Chapter 104: Sudden Tragedy

Raymond was stabbed to death.

It happened just last night, in the early hours. After drinking with some buddies, Big M and Little B went to the dance floor to flirt with some girls.

Meanwhile, Davis and Raymond sat in a private booth arguing. This had been their habit for many years—whenever the two brothers drank, they'd end up arguing over differing opinions on something.

Both believed they were right and wouldn't back down, so they would bicker like two children until their faces turned red.

That's why Big M and Little B left, and Arcadia wasn't an exception.

However, as soon as she stepped out of the booth, she unexpectedly ran into the guy who had once tricked her by promising to make her a movie star!

This guy had been beaten black and blue by Davis before. Now, upon seeing Arcadia, he naturally wouldn't let her go and immediately called over some of his friends to capture her.

Arcadia quickly ran back to the booth and told Raymond and Davis what had happened.

Learning that someone wanted to harm his girlfriend, Davis, already drunk, became even more reckless. He grabbed his gun, intending to kill that scumbag.

But Raymond stopped his younger brother. He still had some rationality left and wanted to find Big M and Little B first to strengthen their numbers.

However, plans never keep up with changes. That group of men found their booth and, emboldened by their numbers, started a fight.

During the chaos, Davis was pinned down by two men and couldn't draw his gun.

The talent scout Davis had previously beaten up pulled out a knife. Just as he was about to attack Davis, Raymond shielded his brother with his own body.

Eight stabs, all to the chest.

Raymond collapsed in a pool of blood. Davis, in a fit of rage, managed to shoot and break the arm of the man with the knife.

Badman received the news early in the morning while lying in bed. By then, Raymond had already been rushed to the hospital and was undergoing emergency treatment.

Unfortunately, by 8 a.m., the doctor informed everyone that the resuscitation had failed. One of the stab wounds had pierced his heart. The layers of fat Raymond had accumulated didn't save him.

When Ethan received the call, Raymond's body had already been moved to the morgue. Badman's purpose was to inform him about Raymond's funeral in a couple of days.

"Beep, beep, beep." The call ended, and the smile on Ethan's face disappeared entirely.

"What's wrong, Ethan?" Anne Hathaway, noticing the change in his expression, hugged Ethan from behind, pressing her chest against his back to comfort him.

"It's nothing…" Ethan patted her hand and turned to kiss her. However, the kiss carried no passion—only consolation.

"I have to attend a friend's funeral in a few days."

"A close friend?"

"No."

"But you seem really upset." Anne Hathaway stared intently at Ethan. His calm, emotionless demeanor was so different from his usual self, yet it made him even more captivating.

To her, this man was like a mystery. Though he appeared so youthful, it felt as if his youthfulness was just a facade, a disguise. Beneath the surface lay an iceberg, compelling her to explore further.

"Do I?" Ethan chuckled, patted her hand again, and walked inside.

Raymond's funeral was scheduled to be held in his old neighborhood. This was his own wish. He had once said he could never leave that neighborhood, as it was like a tree leaving its roots.

Ironically, he had gone against his own words and moved out to a bigger, newer house.

But in the end, he returned there. Perhaps it was the neighborhood's revenge, or maybe it was the fate of his skin color.

As for Ethan, he wasn't paralyzed by this incident. He and Raymond weren't exactly close confidants. If Jimmy had died unexpectedly, perhaps Ethan would have felt even more grief.

Over the next two days, Ethan was busy with work at the company because there was so much to do.

Several major commercials were in production, and there were scheduling matters for Kayden, Cindy, and Liliana. On top of that, CAA had taken over the production of some music videos.

The vice president, Edinson, was all smiles. Thanks to Ethan's golden reputation, many clients had come to sign comprehensive contracts with his agency for music videos. This had allowed him to shine during the recent board meeting.

What pleased him even more was seeing Brady's disgruntled face.

Carl had joked with Ethan over the phone, speculating about the rivalry between the two vice presidents. Unfortunately, Carl had joined the company too late to catch any juicy gossip.

Meanwhile, Ethan had also taken on a few new music video projects. The first was for Beyoncé. She had recently joined Jay-Z's company and was gearing up to release her first solo album.

The second was for Mariah Carey, a diva-level singer. She had recently terminated her contract with Virgin Records and signed with Universal's Island Records while also starting her own music company.

