From Neglected Wife to CEO’s Obsession novel Chapter 19

When I finally opened my eyes, Remy pulled my hand over his face. I felt the warmth of his tears soaking my fingers.

“Avery, you were out for a whole day and night. I was so scared you’d never wake up. I thought I was going to lose you too.”

The next day was my mom’s funeral. Remy tried to talk me out of going, worried it would be too much for me. But I needed to be there, needed to walk my mom through her last journey.

She’d spent over twenty years teaching, and so many people came to say goodbye—students, old friends, colleagues. The place was packed, not a single empty seat. Elliot showed up too, with his assistant, carrying a bouquet of sunflowers, which were Mom’s favorite.

For her sake, I kept myself together. I pushed her casket to the crematorium myself and waited outside, holding it all in.

An hour later, all that was left of my mother was a handful of white ash.

Just like that, I had no mom. No family. No one left who shared my blood.

I put her urn into the grave and watched as the stone slowly slid into place. She was gone. All I had now was a cold headstone.

Something in me snapped. I rushed forward, trying to pry the stone open, desperate for one more moment, one last look. I couldn’t believe she was really gone, that she’d left so suddenly without even a goodbye.

I couldn’t stop them from sealing the grave. I just slipped and fell. Pain shot up my right leg.

It was the first time Remy ever really yelled at me. “Avery, if your mom can see you from up there, do you have any idea how much it would hurt her to watch you like this? Please, pull yourself together. Don’t make her worry about you anymore, okay?”

“But she’ll never know. She’s never coming back.”

In the future, Remy could keep his promises, and I’d live the life I wanted.

I barely spoke. I couldn’t find any energy. My mind was always drifting back to memories of my mom: her laughter, her hugs, the little routines we had.

At night, I missed her so much it hurt. I held her photo tight, crying from sunset to sunrise.

Remy changed too. He stopped going into the office, working from home instead. The moment he heard any sound I made, he’d rush over, eyes red and worried, always asking if I was okay.

One day, I slipped in the bathroom and hit my head. There was blood everywhere.

That night, Remy held me for ages, refusing to let go no matter how much I tried to pull away. His voice was shaky when he whispered, “Avery, please... Just promise me you’ll keep living. Promise me you’ll stay.”