Chapter 277 - Lingering Shadow

The morning after Shen Jue's death, Alec visited Tobias's apartment, endlessly apologizing. While Tobias was still bitter, Mimi forgave him with a laugh. However, both men remembered the look in her eyes. It had been as if the violet fire in them was dowsed cold with ice. They were dull.

By now, it had been a week since Shen Jue's death. A black car arrived at the front of a house along the beach. Stepping out, Mimi stared out into the ocean, watching the waves wash the sand in white lace.

The moment they arrived, everything within the beach house had been cleared. All signs of life had been erased from within the home.

Walking inside, a heavy weight pressed on her heart.

"Are you okay?" Tobias asked. His brow was drawn deep in concern.

Mimi nodded her head slowly. "I'm okay. I just want to look around and then we can leave."

Tobias stared at her, but she looked away. She moved her eyes more slowly, like they were heavy, an effort to move. The man's death, it had taken a bigger toll on her than either imagined.

When Mimi had asked to visit his beach house, Tobias was surprised. Although he was reluctant at first, he accepted—of course under the agreement that he came along.

Tobias hesitated another moment, his black eyes searching hers. Then, slowly, he nodded. "I'll let you look by yourself. If you need me, I'll be at the front."

"Thank you." Mimi smiled. She reached for his hand, and he gripped it.

With nothing more to say, Tobias let go of her hand and walked out to the front—possibly to stare out at the ocean while he waited. Left alone, Mimi scanned her gaze around the large beach house.

It was practically empty.

There was a large glass table with one chair in the dining room and the most noticeable, a giant grand piano. Behind it was two large, glass french doors, sheer curtains framing it.

Walking over, she opened the doors, inviting in a salty breeze. Her eyelids fluttered closed as she breathed in the briny aroma. When they opened, Mimi bestowed her gaze to the far off horizon, the flaring hues of the sun melting into the sky and ocean like a divine painting. The endlessly stretching sea was masked with an apricot color, that beautiful amber seeping into the blue.

No wonder Shen Jue stayed here. The view…her sister would have found it beautiful. After all, the beach was her favorite place.

Biting her bottom lip, Mimi turned to the piano. Moving her fingers along the cool, polished wood, she opened the top to see the porcelain white keys.

Her sister also loved the piano. She wondered if Shen Jue played it before he…

Mimi closed the piano gently, turning away from the living room to walk down the halls. There were only two other rooms. A bathroom and a bedroom. Based on what she heard from the news, they found his body in the bedroom.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Mimi entered. Stepping inside, she felt breathless, as if she had run far. There was a numbness in her, turning her to stone.

Shen Jue died…He had taken his own life in this room.

The knowledge rushed up in her, choking off her breath. She rushed out of the room and covered her face with a trembling hand.

"You're fine. You're fine. You're fine." Mimi repeated. Over and over until it was sound only.

Drawing in a deep breath, she stepped back inside. There was only a bed, nothing else. She reached a hand out to touch the sheets. They felt cold. The merciless numbness took over again.

Had she expected them to be warm?

Sighing softly, Mimi looked around the room once more, although there was nothing else to look at. Just as she turned to leave, she stopped. Peeking out underneath the bed was what seemed to be a piece of paper.

An envelope.

Taking it out, Mimi's eyes widened. It was a letter addressed to her from Shen Jue.

Did he know she'd come here?

Hesitant, she opened the envelope, unfolding a one-page letter. Seeing the handwriting, Mimi's knees almost collapsed. She sat on the edge of the bed and read it quietly.

Hello, little one…

If you are reading this, I take it by now you have found out about my death. I do apologize for the way I had to go considering it might bring the memory of your sister's death. But all other methods were rather messy.

I had planned to confess all my sins to you, but I'm afraid that would take up too much paper. At the very least, I want to tell you that it was me who planned Tobias and Alec's accident. Disappointed as I was with the outcome, I think it was for the better.

Truth is, I did care for you deeply. For years I watched you grow and develop into the beautiful woman you are today. And I must thank you. Had it not been for you, I wouldn't have realized my feelings for Emily.

No matter how hard I tried, no one could replace her. Not even an extraordinary person like you.

I see that now.

I hope now and in the future, you will be always be smiling, little one. You will never know how happy I was with the time we spent together.

Sincerely, Shen Jue. Or as you used to call me, "creepy bastard."

The letter in Mimi's hand trembled. As much as she tried to hold it in, the pain came out like an uproar from her throat in the form of a silent scream. The beads of tears fell from her heavy lashes down one after another onto the paper, spreading the written ink.

"Damn it…" She sobbed.

That creepy bastard…she never hated him more than she did at this moment.

Hunched at the end of the bed, the sound of her muffled sobs sounded in the cold and empty bedroom.