Restarting Life: Back From the Dead novel Chapter 13

Richard’s voice cracked sharply, “Sebastian, have you lost your mind? You used every trick to get close to her, deceived her, and caused her so much pain. You even went as far as finding replacements for Fiona. We turned a blind eye all this time. You don’t even care for Felicia—so why do you insist on keeping her by your side?”

“This is her final wish! She’s no longer with us. Are you really going to imprison her spirit, so you can keep tormenting her?” His words hung heavy in the air.

Sebastian’s face drained of color as he answered, “No…” His thoughts were tangled and chaotic, but one thing was clear: Felicia was gone, vanished like ashes scattered to the wind.

Yet, by holding onto her body, he felt as though a part of her would remain with him forever.

He couldn’t bear the thought of Felicia slipping away completely.

Marissa, weary of the bitter exchange, gently pried Sebastian’s fingers from Felicia’s cold hand, one by one.

“If that’s not true, then let her go,” she urged softly. “You want to keep her close, but do you want to watch her body decay? Or worse, do you plan to soak her in some harsh chemicals? You know how much she cherished her appearance—she despised chemicals! Are you really going to deny her the peace she deserves?”

“We’re her parents,” Marissa continued, her voice trembling as tears spilled down her cheeks. “We don’t want to cremate her either. We don’t want to say goodbye. But sometimes, there’s no other choice…”

Yes, they were trapped by circumstances beyond their control.

Sebastian felt as if his heart was pierced by a thousand invisible needles. Slowly, reluctantly, he released Felicia’s hand, watching silently as they carried her away. He followed behind them, his footsteps heavy with grief.

In just a few hours, her body was reduced to ashes. As the furnace’s flames consumed her, Sebastian’s mind wandered to the memories of Felicia—so afraid of pain, so fragile. If she had known her body would be burned, the terror she would have felt was unimaginable.

His eyes, red and swollen, remained fixed on the roaring fire. Inside, his heart shattered into countless fragments.

When Richard and Marissa approached him with the small urn, it felt as if someone had plunged a hand into his chest and ripped out his very soul. The pain was suffocating, making it hard to breathe.

Richard and Marissa exchanged surprised glances when they saw the locket. Felicia had given everyone one—each a protective charm—except Sebastian. Out of spite, she had withheld his.

Sebastian had been furious at the time. The very next day, he dragged her up the hill and threatened not to let her leave until she gave him one too.

Eventually, Felicia relented and handed him a locket.

Back then, Richard and Marissa had laughed at the childishness of their quarrel over something so small. They never imagined that years later, Sebastian would still be wearing that very same locket.

They didn’t even know where their own lockets were now. Perhaps, after all this time, Sebastian wasn’t as cold and distant as he appeared. Maybe he didn’t hate Felicia as much as he let on.

Perhaps, deep down, even he hadn’t realized that his feelings for Fiona were never truly strong. Instead, he had fallen for Felicia—though he was unwilling to admit it, even to himself.