Dead Wife? Guess Who's Back & Boss Now, Hubby!‌ - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

For three straight days, Adrian locked himself in his room and wouldn't see anyone.
His father couldn't take it anymore and finally showed up at Adrian's penthouse.
The bodyguard knocked. "Mr. Blackwell, your father's here."
Dead silence from inside.
His father's face went dark. "Break it down!"
They forced the door open, and the stench of whiskey hit them like a wall.
Empty bottles were scattered across the expensive rug. Adrian sat there in a wrinkled shirt, mechanically drinking, blood seeping through the bandages on his back.
His father frowned hard. "Are you out of your mind? You're still hurt and you're drinking!"
Adrian didn't even blink.
His father let out a heavy sigh and said, "Today's her funeral. Memorial service is at Riverside Cemetery. You're not gonna say goodbye?"
At those words, something finally stirred in Adrian's dead eyes.
An hour later.
The black Rolls-Royce pulled up outside Riverside Cemetery.
All the wedding decorations from the Pierce mansion had been replaced with somber white lilies.
Jessica stood at the entrance in a black Chanel suit, her eyes red-rimmed.
"Adrian, you made it." She approached him, her voice breaking just right. "Come on, the service is starting soon."
Adrian glanced at her puffy eyes, then looked away coldly and walked straight toward the chapel.
In the center sat an urn surrounded by white flowers and a large portrait of Charlotte.
Jessica rushed to the photo and broke down sobbing. "Oh Charlotte, how could you leave us like this..."
Total bullshit.
Disgust flashed in Adrian's eyes, then turned into crushing self-hatred.
He had zero right to judge anyone—he was the one who'd driven Charlotte over the edge.
And after the wedding day fiasco, the Pierce family had become the talk of the whole damn city.
When Mr. Pierce saw Adrian, his face went dark. "You've got some nerve showing up here! You embarrassed our whole damn family!"
Adrian's expression stayed blank. "That was my fault. Whatever you think I deserve, I'll take it."
Mr. Pierce's eyes flickered, and then he pulled Adrian aside and lowered his voice. "That downtown development deal—put in a good word for us with the city."
Adrian got it and nodded. "Consider it done."
Mr. Pierce looked satisfied. To him, his daughter's death meant nothing compared to a solid business opportunity.
A wave of sick irony hit Adrian.
Charlotte's life at home had been even worse than he'd thought—no wonder she'd been so desperate to hold onto him and Preston.
He'd never really understood what she was dealing with.
Another sharp pain stabbed through his chest.
After they wrapped up, Mr. Pierce's mood brightened. "Go pay your respects to Charlotte."
Adrian stepped forward and bowed his head three times. Charlotte, once I get everything sorted out, I'm coming to be with you.
The funeral director's somber voice announced: "The service has concluded. Family members may now have their final viewing."
The Pierce family looked uncomfortable.
The body recovered from the fire was severely burned—absolutely horrific to see.
Adrian was about to step forward when a cold voice came from behind: "Director, as Charlotte's fiancé, I need to see her one last time."
Adrian turned to see Preston in a black suit, his face grim as he walked into the chapel.
The dark energy radiating from him made everyone in the room tense up.
The funeral director was clearly intimidated and nodded nervously. "...Of course, sir."
Staff slowly opened the door to the viewing room, and frigid air carrying a sickening smell wafted out.
Several Pierce family members grimaced and instinctively backed away.
In the end, only Adrian and Preston entered that cold, sterile room.
After the coroner's examination and cold storage, the severely burned remains lay on a metal gurney covered with a white sheet.
Adrian's chest tightened as he stared at the shape under the cloth.
That's when he spotted something wrong.
Bodies naturally curl up when burned alive, but this corpse was lying perfectly straight.
More like someone who'd died before the fire even started.
Preston had clearly noticed it too.
A cold smirk crossed his face before he quickly switched to fake grief: "Charlotte, rest in peace."
Right then, Adrian's dead heart suddenly kicked into overdrive.
One thought hit him like lightning—Charlotte might still be alive!
The lipstick message flashed through his mind: [Preston trashed my reputation, Jessica destroyed my legs...]
Adrian watched Preston walk away, his eyes sharp as knives.
Preston, what the fuck did you do to her?
Once he left the cemetery, Adrian immediately speed-dialed his assistant.
"I need you to dig into some things... and make it fast."