Blood spurted wildly. Her laughter froze. She clutched her neck, staring at him in disbelief. How could the man who had never spoken harshly to her in all their time together... kill her without a word? Edward's voice was cold. "I can forgive anything you do... But never harming my mother. She is the most important person in my life." He withdrew the knife. Claire collapsed, dead, at the very funeral of the woman she had killed. Chaos erupted. Some screamed in terror, others fled, and some called the police. Edward, however, remained calm, cradling his mother's portrait and ashes, weeping and apologizing endlessly. The police arrived quickly. Edward was arrested and sentenced to death. Chapter14 100.004 All the restaurant staff involved in the attack on my mother and me were also captured. Before his execution, Edward renounced all his wealth and rights, leaving nothing behind. I carefully collected my mother's ashes and buried them near her longtime home. Every year on her memorial day, I visit her grave. After all, this gentle, loving woman deserved dignity and respect, even in death. 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