The CEO's Fated Mute Lover

6. Grandpa’s Funeral

Rose

I managed to get the herbs I needed for Nolan’s treatment, but still didn't know how to prepare them without getting caught. With a lot of prying eyes. I don’t want anyone to know about my plans yet. After the commotion Mary caused, Nolan was pissed off and didn’t come out of his room. He want no one to disturb him including me.

Mary realized she has nowhere to go and pleaded with him. Nolan didn’t pay to her heed but I told her to calm down. I will somehow try to convince him. Even though by the looks no one appreciates my presence at the house. One of the reason being a mute. I could only communicate when I write what I want to say on a piece of paper.

I was immersed in my own thoughts as I walked to the main house from the garden. I found out some useful plants that I could use. Someone suddenly stood in my way and snatched those things away from me. My eyes widened in shock seeing Ariana standing in front of me with a grimace on her face.

Ariana always likes to take things away from me. The necklace around her neck was one of the things she had robbed away. Seeing the beautiful necklace that used to belong to me. My mind went blank for a while. It was a gift from Nolan. But my sister had taken it away from me.

The necklace is probably the most precious thing I have ever had. I have no one to turn to in the family. I could only survive by being an obedient daughter. That was why I had let Ariana take away the thing she cherished the most.

I was snapped back to reality by the sound of her voice "What are you looking at?” She said eyeing the black nylon bag in my hands. “And what’s that?” Before I could hide it away she snatched it away and pull out the content.

“Plants?” She accessed them in a weird way. “What are you up to?”

I can’t allow her to know about my plans. But then Ariana is smart. She knows how I make medical herbs.

“Are you going to use this on Nolan?”

The way my heart thumped inside couldn’t be measured. How she was able to see through my plans so fast. I shake my head trying to deny.

“You can’t fool me Rose” Taking a step back, I stared at her in shock, not saying a thing.

She let out a cold laugh, "I know what you're thinking. You can never hide anything from me." I snatched the herbs away from her. Nervousness crept into me.

Ariana c****d her head to one side as a bright smile displayed across her face, "Why are you acting so defensively around me? You know I am not your enemy. The people you should be afraid of is Nolan’s cousin. If they get to know that you're trying to cure Nolan eyes, they will definitely come to stop you. So, why don't we work together?”

I have never expected Ariana would offer to help one day. But then again, I was more surprised at the fact that she knows something about Nolan cousin. How did she manage to figure everything out?

With Ariana’s help, surely I can make Nolan see soon enough. It would save so much trouble. But why did she suddenly become so nice? She had never been nice to her.

"But I have a condition. After Nolan eyes recovered, you must disappear and you can't show up before him anymore. And I'll tell everyone that I was the bride who cured his eyes."

I knew she her help was up to no good. Why would she help me for no reason? I threw her a hot stare.

I wouldn't let her get what she wanted this time. She chose to let Nolan go. So I won’t let her take advantage of that.

"Come on Rose. I know you want Grandpa's clinic. If you agree with this, I'll ask dad to let you work at the clinic. This has been your little dream, right?" My grandpa had run the clinic. He is skilled in Chinese medical treatment as he is an ethnic Chinese. I learned it from him because I used to visit him most of the time during my high school days. My mom took over when she got married to father. It was all she had ever had. When mom passed away, father took over.

He knows nothing about medicals or herbs at all. The clinic was falling under his operation. My only wish is to take care of the clinic and rebuild grandpa's legacy. I can’t let it go apart . So, after what Ariana said, a trace of hesitation appeared on my face.

"You're a substitute. It's not like Nolan is really in love with you or something. Guess what will happen after his eyes recover? He will be so disappointed and call you a liar."

I still didn’t bulge. Ariana has her way with sweet talk. She might corner me into a trap.

"Stop being hesitant. I bet you still don't know. But the clinic doesn't profit much. Father is considering selling it. In fact, he will sell it at any price as long as he can get rid of it. If you agree to give my legal title back, I can try to persuade him into giving up the idea. That little clinic is the only thing grandpa and your mother have left. I know you don't want to lose it."

What? Father is thinking about selling it? How could he? My eyes widened to a certain degree. I can’t allow that to happen.

"What is your answer? I am running out of patience. If you won't accept my offer, fine, I'll just go back and tell father to sell the shitty clinic…" her voice held threats. She was about to turn away when I pull on her sleeves stopping her. A vicious smile of triumph showed up on the corner of her lips.

"So what? What do you say?" She asked coldly.

I nodded meekly. I have to keep the clinic and cure Nolan. If she agreed, I could achieve both things. Ariana was right. The woman Nolan loved was not me. He hadn't loved me before and he wouldn't love me in the future. But even if Nolan doesn’t love me, I still want to cure him. He deserved a better life.

I turned on my heels and walk away only for Ariana to shout behind my back, "Hey, Mute. Nolan will probably notice that you are not wearing the necklace. Just find a random excuse to make him less suspicious."

The second I stepped into the kitchen, I began preparing the herbs. I was surprised Mary didn’t say anything when she came inside the kitchen. I just pray Jason didn’t trigger something in her or maybe because I told her I will convince Nolan so she could keep her job. I prepared a soup and added a potion of it so it could be more effective.

Even when I went upstairs, Nolan was still seated at the same spot I left him. I pulled out the stool from the vanity mirror and placed the tray containing the soup on it. “Is that you Ariana?” He asked trying to roam his hands around. I was quick in grabbing them moving them to the bowl of soup. Careful not to burn his fingers.

“Like you know I’m starving” He said with a light smile. I heaved out a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn’t notice I added in anything

I crashed on the bed while I watch Nolan eat. All the while, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Ariana said. If I could have the clinic in my possession, I won’t have anything to worry about. I will disappear as she said. Nolan wouldn’t know after all.

The sound of Nolan’s phone busted through the room. “Pick it and put it on speaker mode" I did as told. It was a call from Cody.

“Sir, your grandfather's funeral will be held tomorrow morning at 10."

"Okay, thank you Cody"

Putting the phone away, Nolan’s hand found its way to hold my small hand, "Honey, will you come with me tomorrow?"

Only if he knew I’m willing to go anywhere with him. It doesn’t matter where. I just want to be with him. I squeezed his hand back.

Next morning, we set to leave for the funeral. We drove for an hour and finally arrived at the cemetery. The weather was rainy and grim. The cemetery was filled with black-clad people. I tiptoed to hold the umbrella above Nolan’s head. So he wouldn't get soaked. We met up with Cody by the gate after the burial. He couldn’t watch the man getting buried. His eyes red and puffy.

"Sir," Cody's voice was hoarse and thick. "They have buried your grandfather. Jason is still here."

"Thank you, Cody. You can leave now," Nolan pressed a big hand on Cody's shoulder, "I don't want Jason to see us standing together."

"Sir, It will be too dangerous for you… Jason is a bastard”

"Don't worry. I've got this…" Nolan smiled at him, before he tightened his hold on my hand and we sauntered our way inside. I was more convinced that Nolan is indeed a strong man. He didn’t shed a single tears. His eyes were only glued to one spot as they buried his grandfather. I know it’s killing him inside. I want his pain to go away. I don’t want him to be alone and sad. I’m willing to stay by his side even if that will be for a short period of time.