Chapter 192
She took a sip of the milk, which was still warm. It had a sweet taste with a hint of milk fragrance. It helped to calm her fear but left a slight bitterness.
“You should take some rest,” Nash said, his wound already bandaged.
“I’ll take care of everything with the police.” He didn’t want Nina to exert herself too much.
A serious kidnapping case like this required a thorough investigation. He couldn’t afford to rest.
Nina lay on the hospital bed, and soon her mother arrived. “Nina,” her mother called out.
“Mom,” Nina responded. Julia rushed to the hospital and saw Nina lying in bed, looking miserable with wounds on her neck.
She immediately burst into tears and hugged her daughter. “How could that bastard Xander do such a despicable thing? Threatening and kidnapping you? He’s caused you so much suffering! Our family will never associate with theirs again! I’ve already told your father. He only ended up like this because of brotherly love! He realizes it too. I’ll scold Xander later!”
Zion stood at the door, silent but with a look of tenderness and guilt in his eyes.
Sometimes, his excessive concern for family caused suffering for those around him. He had not handled this situation well.
Nina had accepted the reality. As long as she was alive, there was no challenge that could not be overcome.
Suppressing her tears, she calmly uttered, “Dad, Mom, Uncle… he’s no longer with us.”
She hadn’t expected to feel much, but informing her parents still stirred up a tinge of sadness. Nothing surpassed the significance of being alive. The sudden loss of someone from one’s life like this made any resentment before turn into indifference now.
“What?” Julia was taken aback. Zion was rendered speechless, yet his eyes conveyed shock and sorrow.
Nina lowered her voice and continued, “His body should be brought back… Mom, Dad, please accept my condolences.”
She struggled to find the right words, but she knew her parents would be mourning. Julia couldn’t find a way to express her frustration. The room fell into silence all of a sudden.
If Xander were still alive, they might have argued and scolded, but now that he was gone, there was nothing left to say. She glanced at Zion, worried about how deeply he was affected. After all, he was his own brother.
Zion leaned against the door frame, looking at Nina with concern. “He got what he deserved for his wrongdoing. As long as you’re okay, that’s what matters.”
Nina remained silent, but she could tell her father was still upset.
She glanced at Julia and said, “Mom, you should go and be with Dad.”
Before coming, Julia had complained to Zion, cursing Xander and his family thoroughly. Now, she did not want to say anything. She silently stayed by Zion’s side. The family had managed to calm things down for a few days.
It wasn’t Nina’s fault; he was simply reaping what he had sowed, even though the price was steep.
Xander’s funeral was held in their hometown. Despite everything, they were still family, they had to make the trip.
In their hometown, there were many relatives whom they had not visited much since their grandparents passed away. However, these relatives had close ties with Xander’s family.
As they arrived at the funeral site in their car, they were met with various stares. The gazes were not directed at Zion and his wife, but at Nina.
Somehow, Xander’s death was linked to Nina, and even his own family blamed her for it. Rumors of her ‘sins’ had already been spread. Before even stepping out of the car,
Nina overheard others gossiping, saying, “Nina used to be such a well-behaved child, but who would have ever thought she would turn out like this? Xander died because of her. He was her uncle, and she is so heartless!”