Chapter 600
Chapter 600
It was close to nine o'clock. The entrance and courtyard of the Wilson's residence were teeming with a
constant flow of people. Meanwhile, numerous luxury cars were neatly parked around, and everyone
stepping out of the vehicles was dressed in black.
Natalie, Trevon, and Rachel, Caleb stood in the courtyard to receive the guests who came to pay their
respects, nodding politely and exchanging pleasantries with whoever came to bid farewell to Theo.
Lena and Mary placed the two children and Jasper upstairs to ensure their noise would not disturb the
funeral.
Before the three children were directed to go upstairs, Trevon had instructed them to pray in front of
Theo's photo for ten minutes. The twins left after the time specified by their father, while only Jasper
remained in prayer as he decided to continue for an additional half an hour.
Respecting the child's decision, Trevon refrained from intervening and allowed Jasper to continue
praying for the additional half hour before eventually joining the others upstairs.
Many people came to bid farewell to Theo. After all, his amiable nature throughout his life had
endeared him to everyone, resulting in a spontaneous gathering of mourners who came to pay their
respects.
During this period, couples from the Yamin family, the Blackwell family, as well as various Athana
dignitaries and wealthy families, visited the Wilson's residence to express their condolences.
A young man carrying a school bag came in. He was wearing a black hoodie and a black cap. As soon
as he stepped into the funeral service, he took off his cap. When Natalie saw him, she quickly went
forward, asking, "Isn't it Friday today? Why are you here? Aren't you going to class today?"
The person who arrived was Tucker. His eyes were teary as he truthfully conveyed the information,
adhering to Natalie's directive to be honest—an instruction he held close to his heart. "Natalie, I heard
at school that Mr. Wilson had passed away, so I took leave. Don't worry, I've already prepared all the
class materials for today's lessons. I won't fall behind on my homework."
Upon hearing this, Natalie could not bring herself to scold him. She took his bag, an act that prompted
the individuals paying their respects to start whispering about the relationship between the two. Natalie
and Tucker, however, carried on as if they had not noticed, focusing on their own tasks instead.
"Go ahead and bid Mr. Wilson farewell."
Tucker dutifully stepped forward and offered his prayers in front of Theo's photo. He expressed
heartfelt gratitude to the old man, acknowledging his deep appreciation. After all, Theo had treated him
like he was his biological grandson, taking care of him in every way and even imparting occasional
lessons on proper conduct.
Recalling every day in the Wilson's residence and every little bit of Theo, Tucker could not help but cry.
After finishing his prayers, Tucker raised his hand to wipe away tears with the back of his hand.
Subsequently, he took the bag from Natalie's hand and politely greeted Rachel, Caleb, and Trevon.
Finally, he said, "I'll head upstairs to keep an eye on Jasper and the twins."
Trevon patted Tucker's shoulder. "Go on."
Upon pushing open the door upstairs, Tucker discovered that Jasper was not present. Instead, he only
found his two nieces and Lena. Scanning the room, he inquired, "Lena, where's Jasper?"
Lena sighed with reddened eyes, indicating that she had cried just now. "He went to Theo's study alone
to practice calligraphy. It seems like he's missing his great-grandfather. Jasper may be reserved, but he
is actually very understanding. You see, he spent half an hour in prayer in the courtyard before entering
the study, and he has not spoken a single word by far. Just like his father, he rarely shares his thoughts Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.
with others."
Hearing this, Tucker placed his school bag on the ground. "I'll go take a look at Jasper. Sophia, Olivia,
be good, okay? I will be back later."
Sophia and Olivia both nodded in agreement, with Sophia adding, "Alright."
In the study room, Jasper had diligently practiced numerous words using the method passed down by
his great-grandfather. The word he had written most frequently was "Goodbye." As Tucker entered, he
noticed a pile of papers neatly arranged on the corner of the table.
Jasper had been guided through the art of calligraphy step by step by Theo, and the influence of
Theo's calligraphy was evident in both the style and strokes. "Jasper, Lena mentioned that you've been
practicing for quite a while. Would you like to take a break?"
