Cry, Or Better Yet Beg
chapter 66. The Ruined Heaven

When the mailman comes to deliver their papers, Bill comes out to receive them. He sorted through the letters before finding another letter from Kyle. The only difference is, this one is thicker than the previous one.

“What will you do about it, Mr Remmer?” asked the postman, his voice whispered. Throughout the past fall and winter, he has been Bill's accomplice from storing Kyle's letters to getting to him. Making him as guilty as Bill.

“You can't hide it forever.” the postman inevitably shows it. Bill sighed, put the letter between his piles of letters, and nodded to the postman.

“I am very aware of it.” he looked down the road, took a deep breath while staring towards Leyla school, “I will tell him soon.” Admittedly, the postman seemed relieved by the news.

“Yes, it should have come from you. I promise I won't say anything.”

“Very appreciated,” Bill thank you, “I'm sorry for dragging you into this.”

“Hey, it's okay, I know you only noticed Leyla.” the postman assured her, “Although it must have been very troublesome for you.” she smiled sadly at the gardener, as if she understood his feelings.

He's happy to think that he knows Bill better than anyone at Arvis. After all, he was responsible for bringing Leyla Lewellin to Arvis as a child. He watched Bill change with Leyla in his life. The love for the child is what makes Bill happier than ever.

They say goodbye to each other, leaving Bill behind as he returns to their cabin. Leyla left for work early, which left her alone at the moment.

Bill threw the letter on the table, looked at it sharply, before impulsively taking out all of Kyle's letters, which were tied into a single package. There are so many people that she prevents from contacting Leyla, she suspects Leyla will become angry and distrustful of her once the truth is revealed…

But no matter how scared he was of his response. The important thing is that he can't keep doing this to her. The guilt of lying and storing such a large item was already too much for him.

So he sat down, unbinding the current pack, arranging it correctly by date, before adding the latest one. He rewired the rope to keep it safe, before placing it on the edge of the table.

Over there. Perhaps if he saw her when he returned, he would be reminded of his guilt, and could not help but be straightforward with Leyla.

He had thought about it before, trying to ease his guilt by saying what he did was best for Leyla, but really, the only option that mattered in that department was Leyla. He is the only one who can choose the best for her, and whatever her choice, she will support him completely.

After making up his mind, Bill got up from his seat and walked out of his cabin, locking him up as he left. He approached the chicken coop, looking for his target. As soon as he chose which of them would be their dinner tonight, he went towards the Duke's greenhouse. As soon as he entered, a familiar voice greeted him.

“Good day, Bill!” the zookeeper called out to her as she squatted on a nearby flowerbed to start her work.

They have been co-workers for a long time. Bill likes to think they're friends now. He waved back, giving the flower one more time, before getting up and heading to the warehouse to cut firewood.

The zookeeper approached him not long after he did.

“By the way, Bill, the butler asked not to pile firewood right next to the generator.” he told him, making Bill frown upon hearing the new instructions. Bill grumbled about how the new machines dictated his work.

The generator is a new piece, purportedly providing electricity to the mansion, which they seem to be generating. Bill had no idea what to fuss about, all he knew was that learning was mind-blowing.

"Thank you for telling me." Bill replied with a sigh while looking around, “I think I can set it up myself, no need to worry.” he assured, let the zoo keeper go to do his own work.

He walked back towards the warehouse, and opened the door, before being greeted with a loud whirring sound. He grimaced as he stepped in, a sound that made the ground shake every time he approached the operating machine.

He swore softly, complaining about how loud the noise was whenever he had to be in the barn. He stared intently at the machine as he passed by. Things were much easier before, and much easier than these advanced devices!

Her dislike of modern technology is also similar to Herhardt's matriarch, Madam Norma.

He grieved over the days he once worked quietly in a warehouse, without the hustle and bustle of technology. He looked up, and was surprised to see Mrs Norma, who was probably walking around the greenhouse. She greeted him respectfully as she asked him how his job was.

“Nothing much, Madam,” she replied, “Only this thing made even more noise today.” she observed, and began to pile up some firewood right next to them.

Perhaps creating a physical barrier between him and the generator would make him quieter. This will certainly help his sanity. He shook his head and brought more firewood he had gathered inside to be stacked right next to the engine.

“Everything was much easier back then.” Madam Norma hummed while thinking while watching Bill work. From that statement, he strongly agreed.

There was a violent frenzy in Leyla's classroom, when the children showed mixed reactions. Some are divided into their respective groups, some choose to remain in their seats. There was a mixture of children laughing, some were desperate.

Among the latter, there was little Monica.

Leyla had just informed the students of her decision to change schools, and thus bid them farewell. He was very worried about Monica, who probably thought the news was too loud. Still, it was better to prepare them to part ways as early as possible even though he still had a few more months to be with them.

