Chapter 26 The Article
ANNA'S POV
"Hi Mrs Cole, I’m so sorry about Uncle Larry, my deepest condolences,” Isabel said, her voice soft as she leaned in ever so slightly. And just like that, it almost seemed like she was trying to shift the attention entirely back to herself. The way her shoulders squared, the well-rehearsed sad tilt of her head, it was so typical of her.
“Thank you very much, Isabel, it’s good to see you again,” Mrs. Cole replied, placing a hand over her heart. Her eyes were red and tired, but her voice still carried warmth, even under grief.
I knew Mrs. Cole wanted to know me better, ever since she heard about me but I also knew this wasn’t the right time. Today wasn’t about introductions or building relationships. It was about loss. About Uncle Larry. About family. And though I stood among them, I wasn’t a part of their grief the way they were. I barely knew Uncle Larry.
So quietly, I stepped back, leaving those who had known and loved him to console Mrs. Cole. Besides, it was better that I put some distance between Isabel and myself, especially in a public setting like this. Every little glance seemed to trigger her, and I had no intention of turning a funeral into another battlefield.
I walked away, moving toward an empty seat in the last row where I could sit without being noticed or disturbed. My black gown was a bit longer than necessary, its hem just grazing the dirt beneath my heels. I settled into my seat and instinctively reached for my phone from my little purse, needing the distraction.
I scrolled through my news feed until something stopped me. A headline. One I hadn’t expected to ever see:
‘James Reed's medical drug formula he developed for chronic eczema turns into an absolute failure after 5 years, as patients who took the drug are now showing the same symptoms again.’
My eyebrows lifted, surprise tightening my grip on the phone. What? That formula was mine. I developed it. It shouldn’t have failed not if the exact formula was used. James did nothing but steal it. And even though that still stung after all these years, what hurt even more was that he had the nerve to ruin it.
I clicked the article.
Breaking News: As of yesterday, patients who took the miracle drug for chronic eczema five years ago are experiencing the same symptoms again. These individuals claimed the drug cured them, and medical personnel assumed the illness was eradicated. Now after five years, many of these patients report the exact symptoms they faced before diagnosis. Experts are questioning whether the cure was merely temporary or if something went wrong during formula production.
I paused, resisting the urge to let anger cloud my judgment. Something must have gone wrong. There was no way the formula I created could fall apart like this, not unless it was altered. James must have messed with it or missed something. Of course, he did. That was the only explanation.
I shut my phone, letting out a quiet breath.
“And he went ahead and screwed this up too,” I muttered, barely loud enough for anyone to hear. “Of course he did.”
Every single thing James touched turned to ash. Relationships, businesses, he had a natural talent for ruining things. And his greed, his arrogance… it would catch up to him one day, but before then, I was going to destroy everything he ever cared about
“Asshole,” I said under my breath, and I meant every syllable.
“Excuse me,” a voice said suddenly beside me.
My heart skipped. I looked up, startled. I hadn’t even noticed someone sitting close enough to hear that. It wasn’t just anyone either — it was Ryan. How did I not realize he was there? And of all words to say out loud at his father’s burial, that’s what he heard from me: “Asshole.” Just great.
“I…uh…I wasn’t referring to you, or anyone here,” I said quickly, trying to recover. “I said it out of instinct. When I see someone I dislike.”
He nodded slowly, then said, “Well, I’m sure they must be a real asshole for you to feel that way.”
I couldn’t help it, I almost smiled. It was strange, being sarcastic at a funeral, but his tone wasn’t sharp or angry. More… intrigued. Observing.
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m sorry about your father, by the way. I never got the chance to meet him, but I’m sure he was an amazing man.”
“Thank you, he definitely was. You must be Anna, right?” he said, offering his hand.
For a moment, I stared at it. His behavior surprised me. His father had died, yet he didn’t look like he was drowning in sorrow. No tears. No slumped shoulders. Just… quiet. Still.
“Yes. But, correct me if I’m wrong, Daniel told you my name?” I asked, curious.
“Yes, he did. Years ago, when you both first met,” he said.
“Oh. He told you about that too,” I said with a skeptical tilt of my head. “What else did he tell you that I’m not aware of?”
A small smile tugged on his lips. “That’s about it. You know, you’re the first person to make me smile since I heard about my dad. Even though you didn’t mean to. Thanks for that.”
He stood, smoothing down his suit, hands sliding back into his pockets.
“Uh, sure, I guess,” I said, still trying to piece together how he was dealing with this.
“I’ll see you around, Anna,” he said. And without another word, he walked off, heading back to where Mrs. Cole sat with my family.
I watched him go. We barely spoke, yet the encounter stayed with me. Maybe it was the unexpected softness in his voice, or how he carried so much weight without showing it.
Still, I wished we didn’t have to meet under these kinds of circumstances. If I hadn’t opened my mouth carelessly and if Daniel hadn’t mentioned me, maybe we wouldn’t have spoken at all.