One Night Surprise - Season 3 Episode 21

“Sis, it’s been quite chaotic lately. I don’t think you should go to Anna’s funeral.” Shay’s voice, fused with a voice tuner, came through the phone.

“Maybe if I didn’t know about it. But, since I’m aware, I don’t have a reason not to go. I have to pay my respects. She’s dead. It’s not something to argue about.”

She straightened out her black blouse and black wide-leg pants in front of the mirror, then tied her hair up at the back of her head. Through her wireless earphone, she heard Shay sigh. “You be careful. I still have work to do here so I can’t leave yet, but I might be able to make it. I’ll just be a bit late.”

“Okay. Be careful on your way here,” she exhorted and hung up the phone.

Even outsiders claimed that Anna’s suicide was unexpected. After asking a few directors who were present at the time, however, they found out she did jump off herself. According to the statements, it was very chaotic at the scene. Not to mention, the source of that chaos was Susan.

Anna was already gone. At least, her uncle had taken it upon himself to arrange her funeral and contact anyone who could be reached, including Courtney.

Aside from the flower wreath, the only two colors left at the funeral were black and white. So few people had attended that Courtney almost thought she came at the wrong time. Well, after such a big scandal at Hunter Group, who would want to forge connections with them?

After bowing in front of the grave, she walked up in front of Anna’s uncle. “My condolences.”

“Mm.” He nodded his head, his eyes slightly red. “Anna might have had a bad temper, but she was a sweet girl.”

Courtney could not agree to that completely, but since she had to show respect to the dead, she did not say anything else and simply nodded. With that, she turned around and started to leave.

“Wait,” Anna’s uncle called out abruptly. “Anna jumped because she could not bear the pressure of dealing with the company’s problems. Now that the company has turned out this way, shouldn’t his children be responsible for it?”

Courtney frowned. Taking the place they were in into consideration, she suppressed her temper and explained, “I don’t own any shares at Hunter Group. My father didn’t put my name under any of his inheritance in his will. The situation the company is in has nothing to do with me. If you don’t get it, you can ask Mr. Morrison.”

“I’m not going to look for some lawyer; I’m just looking for you.” The middle-aged man was slowly getting angry. “Lucian left us with such a big mess. You’re his daughter. You can’t just turn a blind eye to everything.”

Finding it rather amusing on the inside, she retorted, “When the will was read, I don’t remember you people being this outspoken about injustice.”

“That’s a different matter.” His face sank. “You have to come clean in front of Anna today, and give us an explanation. This is your family’s company. If you don’t manage it, then who will?”

“Whoever wants to!”

Shay’s voice traveled across the crowd and landed clearly in everyone’s ears. Courtney was still in a daze when a hand pulled her back. Looking up, she saw Casey who was following closely behind Shay.

“Get my sister out of here first,” Shay instructed. Taking off his sunglasses, his eyes swept across everyone with an unpleasant expression on his face.

After Casey took Courtney away, she heard Shay’s voice in the distance. “Birds of a feather flock together. I should’ve known you people didn’t notify my sister of the funeral for any good reason. Why? Are you picking on her because she doesn’t have anyone around her? Are you planning on dumping this huge mess on her? During the allocation of property, why didn’t any of you remember that Lucian also had another daughter? Since this problem broke out, you’re suddenly aware now. How could something so miraculous happen? You’re all just taking advantage of her.”

“We can’t leave Shay alone in there. Those people—” Courtney was in a slight panic.

“Don’t worry.” Casey did not even look back as he shoved her into the MPV. “He has people with him.”

She followed his gaze into the distance where she saw a group of people crowded together.

“How dare you speak to me like that?” At that moment, Anna’s uncle’s shameless attitude shone through. In a harsh voice, he sneered, “Shay Spencer, was it? You’re just a mutt the Hunter Family picked up and brought home. What right do you have to be here and meddle in the Hunters’ affairs?”

Those words got Courtney worked up, but she only saw Casey lean against the car door outside. His formal attire made him look smart. Without a clear expression, he said, “The one who ridiculed Shay earlier. His mouth is too foul.”

As soon as he said that, a sharp scream sounded from among the crowd. Despite not being close, the indistinct sound of bones crushing could also be heard in the middle of the scream.

“Don’t hesitate. I’ll take responsibility for everything. Beat him up.”

Among the crowd of people in the distance, shrieks were coming in one after the other. When Anna looked at Casey in astonishment, she realized that he was wearing a black wireless earphone in his right ear. The few hefty men in black on the other side were men Casey left behind to protect Shay. No wonder they were so ruthless.

As she looked at the man being beaten into a lump, she let out a sigh, thinking it was sad but also funny at the same time. Susan and Anna spent their entire lives scheming. They brought all the good-for-nothing children from their maternal family into the Hunter Group. Now that Anna was dead, and Susan was missing, they were still desperate to bring the Hunter Group back up instead of looking for Susan. They wanted to continue to sit idly and enjoy the fruits of someone else’s labor.

From the cemetery, Casey drove Courtney back to her place.

“It’s better not to associate with those people in the future. They’re all crazy.” Sitting on the couch, Shay continued to urge her softly, “If I hadn’t made it in time today, it would have been a catastrophe.”

The ability to tell right from wrong and weigh the pros and cons were within her. She admitted that she had not reached the brain-damaging level of ‘who else would go to hell if not me’ yet. Nodding lightly, her gaze shifted onto Casey.

“I’ve been seeing Mr. Lewis with you a lot lately. Are you two…”

Shay’s expression shifted. He almost spat out water from his mouth. “It’s not what you think. We’re just… regular friends.”

“Really?” She eyed Casey curiously. Shay was always the bashful one. If she wanted to hear the truth, she had to get Casey to speak.

Glancing over at Shay, Casey answered, “Yes. You can say that.”

“What do you mean by that?” Courtney pestered.

“Everyone defines a friend differently. We’re friends if he says we are.”

She was slightly confused, “Can you elaborate?”

“He’s my only friend.”

Oh, so that’s it. Courtney smiled vaguely at Shay. She watched as his face went from a pale pink to bright red. She had a mischievous thought and deliberately asked, “Why are you blushing, Shay?”

“I’m not.” Sulking, he insisted, “I just feel hot.”

“It’s almost fall now. How can you still feel hot?” she teased.

“I just feel hot, alright? Your house is too hot. I don’t want to be here anymore. I’m leaving…”

Shay just got up from the couch, but Casey looked like he was already prepared. Standing up, he straightened his suit and said nonchalantly, “I’ll drive you.”

From Courtney’s perspective, she could clearly see Shay’s face turn even redder.