Chapter 314 Co-hosting the Funeral

Chapter 314 Co-hosting the Funeral

When I saw Instagram flooded with news about Michael being ousted, I knew Charles must have made his move.

But Michael wasn't the type to go down without a fight.

After the news of his dismissal broke, Michael ignored all the sarcastic comments. He didn't respond to a single message about his job.

Instead, he posted a photo of his hospital bed and a shot of my back as I walked through the hospital. The caption read: Having a wife like this... I'm the luckiest man alive.

He deliberately put me on a pedestal as the "devoted wife," roasting me over the flames of public opinion. If I showed even the slightest sign of wanting to leave, I'd be branded as heartless and ungrateful.

The internet ate up this "reconciliation" narrative. The comments were full of praise for Michael:

"Mr. Johnson is so devoted! A man who turns over a new leaf is so attractive. Mrs. Johnson is so virtuous too—you two have to stay together!"

"I'm obsessed! When's the wedding? I can't wait to see this fairy-tale love story!"

"This is what a power couple should look like—supporting each other through thick and thin. So enviable!"

The comments poured in like a tidal wave, pushing me further into an impossible corner.

And Michael boldly announced in the comments: "The wedding will be at the end of the month. We'll be giving away twenty million dollars in cash prizes that day. Thank you all for your blessings."

The internet exploded.

Almost everyone online was now eagerly anticipating this grand wedding.

Just then, my phone rang urgently. It was Amelia.

Her voice was seething with anger. "That Michael is absolutely shameless! He's doing this on purpose—using public opinion to trap you!"

I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes wearily. "I know."

Amelia's voice was bitter. "Michael knows you won't dare ruin Phoenix and William's reputations by fighting back!"

I replied with a bitter laugh, "Who would destroy themselves fighting a lunatic? The last time I went up against him, it cost my mom her life. And all I got in return was a few years in prison for Alice's parents. If I fight him again, the Brown family will be dragged through the mud. He'll do everything in his power to torment Phoenix until she dies. Michael doesn't care about his reputation anymore, but the Brown family does. I lost. I admit it."

No matter how capable William was, he couldn't silence the masses.

Phoenix would inevitably be hurt by countless vicious words.

After hanging up with Amelia, Isabella came into my room.

I forced myself to perk up and pulled her into my arms. "It's almost midnight. Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Isabella looked confused and bewildered. "Today at preschool, all the kids asked if Mommy and Daddy are getting married. But Mommy, didn't you say you don't like Daddy anymore?"

That night, I couldn't sleep. My mind replayed the shattered scenes of our marriage over the years.

Every moment of pain was like a blade, slowly cutting me to pieces.

But Michael wouldn't let me go. He wouldn't let anyone around me go either.

Even Isabella had heard the rumors.

I was so tired. I didn't want to fight anymore. If this was how it had to be, then I'd spend the rest of my life as a soulless shell, bound to him forever.

I thought about it all night. The next day, what had been the top trending topic—"Michael Spends Fortune on Wedding"—had been replaced by another headline.

The Brown Group's official website had published an obituary for Imogen Fairfax, along with the announcement that the Brown and Hayes families would jointly hold her funeral.

As soon as the obituary was posted, the trolls Charles had hired immediately spread the news across the internet: "Imogen was Michael's grandmother."

Public attention shifted from the wedding to the funeral.

The tone of the comments on Michael's Instagram changed drastically:

"My condolences!"

"An elder just passed away—the wedding will definitely be postponed, right?"

"Mr. Johnson will surely prioritize filial piety and delay the wedding."

I never imagined that this impossible situation Michael had trapped me in would be temporarily relieved by William's mother's death.

The next second, I realized something else.

William had always kept his private and professional lives completely separate. The Brown Group's website had never published anything about family matters, and Imogen's past had always been a source of shame William refused to touch.

But this time, he'd gone to such great lengths to publish an obituary and even publicly announced a joint funeral with the Hayes family.

He'd seen it. He must have seen me trapped and roasted alive by public opinion.

So he chose this way—quietly, without a word—to give me a way out.

All these days, he hadn't contacted me. He hadn't said a single extra word. But when I was at my most helpless, he used his steady, dependable way to carve out a path for me.

A wave of warmth surged through my entire body, washing away the cold despair I'd felt for days. He'd never abandoned me. He'd been protecting me all along in his own way.

Suddenly, I wanted to rush to his side, hold him tightly, comfort him in his grief, and tell him I'd never regretted meeting him for even a second.

The Brown Group had just released the announcement, and with everything William was dealing with, the paparazzi would definitely be swarming. I didn't dare go see him during the day. I could only wait until late at night before driving to the Brown Villa.

The lights at the Brown Villa were mostly out, except for a single warm yellow lamp by the entrance.

Phoenix was about to go to bed when she saw me. Surprise flashed across her face.

Then she quickly walked over and took my hand with gentle concern.

"Why are you here at this hour?"

Her palm had the warmth unique to the elderly as she asked softly.

My eyes stung with tears. I swallowed the surge of emotion and said quietly, "I… I came to see William. Is he here?"

At the mention of William, a shadow of melancholy crossed Phoenix's face.

She glanced toward the second floor and sighed softly. "He's been in the study ever since he got back. Go see him."

I nodded and headed upstairs.

Outside the study door, my heart pounded harder.

Just then, a hoarse male voice came from inside. "Come in."

The moment I pushed open the door, I saw a tall figure standing by the floor-to-ceiling window.

Moonlight poured in from outside, casting a cold white glow on his shoulders. He seemed wrapped in an impenetrable shroud of melancholy.

He turned slowly. The light reflecting off his glasses couldn't hide the heaviness in his eyes, as if he were carrying countless unspoken burdens.

He stood there without moving, just looking at me quietly, deeply.

I walked quickly toward him and, without warning, threw myself into his arms.

William's hand, which had been hanging at his side, paused for a moment. Then he slowly lifted it and gently wrapped his arm around my back, steadying me with quiet strength.

"I thought you came to comfort me. Turns out you want me to comfort you."

His voice came from above my head, hoarse and clearly exhausted, yet tinged with an almost imperceptible tenderness.

I looked up at him, my eyes already red-rimmed, my voice choked with emotion. "I thought you were mad at me! But I didn't dare look for you. I knew Imogen's death hurt you so much, and I didn't want to bother you…"

Before I could finish, he cupped my face in his hands, and his warm lips covered mine, silencing everything I hadn't said.

After a long moment, he pressed his forehead against mine. "Fool. You'll never be a burden to me."

Thinking of his grandmother's death, I asked carefully, "Why did Imogen's condition suddenly worsen? Was it because… of us?"

"Don't think like that. It has nothing to do with you." Every word William spoke was meant to soothe me. "Even if she really did get worse because of this, it's because of me. I'm the one who wouldn't let go. Didn't you already clear things up about our relationship?"