Once Bitten, Twice Shy

429 Still Lost Out in The End

At the villa three days later, a bunch of policemen walked into the living room and reported the search and rescue situation to Old Madam Barker, who was sitting on the sofa.

“Old Madam, we received the report immediately after the explosion and rushed to the scene as soon as possible. I regret to say that the explosion was so powerful that the yacht was half-destroyed, and more than half of its bow was blown away. There was no one else on it.”

“We searched the nearby waters for seventy-two hours and only found Mr. Barker’s remains, but there was no sight of Samantha or Matthew.”

“Since they are were in the middle of the sea, we have reason to believe that they...did not make it, and their bodies were either washed away by the sea or...blown up.”

As he said that, Old Madam Barker fell back while clutching her heart. Her face had turned pale and she was having difficulty breathing.

It had taken so much effort to see Timothy and Samantha reconciling and they were about to go and pick up her precious grandson. She never thought that the result would be so vastly beyond her expectations.

Aunt Julia supported her at once and said anxiously, “I’m very sorry to hear that, Old Madam. There’s...still their funeral that we have to take care of.”

She burst into tears and felt her voice choking up.

Rochelle immediately walked in with Jonathan after they had rushed over. She asked the police with reddened eyes, “How could the yacht have exploded when there was nothing wrong? Did someone deliberately make this look like an accident?”

The policeman replied, “Based on our investigations on the yacht, there was a fire inside that led to an accidental explosion. It must have been a simple accident.”

Rochelle could not help sneering.

There was no such thing as a simple accident. It had to be Donald’s doing,

However, she knew that Donald had erased all traces and it would not have been of any help if she threw a fit with the police.

She bit her lower lip to control her extremely uncomfortable emotions.

Jonathan’s turned to her and held her hand silently when he saw the tears in her eyes.

After the police left, Old Madam Barker took some medicine and lay on the bed.

Rochelle sat on the edge of the bed and helped her to lie down. “Are you feeling better, Old Madam?”

The old lady said in a hoarse voice, “Yes.”

“About this...”

“I know Donald did it.” Old Madam Barker interrupted her. “Donald has always been ruthless, and I’ve always disapproved of Tim’s close relationship with him in the past three years. It’s just...Tim’s second personality doesn’t listen to me at all.”

“Tim’s second personality won’t hurt me but he doesn’t love me either. The only tie that binds us is my relation to him as his grandmother.”

“That aside, he had his ideas which I have no control over. Whatever happened...was the result of his own doing.”

“It’s just such a pity for my Tim, Sammy, and...Matt...”

Rochelle could not help but hug the old lady. “Don’t worry, Old Madam. I’ll definitely find a way to get evidence against Donald!”

She did not fear Donald even if the man was at the peak of his power!

“No. Don’t.”

Old Madam Barker shook her head dejectedly. “I don’t want you to be involved in this. This is a family issue that has nothing to do with you.”

“But...”

“Chelle, listen to me. I’m old and I don’t have much longer to live. I’m all alone now too, and I just want to deal with their funeral affairs. As for the company, I’ll entrust Jon to manage it on my behalf for the time being. We’ll discuss the rest later...”

Rochelle looked at the old lady’s white hair and haggard face before nodding repeatedly. “Okay. I’ll help you with...the funeral...”

...

News of Timothy and his wife’s accidental death shocked the whole nation.

Any news on them shot up to the top of the trending searches for several days. Netizens discussed everything heatedly, and there was turmoil within the Barker Group.

The stock price crashed, shareholders were panicking, and employees were extremely anxious. The once-mighty Barker Group was crumbling to pieces.

During the funeral several days later, the guests were all dressed in black, and people from all walks of life came to pay their respects.

Rochelle accompanied Old Madam Barker to keep watch and thank those who came while Jonathan and Zachary helped entertain the other guests.

Everything went smoothly until a man walked in.

The man was walking with the help of a cane. He had a stern expression and a strong aura as he walked in slowly.

None of the guests could help their surprise when they laid eyes on him.

He was none other than Donald, whom everyone knew!

They also knew that Donald was on bad terms with Old Madam Barker and Timothy.

What other reason could he be there for other than to stir up trouble after Timothy’s death?

Despite the depressing and heavy atmosphere, Donald walked in with a smile on his lips. He stood in front of Timothy’s black-framed photo and bowed three times.

He then turned to the old lady and said with a smile, “My condolences, Old Madam.”

Rochelle was itching to punch the man’s smiling face. “How dare you show up here!”

He ignored her and continued to stare at the old lady.

Old Madam Barker’s face was calm. “You have been waiting so long for this moment.”

Donald shook his head. “I admire Timothy very much, Old Madam. I have no children, so he can have the Barker Group or the Barkers if that’s what he wants. He was the one who chose this path and he can’t blame me for this.”

Old Madam Barker sneered. “No one from my family will be your puppet, not my son or my grandson!”

“They won’t give in to you even if you draw out their second personality, so in the end, you’ll still be the one losing out!”

Donald’s expression appeared a little distorted.

His lifelong wish was to control the Barkers, not to kill them, but no one could make his wish come true!

He quickly regained his composure. “Old Madam, I understand that you are in a bad mood. You can vent as you please because all you can do is...scold me.”

Without an heir, the Barker Group would return to him.

...

He could have his pick of heirs!

There were plenty of heirs that could be obedient!

The old lady ignored him and looked over his shoulder to see the man standing silently there.

She said coldly, “I didn’t expect...Theodore to be one of your men.”

Theodore used to be Old Master Barker’s psychiatrist, and one could say that Timothy grew up with him and was on rather good terms with him.

It was unfortunate that he was one of Donald’s men.

Theodore kept quiet and lowered his gaze slightly.

Things had all settled down and there was no point in saying anything. Old Madam Barker told Rochelle, “Could you help me take a seat, please.”

Rochelle nodded and helped the old lady down on a chair.

Donald did not leave, but raised his foot and walked towards the room inside.

There was a beautifully crafted coffin inside. Timothy’s eyes were closed and he lay quietly inside with white lilies laid all over his body.

...

A pleasant smell greeted Donald when he walked in.

Donald looked up at Theodore, who closed the door and stood guard there.

It was then that Donald looked at Timothy inside the coffin. As he looked at the dead man, he lamented softly, “It was because of your disobedience that you suffered this end!”

The lingering scent of lilies had a soothing effect on his nerves and aroused his joy even more.

Donald put his hands on the coffin and leaned over to say, “You still decided to sacrifice yourself to save your wife and children. Why? As soon as the bomb exploded, the force will blow them up as well. Even if they’re not dead, there’s no way to save them if they end up in the ocean.

“I promised to let you reunite with your family, and reunite you did! Have a safe journey to the afterlife now that you’re reunited in death...”

Donald could not help himself from laughing.