The endless stream of minutes turning to hours turning to days go by a blur.

Even though I was physically present, it seemed I was watching everything from outside my body, afar from everyone. 

Nothing seemed to register in my mind. Except for the minor argument Mason ended up having with Spencer Wright, claiming he doesn't need Spencer's pity and he'll manage everything. Which of course, Spencer being his usual the professor Spencer Wright self, didn't back down and brushed him off, but made a clear act of pointedly ignoring Mason, and only checking in with my mom and handling everything that needed to be done... for the funeral.

My dad's funeral.

"Gracie," Melody's voice cuts through the fog settled in my head as she gently squeezes my hand. "It's time," she softly says.

I nod but don't move my gaze from the tree near the car window.

Yesterday's visitation was hell. Everyone was there. All my so-called friends, Dad's business partners, his friends, my mom's friends, and Mason's. Every single person who had turned their back on us was present.

And I know, they'll be here today too. Offering fake condolences and pretending like they give a shit and when no one's looking they'll be making new alliances and business deals. I hate all of them.

"You should be there Rae, it'll help you."

I huff. Of course, sending my dad six feet under will definitely make everything concrete. My body trembles from the thought. It'll be dark, and cold and so lonely down there.

I shake my head, tears brimming my eyes. "I don't want to."

She pulls me in for a tight hug. "But your mom and brother need you there too. Come on Rae, the longer you stay here, the harder it'll get." Melody opens her side of the car's door and gets out. She rounds the car and opens the door for me. "Let's go." She holds her hand out for me.

I sigh and look up, blinking rapidly to make the tears go away before grabbing her hand climbing out.

I stumble a little but she steadies me and helps me readjust my black dress. Twirling a strand of my hair around her finger and then letting it go, she looks me dead in the eyes and grasps my shoulders. "You're strong. And I know you can make it through today too. I'll be there for you, okay?"

"Okay," I weakly say back. She embraces me tightly for a brief moment. We set down the uneven ground, and enter the cemetery.

She holds my hand in a firm grip, a reminder I'm not alone. The sky is bright blue. Too blue. Sparse clouds are dotted around. The wind blows, slightly swaying the skirt of my dress.

I inhale sharply and let go of Melody's hand, pulling down the sleeve of my dress to below my elbows as they come into view.

I spot Mason and Mom, standing in front of everyone. Alex, Everly, Olivia, and their families are standing further away. I even notice a few of my dad's investors. But Spencer Wright is nowhere to be seen. Nathan comes to me and hugs me for a moment before I make my way to Mom who is talking to a man I don't recognize and stand between her and Mason.

Melody stands somewhere behind me.

I clasp my hands in front of myself and glare at the stupid white sympathy flowers. I try not to look at the casket. Just the thought that my dad is in there makes me sick to my stomach.

My mom's hand finds me mine and she gives a firm squeeze before letting go. I wonder how she can be so strong all the time? I know she loved Dad to the moon and back, I've seen her crying when she thinks no one is watching, but it's only in those private moments, and when she steps out, she's all strength and grace.

The murmurs of everyone present drill into my head. I shut my eyes and grind my teeth trying to keep my temper in check.

"Please don't do anything stupid," Mason's tiered voice causes me to open my eyes and snap at him. He sighs and looks up, holding my scowl. "I'm serious, just thank these stupid people for coming and let us be over with today," he whispers, ensuring no one hears him.

I roll my eyes and huff, setting my gaze straight ahead of me.

A woman walks to Mom, uttering the same old shit, not meaning a single word of it before turning to us and doing the same. Thankfully Mason answers in my stead too.

Just as the fake lady walks away, two men bring over the largest sympathy flowers between all the others and place it next to the casket. The flowers have been arranged so skilfully and beautifully that's it's almost pitiful it's for such a grim situation. It's almost the same as my height.

A minute later a man dressed in a black tuxedo and greying hair approaches us. He takes off his expensive sunglasses.

"William?" Mom's surprised gasp leaves me confused. With a frown I turn to Mason, looking at him quizzically.

Giving me an equally confused look, we both watch him with narrowed eyes.

"Kathryn," the man, William, says and hugs Mom. "I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner, I was stuck in a meeting," he adds as they let go of each other.

I roll my eyes and glare at the flowers that apparently this William guy has brought.

"Kathy, how have you been? I'm so sorry for everything."

I huff and cross my arms in front of my chest. From the corner of my eye, I see Mom nodding and dabs her cheeks with the tissue in her hand.

He leans slightly to the right to take a better look at me and Mason. "Your kids?"

