Chapter 71 Dad Funeral

Chapter 71 Dad Funeral
That night, well past midnight, Lucas drove me back to Jade Bay.

I sat quietly in the passenger seat, staring out the window without saying a word the entire drive.

My face must have looked calm, but Lucas's expression was ugly.

The whole day had been chaos since Dad's sudden death.

The worst moment came when Evelyn's family arrived. Lucas could barely stand to think back on the things they'd said to me, the accusations they'd thrown. He'd been angry, furious, even wanting to rush forward and kick every single one of them.

But I'd held him back, gripping his arm tight from start to finish.

The car pulled into the underground parking, and Lucas parked in my spot, but there was another car across from us that didn't belong to anyone in the building.

When he looked up, I saw it too.

Lucas turned to me. "If you don't want to see him, I'll tell him to leave."

"It's fine," I said. "He's so busy, and he still came to see me. How could I tell him to leave?"

I pushed the door open and walked over to the other car.

The driver got out and opened the back door for me.

Caspian looked at me quietly.

My expression was calm, the corners of my eyes a little red but still bright, and even as I looked at him, I managed a smile. "You came."

He lifted his hand and gently brushed the corner of my eye with his fingertips.

"Things will be pretty busy these next few days, and my schedule won't be regular," I said. "I'll probably be staying in the Quinns family most of the time, so don't come looking for me for now. I don't want you to make the trip for nothing."

After a long moment, Caspian finally spoke. "If you need anything, call me."

I thought about it and realized there probably wasn't anything I'd need.

With Dad gone, Evelyn had collapsed immediately. Sophia and her brother were still young, and Evelyn's family had taken over the funeral arrangements completely. I didn't need to worry about anything at all, much less ask for help.

Actually, as Evelyn's family had said, I just needed to stay out of the way of the family business.

In that instant, countless thoughts ran through my mind, but when they reached my mouth, only one word came out. "Okay."

Caspian stared at me for a long time before finally speaking. "Get some rest."

I smiled again. "Okay. You should rest too. Good night."

I opened the door and got out. On the other side, Lucas quickly emerged from his car, glancing in our direction before accompanying me to the elevator.

He stayed with me all the way to my door. I unlocked it, then turned back to look at him. "You've had a long day. Go home."

"I'm worried about you," Lucas said.

I exhaled slowly. "Why worry? I'm not a child anymore. Dad's health was always poor, I've been expecting this day for a long time... For me, it's just that I owed him something I can never pay back now..."

Lucas frowned. "He wouldn't want you thinking like that."

"I know," I nodded. "So don't worry. I'll be fine."

Lucas still stood there unmoving until I pushed him toward the elevator again, and he finally left.

When he got back to the underground parking, he saw that Caspian's car was still parked there, and hadn't left yet.

Lucas looked away, got back in his car, sat quietly for a moment, then drove off.

I kept myself busy all night long.

I cleaned the apartment inside and out, even under the bed, wiping dust from every corner I could reach.

By the time dawn was breaking, I'd rearranged the simple furniture in the living room over and over again.

Thank god the neighbors downstairs hadn't moved in yet, or they definitely would have complained by now.

After finishing everything in the apartment, the sun was already up.

I showered, dried my hair, lay down on the bed where I'd just changed the sheets, and finally fell asleep.

I knew what Dad's death would mean, knew what kind of filial piety I was supposed to show as his daughter, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. The moment I showed up, it would only draw endless arguments and accusations.

Dad was gone now.

He'd been troubled by all kinds of things during his life. After his death, I wanted to give him peace.

So I didn't go back to the Quinn house.

I stayed in my apartment for three days straight.

Only on the day of Dad's funeral did I finally leave.

I didn't follow the funeral procession for Dad, but waited until everyone had left before going to the cemetery to lay flowers at his grave.

I stood in front of Dad's headstone for a long time, and after returning to the city, I went straight to the company.

At that moment, Quinn Industries was very much alive with activity.

The family led by Evelyn's brother had gathered in the conference room to discuss something, and the moment they saw me come back, the atmosphere immediately shifted.

I was forcibly pulled into the conference room, where a group of people pressured me to hand over the company.

"Now that my brother-in-law has passed and the funeral has been handled, these matters need to be settled," my step-mother Evelyn's brother said. "Why are you holding onto Quinn Industries? My sister, Sophia, and her brother are all legitimate heirs. If you refuse to let go, then we'll file a lawsuit and see you in court."

I was quiet for a moment before speaking slowly. "Even though my father has passed, the economic case involving the company hasn't been resolved yet. Did you know that?"

"Of course, we know!" he said. "So what if it's not resolved? Even if something is really found, the Quinn family won't have anything! So you have to hand over the company! If it's really controlled by you the whole time, then in the end there might be nothing left!"

"Okay," I said.

Everyone didn't expect me to be so cheerful about it, and they were somewhat suspicious for a moment. "Vera, don't try to play any tricks!"

"No tricks," I said. "I'll take whatever portion of the assets my father left behind that I'm entitled to, and I won't ask for a single cent more!"

"You still want a share? You're the daughter of the ex-wife. If you hadn't done so many things, the Quinn family wouldn't be like this, and your father might not have died. Why should you get a share?"

"You don't even want to give me that?" I said. "Fine, then let's file a lawsuit. I'm not in a hurry anyway."

As soon as those words came out, the people across from me got anxious first.

After another round of discussion, everyone agreed to divide the inheritance according to normal proportions, and my share came out to only about ten or twelve percent, just enough to be rid of me.

That evening, I made plans with Lucas to get drinks and told him the news that I'd handed over the company. "So are you still going to keep working for the new Quinn family?"

Lucas nearly rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "Do you know you haven't paid me a salary since coming back all this time?"

"What?" I was shocked. "Didn't I pay you? Then this drink will be your salary for the past few months. Drink up!"

But when Lucas slapped my hand away, the beer bottle in my hand hit the stairs, and it shattered against the railing. Everyone's attention turned to us.

I quickly looked away, and when Lucas wanted to divert my attention, I'd already spotted Damien in the group.