Jasper picked up the pen again and knelt on the chair that Theo had often sat on. "It's fine. Uncle
Tucker, don't mind me. Just keep an eye on Sophia and Olivia for me, and make sure they stay
upstairs."
Originally, Tucker wanted to comfort Jasper, but he ended up getting an order instead. He shook his
head helplessly. Meanwhile, his nephew remained expressionless as he calmly practiced his
calligraphy as if nothing had happened. However, Tucker was aware that Jasper was unhappy. Still, he
said, "Alright. You can practice for a while. We'll be in the children's room."
Jasper replied calmly, "Hmm."
Back in the children's room, Tucker shook his head helplessly at Lena, who had already foreseen this
outcome. "It's okay. Let him keep practicing. He's expressing his longing for his great-grandfather in his
own manner," Lena remarked.
Downstairs, Trevon and Natalie were on speakerphone, handling calls from Emma and Daniel in a
secluded corner. Emma and Daniel communicated their plan to visit the day after tomorrow,
considering the possibility of Ava graduating early. In simpler terms, they chose to postpone their arrival
until Ava finished the required procedures. By doing that, she could await delivery in Athana.
Trevon reassured Daniel that there was no rush, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing Ava's
studies, especially given her pregnancy. Nonetheless, Daniel explained that the deceased should be
given the utmost priority. Fortunately, Theo's burial was scheduled for later, so that they could come the
day after tomorrow, otherwise, they would have come immediately.
After around ten minutes, the call concluded. Trevon mentioned that he would send someone to pick
up Daniel, who had indicated that Frank would be heading to Sapphire City tomorrow. In the call,
Daniel also advised Trevon to handle Theo's funeral arrangements with peace of mind.
Despite the sun having set, the Wilson's residence remained as bright as day, bustling with activity. The
three Euchre tables that Trevon had set up were filled with players, adding to the lively atmosphere.
Sherri, Rose, Stella, and Jim formed one of the tables. Meanwhile, Natalie sat beside Sherri, observing
the game.
After the three children had offered their prayers in front of Theo's photo, Rachel guided them to bed.
Due to Lena's surgery, Natalie understandably prohibited her from coming downstairs. Therefore, Lena
was told to return upstairs as soon as she finished praying.
The second Euchre table was taken up by Frank, Hackett, Chris, and Edward, with Trevon wandering
around the table from time to time. Unfortunately, he did not get the chance to pay his respects to his
grandfather. Meanwhile, Caleb stood behind the elders' table, quietly observing.
The last table was occupied by the elders, namely Nathan, Richard, Charlie, and William, with the calm
Grace seated beside William. It was noteworthy that Theo's funeral service could be described as
incredibly lively and filled with endless laughter. Perhaps it was precisely what Theo had desired.
William raised his hand to stop Richard from grabbing the cards. "Wait a minute. Grace, take a look
and see what I should do."
Grace reorganized his cards, and in an instant, it became clear at a glance. She reminded William,
"Don't shuffle the cards. Arrange them in order."
"I'm just afraid that Charlie will guess my cards." William pushed the cards down and Charlie defended
himself by saying, "Why would I guess your cards? Do you think I have nothing better to do? What a
petty man."
Caleb stood behind and observed everything keenly. In reality, Charlie had already deduced William's
cards. Charlie consistently held the cards that William needed to win in his possession. He had even
discarded the setup and outright refused to play that particular card. However, Caleb chose not to
disclose this information; he simply observed silently.
The atmosphere at the other table was even more festive, with everyone in high spirits. For those
unaware, it would seem as if Theo had not left. Instead, one might wonder if a wedding celebration was
underway. In fact, the Wilson family could very well be the first to host a funeral as lively as a wedding.
Rose complained, "Jim, do you know how to play? Why are you acting like this? I've been trailing you
for a few rounds already."
Hackett interrupted from another table, remarking, "Jim, I suspect the little money you won this morning
isn't even enough for you to take the bus ride home tonight."
Frank played a card and glanced at the three women with a faint smile. The only odd one out, Jim,
scratched his ear and cheek, remarking, "No need to be suspicious. I might lose so much that I go
bankrupt soon."
Playing cards was an enigmatic affair. Whenever a man engaged in a game with three women
simultaneously, he found himself losing almost ninety percent of the time, unable to quell the trend.
