Chapter 49
After confirming that Ella was dead and her body couldn't even be recovered, Joshua fell seriously ill.
Scarlett took this opportunity to stay by his side, caring for him every step of the way.
On the seventh day after Ella's death, Joshua still forced himself up and personally took Ella's belongings to burn them to ash.
He put them in an urn and sent it to the cemetery for burial.
He brought Dorian with him.
Although Dorian was still young, only three years old, he understood what death meant.
Death meant disappearing from this world forever, never to be seen again.
From now on, he not only had no father and no Aurora, but he'd also lost his beloved Ella.
Dorian didn't cry and make a fuss like before, insisting on going out to find Ella and Aurora.
Instead, he became especially quiet, obediently following Joshua around.
Those who came to see Ella laid to rest included Jasper and Ava, Samuel, Mason, Scarlett, and Brian.
Everyone dressed in plain clothes, and in the drizzling rain, they personally watched Joshua gently place the urn containing the belongings of Ella and her daughter into the grave.
After the funeral, thinking that Aiden at home was also near the end, Jasper and Ava left first with red eyes.
Samuel had to go treat Aiden, so he left too.
Mason looked at the tombstone, clearly engraved with the words "Tomb of Beloved Wife Ella."
He felt very uncomfortable and pulled Scarlett along. "Let's go."
Scarlett didn't want to, saying sweetly, "Mason, you go back first. I'll wait for Joshua."
Mason glanced at Joshua and the child still kneeling before the tombstone, feeling quite angry.
"Can't you see what he wrote? Ella is his wife. What are you?"
He'd always thought Joshua liked Scarlett.
He never expected that after Ella's death, he'd put on such a show of deep affection.
Where did this leave Scarlett?
He didn't know what Scarlett was holding onto with a man like this.
"Mason, stop talking. You go first. I know what I'm doing."
Scarlett refused to leave, pushing Mason to leave first.
Mason felt terrible inside.
But what could he do?
Scarlett's heart and eyes were only for Joshua. What could he do about it?
Mason left them and walked away.
Seeing that almost everyone had left, Scarlett went forward to comfort the child.
"Dorian, don't cry. Your mother and sister have been laid to rest. The rain is getting heavier. Let's go home first, okay?"
She knew well that Dorian must be Joshua's treasure now.
Joshua would definitely cherish him even more for Ella's sake.
So winning over Dorian was more important than winning over anyone else.
Dorian knelt there motionless.
His red eyes looked at the photos of Ella and Aurora on the tombstone.
Although he wasn't making noise, tears kept falling.
He didn't understand how Ella and Aurora had died.
Thinking that from now on, Ella and Aurora would no longer exist in this world, what was the point of him living?
He really wanted to die together with Ella and Aurora.
Because he missed them so much, Dorian was completely in a state of extreme grief, unable to hear what others were saying at all.
When Scarlett picked him up to leave, he didn't struggle either.
Seeing Scarlett already carrying Dorian away, Joshua was still kneeling there in tears. Brian stood beside him holding an umbrella, reminding him, "Mr. Thomas, let's go back. Dorian needs someone with him."
Joshua finally accepted the fact that Ella had completely left him.
He raised his hand to gently touch the tombstone, touching the photos of Ella and Aurora, his voice hoarse, "Ella, you and Aurora rest in peace here. I'll come visit you again in a few days."
"Don't worry, I'll treat Dorian as my own and help you raise him."
Joshua knew he couldn't keep talking.
Otherwise, he would break down emotionally.
He wouldn't be able to leave.
He would want to stay here forever with the mother and daughter.
With Brian's support, he still got up and left.
When getting in the car, Joshua took the unusually quiet Dorian from Scarlett's arms.
Seeing him not speaking, not making noise, but tears constantly flowing from his eyes.
Joshua felt heartbroken, holding him tight, his voice low, "Don't be afraid. You still have me. From now on, I'll be your father. I'll always protect you and take care of you."
Dorian still didn't make a sound, curled up in the adult's arms, his whole body very cold.
His whole appearance was dazed and blank.
Completely different from his usual clever and lively self.
Dorian didn't speak, and Joshua didn't disturb him, just holding him tight.
Scarlett beside them was very surprised.
Joshua said that from now on, he would be Dorian's father.
Could it be that Joshua still didn't know that this Dorian was his biological son?
Scarlett suddenly understood.
Right, four years ago when Joshua woke up with her by his side, he thought she was the one he'd been with.
How would he suspect that the child Ella gave birth to was his?
Maybe even Ella herself didn't know who the child's father was.
And knowing the child wasn't his biological son, Joshua still chose to maintain the marriage with Ella.
Scarlett was extremely jealous.
She turned to look at the father and son beside her.
She swore she would make Joshua fall in love with her again and marry her.
As for this Dorian that Ella left behind.
It would depend on his behavior.
If he accepted her, she would raise him as an adopted son.
If he couldn't accept her, she might as well get rid of him when she had the chance.
After arriving at Tranquil Villa, Dorian had already fallen asleep.
Joshua personally carried him back to his room, carefully placed him on the bed, and saw Scarlett following in.
He said, "I need to go to the Thomas Manor. If you have nothing to do, help me watch him."
Scarlett couldn't ask for more. "Okay, you go do your thing. Leave the child to me."
Joshua got up and left.
It wasn't that he absolutely needed Scarlett to stay and care for the child.
He just felt that Dorian needed to grow up in a healthy environment.
He now had no father and no mother.
When Scarlett had interacted with him before, he hadn't rejected her.
Keeping Scarlett around could let Dorian feel a bit of maternal warmth.
Joshua was also very clear that Scarlett followed him because he had once promised her he would marry her.
Now Ella was gone.
He wanted to give Dorian a complete family.
Perhaps he would marry Scarlett.
Silverlight City, a private hospital.
In the VIP ward, on the snow-white hospital bed, Ella was wrapped like a mummy, wearing an oxygen mask, hooked up to a heart monitor.
She had been in a coma for a full half month.
During this half month, she didn't know how many times she'd brushed past death.
Each time, she only pulled through under the doctors' desperate efforts to save her.
Fortunately, she finally pulled through and was out of danger.
Ella woke up.
But she couldn't move her body at all.
She couldn't speak either.
Ella lay there, her mind struggling to recall what had happened to her.
Thinking of her three-year-old daughter, tears unconsciously flowed from the corners of her eyes.
A nurse came to check on the room and saw that Ella had woken up, quickly notifying the doctor.
The doctor rushed over and removed the bandages from her body.
Took off the oxygen mask and replaced it with an oxygen tube.
Finally able to open her mouth, Ella looked at the doctor and spoke with difficulty, "Where is... my Aurora?"