I Walked Away And He Lost His Mind (Zephyra) novel Chapter 20

My family rarely had contact with my mother’s side, and I knew very little about them. In my past life, I’d thought them cold, always looking down on my father and our family because of their wealth. They could have easily helped us when we were in trouble, but they never lifted a finger. When my mother passed away, they didn’t even attend her funeral. After that, I cut off all contact with them and didn’t speak to them again before I died. 

But I never would have imagined that yesterday, at my mother’s grave, my disabled uncle would drag his broken body across the country just to see her. 

The moment he saw me, his eyes reddened, his lips pressed into a grim line as tears streamed down his face. It took him a long time to force out the words. “She’s gone. Why didn’t you tell us?” 

I was stunned–stunned by the depth of his grief, which was anything but cold, and even more stunned that he hadn’t known about my mother’s death, even though it had been over half a year. 

Just as I was about to speak, he clutched his chest, gasping for air before collapsing in a dead faint. 

“Uncle Julian!” I had panicked, quickly giving him his heart medication and rushing him to the hospital. 

The doctor said it was a good thing I brought him in when I did; any later, and he wouldn’t have made it. In my past life, Uncle Julian died young. I didn’t attend his funeral, but I vaguely remembered it being around this time. 

Had I accidentally saved his life? 

“Zephyra.” Julian’s deep, hoarse voice pulled me from my thoughts. I looked at him; he was staring at me with red–rimmed eyes, his face heavy with a grief so profound it felt suffocating. “When did she pass? What happened? Why didn’t you notify us?” 

I pressed my lips together. “Six months ago. She was ill. I thought Dad had told you, so I didn’t say anything.” 

I had assumed they were holding a grudge, that their pride kept them from coming to say their final goodbyes. I never imagined they simply hadn’t known. 

The doctors‘ break room was next to the utility sink. As I filled the pitcher, I overheard a doctor on the phone next door. 

“Mom, the flight is next Monday, don’t worry. I’ll study hard when I’m abroad.” 

Hearing the word “abroad,” I instinctively glanced over and saw a young woman in a white coat. Her smile and voice were as sweet as honey. It was her–Steven’s dream girl. 

She was leaving the country. 

I froze, a daze washing over me as a memory from my past life surfaced. It was only after she went abroad that Steven realized he couldn’t live without her. That was when he had left me, chasing after her across the world.