The trio of women took turns securing victories, causing Jim to continuously part with his money. With
substantial losses, he began to contemplate the purpose of the endeavor. Meanwhile, Natalie's best
friend reveled in her substantial winnings. Trevon stood by Jim's side, offering reassurance. "Don't be
panic. I'll cover for you. Just play."
Sherri affirmed, "Absolutely. With Mr. Wilson present, what do you have to fear? Just show us what you
have got. It seems like Theo favors the three of us. Haha." Her words were accompanied by a broad
grin.
Despite their prayers to Theo, it seemed that he favored women over men, withholding his blessings
from Jim entirely. While losing money was a minor concern, being defeated by three women became a
somber story in Jim's life.
Rose purposefully selected a card, waving it in the air with theatrical flair. "Theo, please bestow your
blessings upon me." She slowly unveiled the card, squinting her eyes in anticipation. "Oh my god,
Theo, you're incredible! Look at me! Self-made victory!"
All eyes turned toward Rose. Even Grace, her own mother, could not help but be stunned.
Under the intense scrutiny, Rose offered an awkward smile and a wave of her hand. She picked up a
card and explained, "I got a bit carried away, you know. I was a bit carried away. It's mostly because
I've never had a self-made victory. Sorry about that. Let's carry on, shall we?"
Stella asked, "What's making you so emotional? Just look at Jim—he's not displaying any emotions,
even though he's constantly losing money. Why are you so emotional about collecting the winnings?
Try not to rub it in his face."
Rose wore a triumphant expression, altering her voice as she declared, "You are right. Mr. Hawk, my
apologies. I shall be subtle next time. Please do hand over your money."
Jim was speechless. He pondered, 'Can't we just have a regular conversation? I'm done playing cards
with women.'
Natalie could not help but feel a sense of pity for Jim, thinking that perhaps he had been traumatized by
Euchre at this funeral.
Trevon stood behind Frank, who had experienced quite a stroke of luck that night. Frank and Edward
essentially dominated the entire evening as they engaged in card games expressionlessly.
Standing behind Frank, Trevon glanced at the cards in Frank's hand and inquired, "What time are you
heading to Sapphire City tomorrow? If you have to get there early, you might as well head back early."
Upon hearing this, Hackett took a brief pause and raised his eyebrows. "You're heading to Sapphire
City? Why at this particular moment?"
Frank glanced at him and replied, "Sick."
Hackett added, "But you have the medicine."
"I plan to leave at nine o'clock." Frank thwarted Hackett's potential victory by playing a card, leading to
yet another scolding from Hackett.
Chris complained, "You've been taking numerous flights. Is there a necessity to travel abroad?"
"I do not mind." Frank coldly glanced at the ignorant Chris, thinking that it must be the reason why he
was single.
Rose, with keen ears, replied to Chris as she assisted Frank at another table, "How thoughtless of you.
Why don't you just date a random neighbor, huh? It would save you the trouble of giving your girlfriend
a ride home."
Stella concurred, saying, "Exactly. I believe Rose's suggestion is a good one." Updated at
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Chris did not even raise his head as he said indifferently, "A good idea? You go ahead then. I'm
perfectly content being single. After all, dating doesn't hold the same allure as performing surgery."
Frank chimed in, saying, "True. The operating table does seem more appealing when you're dealing
with critical moments in your life. Imagine, if you were in a wheelchair, there might not be anyone
around to push you."
"Get lost. Stop throwing curses at me, okay? Can't you wish something positive for me?" Chris was left
speechless, wondering why everyone was talking about him being single now.
Grace felt speechless, thinking, 'If you want to persuade someone, just be open about it. Why bring up
Ava? It's not like nobody knows about Ava's twin children.'
Charlie remarked, "If you can get him married, I'll do whatever you want.'
Nathan commented, "The likelihood of having twins is quite low, you see."
"That's correct. Ava is indeed quite capable. Just take a look at Natalie, eh? She's given birth to twin
girls," William said with joy.
Richard simply nodded without uttering any words. Meanwhile, Grace fixed her gaze on the cards,
making an effort to disregard William's smug demeanor.