Mom forces a laugh. "My bad. Gracie and Mason." He smiles at us and I make a good point of scowling at him. Mom shoots me a glare before continuing, "My childhood friend, William..." her voice trails down and I arch my eyebrow in question at her. She sighs and adds, "Owner of the Judy Corp."

Suddenly a lot of pieces click together. Or maybe it's the bomb in my head with its timer ticking away. It's hard to tell.

"Great to finally see you, sorry we didn't recognize you," Mason says with a polite smile.

"It's alright, it's actually a shame for me that my best friends' kids don't recognize me. I almost never got the chance to visit you guys in San Francisco. I've been mostly stuck in Seattle, Chicago, and from time to time in New York. Again, I'm really sorry for your loss."

I furrow my brows and look him dead in the eyes. "Are you though?"

His face falls and he blinks a few times with confusion and surprise.

"Gracie," Mason warns but I ignore him and arch an eyebrow at William.

"Just because you brought the biggest set of flowers doesn't imply that you care and you're sorry."

Mom inhales sharply and turns to me, ready to scold me but I go on.

"You must have been stuck in a hell of a meeting mister rich William." I take a step towards him.

"Rae," Mom calls out in a low voice.

He tilts his head with confusion. "I don't understand."

I hold his dark blue eyes' gaze. "You know, my dad," my voice wavers slightly and I pause to draw a sharp breath. "He sh-shot himself on Friday." My hands fall to my sides as my body trembles from the inside. "Was your meeting forty-eight hours long?"

He looks away, pressing his mouth into a thin line.

"I'm sorry, she's a little-" Mom starts.

But I interject. "No, I'm fine."

I throw my hands up. "I'm perfectly fine. I'm standing and breathing, just like he is." I point my index finger at him then wave my hand in the general direction of the casket. "Just like my dad isn't."

He has the decency to look ashamed. An edgy feeling rushes through me, clouding my vision and judgment. The pounding in my ears matches my heartbeat.

"You have the audacity to call yourself my mom's best friend and then come here, stand in front of us and say, how have you been? How is she supposed to be?" I shout and an unsettling silence falls over the cemetery.

"Gracie, please stop." Mom holds my hand but I roughly pull away from her.

"No, I wanna know. Tell me, where were you all these months when my dad was looking for a job? Where the fuck were you when my mom was forced to start working minimum wage in a stupid supermarket as a cashier?" I back away from Mom, Mason, and William turning towards everyone that's watching me with wide eyes. "Where the fuck were any of you?" I scream.

Breathing heavily, I turn to William "But you." I point at him. "You have some fucking balls for showing up here. My mom is your best friend? I'm pretty sure Seattle and Chicago both have internet connections, so you were well aware we've gone bankrupt, but you didn't do anything. Fuck that, you found out who the truck driver was, but didn't do anything, you didn't even tell my mom why she was so close to losing her son."

"What are you talking about?" Mason asks, but I keep on glowering at William.

"What's going on?" Mom questions, looking between William and me.

He forces a small smile. "I see your friend has filled you in quite well." He pushes his hands into his pockets, not backing down from my hard glare.

"To bring down your biggest rival, Ben Stewart, you offered my dad a stupid managing spot, are you fucking serious! Who the hell do you think you are? My dad has nothing less than you, for his whole life he ran the entire Stewart industries and you have the nerve to offer him such a low-ranked job? And you call yourself my mom's friend? Did you even think of her before Ben became a threat for your dumb business?"

I shake my head and take another backward step. "Where were you all when my dad was alive?" my voice breaks and I take another step back. "When he needed and when you actually could have done something."

"I'm truly sorry-" he starts.

"No, you're not." I snap. "None of you are," I yell. "You all fake bastards, showing up here, saying some bullshit you don't even mean just to hold up your fucking images and spend the rest of the day making stupid business deals. My dad is gone," I bellow.

"Gracie, please stop." Mom stares at me with pleading eyes.

I violently shake my head. "My dad killed himself, and all you assholes still care about is yourselves and your fucking business and your stupid money."

Angry tears burn my eyes, Melody is beside me in a flash, wrapping her arm around my shoulder, running her other hand up and down my back. "Calm down Rae."

Silence falls like a heavy blanket over us. No one talks, or even moves. It's like the only sound is my harsh breathing and the occasional wind rustling the leaves and weak branches of the trees.

The sound of tires crushing gravel grows louder. A black Rolls Royce appears and halts across from us. The driver jumps out and hurries to the side, opening the door.

The last person I expected, climbs out and starts towards us.

Benjamin Stewart.

∞ ∞ ∞

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Next chapter will be up tomorrow

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