C22 Chapter Twenty-Two

It wasn't a happy day as the atmosphere at the cemetery was filled with tension, there was a mixture of sombre reflection and the buzzing energy of anticipation as they gathered to say their final goodbyes to the man who left a legacy that was huge enough to be the talk of the city. The sun, casting its warm hues across the sprawling landscape, illuminated Melissa and her friend Sonia among the mourners dressed in various shades of black, but Melissa added a different touch to her black dress as it managed to reveal her curves and the black hijab to match made her mysterious "I feel so cold right now," she whispered in her friend's ear and Sonia could see the steam from her mouth as she uttered each word, "I know, I feel cold too."

"Mc looks like he's gonna cry any Moment. It's more sad that his best friend Michael isn't here. He's at the hospital, he had an accident."

"Oh that's touch. WellI hope he doesn't cry, he's really gone through alot."

"Yeah Sonia, I feel so sad for him, I personally ruined most of his life." Her words were genuine and for a long time, she'd been regretting all the bad things he did to Mc.

Mourners formed a sea of dark silhouettes and their hushed conversations were punctuated by occasional sobbing.

Gabriel and Paula were right behind their daughter Melissa and they held each other's hands so tightly, lost in the deep thoughts about how one day, everyone will gather for their funeral just like this. "One day Paula, one day, it will be me." Gabriel finally voiced it out.

The gravesite itself was a masterpiece of mourning, adorned with a cascade of lilies, roses, and orchids.

"When my day comes, I shall open my arms to embrace my fate." Gabriel said again to his wife who wasn't going to utter a word.

A canopy of black fabric billowed gently in the breeze, casting shadows over the ornate casket that cradled the remains of the late billionaire, Ethan Milburn.

"This day my friend, is not a bad day for you." Mr. Khan said to Mc Ethan the sole heir to his father's colossal fortune who was standing right beside him.

"You know why I said that Mc? It's because your father is in a good place right now. He's having a good time, so there's no need to cry."

"Thank you Khan." He simply said without moving or looking in his direction.

The riches were visible as Ethan wore an expensive black suit that stood out among the others, thanks to his thick black sunglasses, they made it impossible to see his eyes which revealed a hint of vulnerability beneath the weight of his new responsibility.

"You've always been here Khan, this is not just about me, you're here to say goodbye to your best friend too."

As the priest stepped forward to lead the ceremony, a hush settled over the assembly. But everyone was distracted when they saw a figure dressed in black come from a distance, their eyes longed to get a closer view as it took forever to get there, it was Alvaro Milburn, Mc's uncle from Spain.

"I'm late, I'm sorry my dear nephew." He hugged Mc immediately he got close and they could both feel a connection between them.

"I'm glad you could make it Uncle." His tender voice went right through Alvaro's ear as they still hugged tightly.

"I couldn't miss this day for any other thing in the world." there was his perfect reply.

The priest's words, soft and resonant, carried through the air, offering solace to those gathered. Mc bowed his head just like everyone else, and their eyes closed, as if seeking solace in the sacred cadence of the eulogy.

"Mc Ethan." Uncle Alvaro held his hand, "I live far away and might not always be available to take flights to see you, but I want you to remember one thing, I will do my best not to be a bad uncle. And I'll be here the second you really need me."

"That was heartwarming, Uncle." They looked at each other and smiled.

Amidst the solemnity, the distant clicking of cameras were becoming increasingly audible. The media, stationed at a respectful distance, captured the poignant moments with lenses focused on Mc and his family. Melissa would look at Mc repeatedly wishing she could stand beside him as family, if only she was still married to him, if only she treated him right and didn't cheat on him, she would be standing right beside the youngest billionaire she'd ever known and she would've been referred to as the wife.

As the priest concluded the eulogy, a murmur of condolences rippled through the assembly of people in black dresses. Mc got a tissue from Mr. Khan to quickly clean a drop of tears from his eyes, his jaw clenched as he slowly stepped forward to offer a single white rose onto his father's expensive casket.