With her connections, finding a music video director was no challenge. However, as she had expressed her deep admiration for Ethan's style, she specifically sought out CAA to collaborate with him, providing a generous budget.

Aside from these two, Ethan hadn't taken on any other music video projects. His focus had gradually shifted from music videos to films.

For now, though, he decided to take a break.

However, even as he said he'd rest, Ethan couldn't truly relax. After wrapping up company matters, he volunteered to handle the grocery shopping for the household.

Heading downstairs, he noticed his reflection in a mirror. His hair hadn't been cut in a long time, with the sides growing down to his jawline, almost blending with his beard.

"Terrible," Ethan muttered, deciding to get a haircut on his way to the supermarket.

Driving to a nearby membership-only supermarket, Ethan pushed a cart around while selecting groceries, observing the pleasant environment.

The bright lighting and the polite demeanor of the shoppers were a stark contrast to the supermarkets in the Bronx.

In those places, there were barking dogs, crying children, arguing couples, and even faint smells of urine.

After visiting one once, Ethan had handed the grocery shopping duties over to Carmela entirely.

"This is so much better," Ethan muttered as he tossed a few cans into his cart. Just as he was about to head to the fresh produce section, his phone rang.

"Hello, Bardman."

"Ethan, the viewing ceremony for Raymond is set for the weekend."

"Got it."

"And Davis?"

"He's still at the police station. I spent some money; he'll be out on bail."

In America, funerals typically involve three stages: a viewing or wake, a memorial service, and the burial.

During the viewing, the embalmed body is placed in a casket for a brief public memorial, allowing friends and family to pay their respects.

The memorial service is usually held in a church or cemetery, featuring tributes, eulogies, and sometimes a slideshow of the deceased's life.

The final step is the burial, accompanied by prayers and a short farewell from loved ones.

Ethan planned to attend the viewing ceremony. While he wasn't Raymond's closest friend, their relationship was still closer than with many other long-lost acquaintances.

Hanging up the phone, Ethan stared blankly at the fresh produce in the freezer, the glass reflecting his contemplative face.

After a moment, he grabbed the fish and shrimp he had picked and suddenly remembered what Raymond had said the day before: that he had recorded a new song and was confident about it.

For some reason, Ethan felt curious about how the song turned out.

With those thoughts lingering, he finished his shopping, drove home, and carried the bags inside.

"You're back." His mother, Carmella, greeted him at the door with a smile. "I'm making your favorite cheesy shrimp rice tonight. Should I add onions?"

"No, Carmella, you know I don't like those." Ethan shrugged, handing the bags to his younger brothers. He then playfully ruffled their hair, making them laugh uncontrollably.

"Go on, don't bother your brother," Carmella said, tying her apron and heading to the kitchen. She paused and turned back. "Wear black for the funeral. I've already cleaned your suit. Don't forget to bring flowers."

Ethan paused for a couple of seconds before smiling. "Thanks, Carmella."

"No need to thank me, my big director. You'll understand when you're my age…" Carmella said as she tidied up the table. "Death is just another journey planned by God. There are far more tedious, painful, and important things in life than death."

Ethan froze for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. "Are you comforting me?"

Carmella stopped and met his gaze. "Of course. Was it that obvious?"

"Yes, Carmella. But I want to say, I'm not actually that upset." Ethan was being honest. He wasn't so much grieving Raymond's death as he was reflecting on himself—thinking about the aftermath of his near-fatal fall and everything that had followed.

With time, the surreal feeling had faded, replaced by a growing sense of reality in his life.

With money, women, and status, he was living a better life, and the future promised even more.

But his sense of security had been steadily declining. The incident of Raymond being killed finally pushed Ethan to seriously consider matters of self-defense and personal security.

After all, in America, you never have to worry about whether a shooting might happen—it's always a possibility.

However, Carmella was unaware of Ethan's concerns. She simply thought he was mourning Raymond's death.

"Alright, looks like I said too much. In any case, go wash your hands. Dinner will be ready in a bit." Carmella went back to the kitchen to continue her tasks.

Ethan, on the other hand, went to the bathroom, grabbed a bar of soap, and began lathering it in his hands. But as his gaze brushed across the mirror, something suddenly flashed through his mind, causing him to freeze for a moment.

After a brief silence, he looked at his reflection in the mirror, at the long sideburns framing his face. With a wry smile, he braced both hands against the sink and muttered to himself in a mix of frustration and amusement, "FXXK... I forgot to get a haircut…"

.....

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