Outside the building was a noisy, chaotic crowd. After explaining the situation to me, the middle-aged women hurried over to watch the commotion.
For a few seconds, I was in a daze. The ex-wife of White Corporation’s chairman? Sharon? Marcus’ mother?
After a few more seconds of rumination, I locked my car and followed her toward the crowd.
Within a few minutes, the people had gathered into a large crowd outside the Prism building in the city center. Even the roads were blocked, and no cars could pass.
The Prism building was the location Anthony had chosen for the company’s new headquarters. Around them were several offices of famous companies, including White Corporation and Moore Corporation.
Sharon was all the way at the top of the hundredth-floor building. If one did not squint, one would not have noticed someone about to jump.
Many passersby were gathered at the bottom of the building out of morbid curiosity, knowing that this was the result of grudges between wealthy families.
Someone had called the police early on, and the officers were already here. I could spot a fire engine around, and the police had already blocked off the building.
No one from the inside could come out, and no one from the outside could go in.
Not knowing what was going on, I tried calling Marcus, but none of my calls went through.
I then called Anthony, but he sounded like he was on the plane. Perhaps he was in a rush, for he only told me, “I’ll be making a quick trip to J City, so I’ll be back late. Don’t wait for dinner for me.”
With that said, he ended the call. When I tried to call him again, I heard the automated response telling me that his phone was not in service.
With no choice, I squeezed past the crowd to talk to the police. “Sir, can I go in? I know the woman who’s about to jump.”
“Who is she to you?” the officer inquired as he motioned for me to move backward and away from the scene.
As Benjamin and Sharon were already divorced, I could not think of who I was to her for a moment. In the end, I replied, “She’s my friend’s mother. Can I go up and talk to her?”
“Only family members are allowed into the building. Miss, please take a step back and don’t intervene in our procedures.” At that, the officer pushed me backward.
I nearly fell, but fortunately, someone supported me from behind.
“I’m Marcus, the son of the woman up there. Can I go up?” After Marcus helped me to a stable position, he then took out his identity card to show it to the officer.
After a glance, the officer responded, “Mr. White, go ahead.”
Marcus shot him an exceptionally cold look before he towed me into the building. Trailing behind him, we soon reached the top floor.
Outsiders were usually barred from entering these office buildings, especially the top floors; individuals were only allowed in if they had an employee’s card with them.
The top floor of this building was an open space with tall railings. Greeneries were planted everywhere, and there were even chairs, tables, and umbrellas. Evidently, this was a place meant for resting.
I did not know how Sharon had mustered the strength to get past the railing. She was standing on the short ledge that was only as wide as a palm, and her hands were holding onto the railing. Even from a distance away, I could see she had an exhausted look on her face.
The wind on the top floor was intense, and her body was swaying with it. If she were to pay less attention, she would have fallen off the building.
From this height, I was sure she would be unrecognizable if she were to fall.
It was terrifying to watch her stand by the ledge, and I vaguely realized the psychologist and rescue team were already on the top floor with us.
When Marcus brought me to the top floor, Sharon became even more agitated. With bloodshot eyes and a hoarse voice, she croaked, “Marc, I’m sorry.”
Tamping down the fear in his heart, he looked at Sharon with an ashen face. In a trembling voice, he uttered, “Mom, don’t be. I don’t blame you for anything. Come to us first. Let’s talk about whatever it is on your mind when we’re back home, all right?”
However, Sharon shook her head, her face pale from the cold. “Marc, live a good life after this. You’re the White family’s only son, and your father loves you. He didn’t have a child with Sally because he’s afraid you’ll have nothing after he’s gone. You have to keep living and have a family. Take care of the family. That way, your dad and I will rest in peace.”
She was telling him her last words.
By now, Marcus’ eyes were red, and he was trying his best to collect himself. “Mom, I know. Come down. You have to find me a girlfriend, and you have to be there at my wedding. Mom, don’t do this. Come back here and let’s live happily as a family.”
She shook her head, her tears streaming down her cheeks in melancholy. “Marc, don’t blame me for this. I survived the past ten years on my hatred for him. I refused to give in, and I refused to admit defeat. But I don’t hate him anymore, so life is now meaningless to me. It’s been so many years, and I owe him an apology. I have to look for him in the afterlife. I couldn’t grow old with him in the world of the living, so I’ll accompany him in the world of the dead.”
Sharon was determined to die, and I could see the despair in her eyes as she stared at Marcus. Without the strength to live, death was the best option.
Marcus knew that well, but how much sorrow would he have to face to lose his mother right after he lost his father?
When he realized Sharon was refusing to heed his words, he broke down. “Mom, if you escape from this, what will I do? You’ll leave me behind. You’re my only family left. What am I going to do if you’re gone?”
Sharon cast him a loving look. “Marc, without me, you’ll have a better life. I’m your burden as long as I’m alive. Listen to me, don’t go to M Country. Stay in White Corporation. Your dad wants to give you the company. Once I’m dead, you’ll have more of the shares, and you’ll still be White Corporation’s chairman. Manage the company and live well.”
At that, Sharon instantly let go of the railing. Marcus’ eyes widened, but it was too late by the time he reached the railing.
“Mom!” he screamed as tears escaped his eyes. Subconsciously, he climbed the railing, about to follow in her footsteps.
Fortunately, the swift members of the rescue team stopped him and injected him with sedatives.
It was as if the sky had heard his cries. When Sharon fell off the building, it started raining. It gradually washed the blood puddle on the first floor away.
Marcus was sent to the hospital while a mortician brought Sharon’s body away. The crowd dispersed.
Within a few hours, the scene ended with a death.
I spend several hours in the hospital watching over Marcus. Sedatives coursing through his vein, he lay unmoving on the bed as he stared at the ceiling. It was as though he was dead, too.
The doctor came by a few times to check on him, and he reassured me that there were no major issues. His heart had stopped for a while from the extreme sorrow he felt, but fortunately, he was young and he would recover.
The sky gradually darkened. I went downstairs to buy some food to eat. By the time I return, the sedatives had worn off.
Marcus was sitting on the bed when I entered. The moment he saw me, he whispered hoarsely, “Where is she?”
I knew he was asking about Sharon, so I hid my sadness away and replied, “She’s been sent to the funeral parlor.”
Although I did not witness her final moment, I had overheard the conversation of those who had. As she had fallen from such great height, their description of her final appearance was that she was crushed beyond recognition.
For a brief moment, I could even imagine it.
He nodded, an abnormally distant look in his eyes. When he looked at the soup I brought, he asked, “Do you only have soup?”
I froze, not used to his calmness after going through such tragedy. Then I nodded before shaking my head. “What do you want to eat? I’ll buy it right away.”
“It’s fine. I’ll take that.” He took the soup from me and began drinking it like he normally would. It was as though he had not just gone through a tragedy several hours ago.
His unusual reaction worried me, but I did not know how to console him. “What else do you want to eat? I can buy it for you.”
He paused his motion and shook his head. After a beat, his gaze landed on me. “Have you eaten?”
I stiffened, but shook my head. “I’m not hungry.”
He put down the bowl before he stood up and grabbed his jacket. Looking at me, he uttered, “Let’s go. Let’s grab a bite and a walk.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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