"Cancer didn't win this battle, you just left because you finally found me and you completed your final purpose. I'm glad you are a father to me, you didn't let me get lost, you looked for me and you found me, and now you've found peace. I'll see you soon my dear father." Mc took some steps back to meet his uncle and Mr. Khan.

Khan stepped forward "Ethan Milburn, I'll be honest with you, it was unfair to leave this time, we've been together for a long time and I was just getting to love you more. I'll tell my children about you, and I'll tell them you're the best business man I ever met. I'll see you around."

At this moment, a middle-aged man in an impeccably tailored black suit with a black tie approached Mc and he recognised that figure. It was Boris Churchill, the family lawyer who had been a figure of familiarity in the Milburn household for a very long time. His expression came with a blend of condolence and professional demeanour as he spoke to Mc.

"Mr. Mc Ethan," he began, his voice a low murmur and his eyes down, "I understand what this moment means to you. This is an immensely challenging time, but there are matters that require your attention.

"What might be that important?" Mc enquired.

"Your father's will stipulates."

Mc wasn't interested in that at the moment, he raised a hand as his gaze was fixed on the casket. "Boris, that can wait. For now, I want to mourn my dad in peace."

Boris Churchill simply nodded, understanding the delicate balance between duty and grief. The well respected lawyer retreated and quickly blended back into the crowd, leaving the young master, Mc to grapple with the weight of his emotions.

"Who would've known that a day would come like this?" Sonia poked Melissa.

"What day?"

"A day that you will come to see the man you treated like trash be respected by one of the best lawyers around? Look at how respected he is now."

"You shouldn't say it like that, it hurts me."

"Well you can cry, it's a funeral. And besides you can just hide your face completely with this hijab." Her response wasn't filtered.

A group of onlookers talked to themselves on the outskirts of the assembly as their eyes darted toward Mc who suddenly became the centre of attraction.

"My gosh I just wish he would date me, he's just so young, and he's already a billionaire," one of the ladies remarked with her tone a mix of admiration and envy.

"I heard he was married before." Another one said.

"Yes but the wife was unfaithful and treated him like trash, so they're no longer together."

"You mean some girl was lucky to be in this guy's life and they fucked up and now he's in this billions all alone?"

"Rumours are spreading that he's in love with the cook in their home, the girl standing there." she pointed at Emily from the ceremony.

"That young man you see right there's got the world at his fingertips now, there's nothing he can't do" replied a man, adjusting his tie. "Imagine the power he wields." Another wondered.

As the ceremony came to an end, Mc took a step back, acknowledging the condolences with a silent nod, he didn't feel like saying a word, all he wanted was to be quiet and alone with his thoughts. The media, sensing a pivotal moment, surged forward like a relentless tide. This was their chance to ask questions, Microphones were extended, cameras flashed, and reporters clamoured for a statement from the young billionaire.

"Mr. Mc Ethan, how do you feel about inheriting your father's empire at such a young age?" a journalist pressed.

"How do you feel being the CEO of the Howdy App?" another struggled to be heard.

Mc Ethan cleared his throat, his composure remained unyielding and he answered in the nicest way possible. "I'm sorry I can't answer any questions right now."

The air finally blew differently as the crowd dispersed, leaving the cemetery shrouded in a melancholic stillness, the young man remained at the gravesite with Emily, they stood apart but felt close to each other as their gaze fixed on the casket, to Mc, that casket now symbolised the weight of his inheritance, he wasn't just going to sit down and enjoy his father's wealth, he would have to work tirelessly to keep each of his businesses moving, including the ones he kept a secret from the general public.

Mc found himself moving closer to Emily, he felt his heart beating the right way just when he held her hand.

The branches of the Oak tree swayed in silent witness and it seemed to echo the whispers of a bygone era for Mc and the uncertainties of the one about to unfold.