46 The Funeral

Mary had held on longer than the doctors predicted but her body had nearly exhausted its ability.

Charlotte took an indefinite leave of absence from work for her mother's sake. Gordon understood why she was doing it but he wasn't coping very well. As a result, no one at work was coping well under his domineering temper.

By the time night fell, Charlotte was usually exhausted. Much too tired for the activities Gordon would like to participate in with her on the bed. She actually fell asleep during sex one time. This was a blow to his ego.

As Mary seemed to slip into hallucinations as of late, Charlotte and Cora were alternating nights to stay up with Mary. Gordon was sorely frustrated with this arrangement. Didn't he hire live in nursing staff for this very reason? However, Gordon had never watched someone he loved slowly die from an incurable disease. He didn't understand how love could drive a person to go the extra mile as the sisters were doing. He just missed his wife.

He knew his selfishness was a major flaw. He also felt guilty because Charlotte needed his support right now, but because of his emotional makeup, when he felt rejected or neglected he tended to withdraw into himself.

Right now Charlotte was so physically exhausted and emotionally drained that she didn't even notice what was happening in her marriage.

They slowly drifted apart physically and emotionally. Charlotte and Gordon were actually both experiencing the feeling of being alone.

Then one night in July, the wails and cries of the two young sisters filled the villa, and woke others. The staff trickled into the hallway outside of the rooms that Mary used. Gordon, half asleep, made his way into Mary's room. He took in the somber scene.

The sisters sobbing in each other's arms beside the sickbed, the Zhou family doctor examining Mary for a heartbeat with a stethoscope, and the night nurse filling out paperwork.

"Time of death, 4:27 AM." The doctor spoke to the nurse softly as she recorded the information in her papers.

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The funeral for Mary had minimal guests. Mostly Gordon's family and friends of Charlotte and Cora were in attendance.

Everyone went back to the Zhou villa after the funeral. Charlotte deeply wished she didn't have to play hostess during this time, but rising to the occasion with as much grace as she could muster, she welcomed the guests.

Gordon's aunt and uncle were there as well. As Charlotte approached them to welcome them, Julia said, "I'm not sure why so many important people chose to show up to the funeral of someone like her mother."

Charlotte stopped and bit her tongue. Not today. She wasn't going to disgrace her mother's memory today. She quickly went to the kitchen for some privacy to settle her emotions.

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"You disgust me!" Calvin hissed at Julia when he saw that Charlotte had been hurt by her careless words.

Calvin looked around. Gordon was talking with two of his friends and hadn't noticed Charlotte's distress. He frowned. Shouldn't someone comfort her? He approached the kitchen and heard soft crying. His heart clenched. The most perfect woman in the world, his Charlotte, was alone and hurting. Ignoring the warning in the back of his head, he went in and approached her.

With her back to him, she didn't notice him. He came directly behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm so sorry, Charlotte. I'm sorry for Julia and her inappropriate words. I'm sorry you're hurting so badly. A wonderful woman like you shouldn't suffer even a day." He spoke low, just at her ear.

Charlotte stiffened. She was extremely uncomfortable with this man holding her as he was. She tried to give the benefit of the doubt that he only wanted to apologize and comfort her but something didn't feel right. Especially when Calvin's hand grazed her breast. She started to pull away but he gripped her tighter.

"Just let me hold you for awhile." He murmured in her hair. She pulled harder but she was no match for his strength.

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Gordon looked around. Where was Charlotte? He walked through the crowd asking where she was. Someone mentioned she had gone to the kitchen upset.

Gordon hurried to the kitchen, wanting to help her. However, the scene that greeted him made his blood run cold. Charlotte was being held in the arms of another man! Not just any man, but his womanizing uncle.

White hot molten rage washed over Gordon as he crossed the room in quick strides. He roughly pulled his wife out of Calvin's arms and roared in anger, "I'll kill you!!"

He swung over and over again, landing blow after blow on Calvin's face. He didn't fight back. He knew he deserved it.

"Gordon! Gordon stop! You'll hurt him badly!" Charlotte cried.

"What's the matter? Afraid I'll hurt your lover?" He raged.

"Gordon! What foolishness are you speaking? Stop because he's your uncle and because I don't want you going to jail over him. He's not worth it!" Charlotte cried.

"Get out of here!" Gordon yelled at Charlotte.

In shock, she turned and ran out.