After making sure each of his students was fine, and understanding that he was just staying away and not leaving them, he assumed his work had been completed and fired them. School had finished by that day, so all he had to do was return to his desk near the classroom to collect his belongings.

He still has to prepare dinner. Maybe he can cook them roast chicken tonight.

As she prepares to leave school, and return to their cabin, she finds herself preoccupied with whether she should buy Uncle Bill new socks, a sweater, and a, or a nice bottle of wine to share. He pedaled his bike in a daze, wondering how he would receive word of his move to another city the following semester.

'He will definitely be heartbroken, ' he thought to himself, 'Maybe a good drink will be a better consolation prize.' He took off his school sandals, before putting his shoes back on, put them into the locker properly, before smiling contentedly at himself.

“You think it'll stop me?”

Matthias' words to her that night at the charity event echoed in her mind as she put on the shoes. The more he remembered his words, the more he felt disbelief he would say such a thing. He was not the type to pose such an empty threat. Leyla always thought she would remain a serious Duke, even until her death.

'Was it because of winter that he became like this?' inevitably he wondered, 'Did the cold also attack him?'

He hasn't interacted with her much since the season began. At first she is very anxious about her absence, but eventually becomes relieved by her new peace. He hoped it would stay that way…

One day, his attraction to the woman will fade, and he can return to his life before he meets her.

He took his coat at the school entrance, tucked it around him and closed all his buttons. He pushed the door open with his free hand, carrying a box of his belongings with his other hand as he went to where his bike was. He secured his belongings first in his bicycle basket, before finally pedaling back home.

He passed the usual route, passing through the city center to buy some extra groceries. When he finished, he tied him to the back of his bike because his basket was already full of his belongings.

“Send my regards to Mr Remmer!” exclaimed the owner just as he was about to leave, and he simply nodded back with a smile.

"I will! Thank you!" He answers.

“I'll be careful,” Leyla laughs, “Goodbye!” He said goodbye to her and continued his journey.

Although the air is cold, the sunlight provides enough warmth for the remaining sunny days. He sped up as the sky turned orange, giving off a golden glow in the afternoon as the sun began to set. It's been a good day so far. There's nothing wrong.

At least, there was nothing until he entered the road to Arvis.

“Leyla! Leyla!” a shrill voice called out to her, making Leyla stop in fear, just as the fire brigade passed by, and headed straight for the Duke's house. “Leyla!”

He looked around, before looking at the panicked Madame Mona, who was about to cry, holding her hand as if she was holding on to the life she loved! Leyla was worried.

“M-Mrs. Mona, what's wrong? What's wrong?" he immediately asked, “Why did I just see the fire department?!” he frantically looked around, before seeing a trail of smoke…

Leyla felt her heart tight in her chest when she realized the smoke was coming straight from the Duke's greenhouse.

"NO! Impossible!” Leyla exclaimed, then turned to ask Ms Mona, “House of glass is burning?!”

“Oh, it's not just fire, Leyla!” Lady Mona wailed, tears streaming down her face, “I heard the electric generator almost explode, and in the process ate half the greenhouse!” Leyla flinched in shock, “But the worst part, they said Bill Remmer was to blame!”

"What?!" he asked in disbelief, “Why uncle?! What the hell's been going on?"

So Miss Mona spoke.

He tells her how he can't fully understand what they're saying, but from what he can infer is that Bill has done something to the generator that caused it to explode. But the worst part is not the explosion itself…

The fact that Mrs Norma was there when the explosion occurred.

“Luckily he just got hurt, but practically the whole house is a mess!” Madam Mona was speechless, set her breath, “At this time the police are combing around to look-”

"Uncle!" Leyla exclaimed, cutting off Bu Mona's words as she watched her uncle being escorted by the police. He quickly ran towards her. Bill looked up when he heard his voice, surprised to see it. “Uncle, are you okay ?!” he quickly asked but was stopped by other police to approach him.

He noticed his appearance. He was covered in soot, some of his clothes were charred, and there were some cuts and bruises all over his body. Leyla felt her heart break.

“Uncle, what happened?! Why did they say it was your fault!?” He called her when the police detained her as they dragged her away from him, “Uncle, that's not true right?! No way! It was just a misunderstanding!”

Bill tries to smile at her, but it's hard to look back when the police insist he had to leave.

“I'll be fine Leyla, I'm sure all of this will be over soon.” she told him in a comforting tone, but it wasn't enough to ease the coldness in Leyla's chest. “I'll be back soon. Okay Leyla, I'll be back-”

“Start moving.” grumbled the police while pushing Bill to keep moving, Leyla tried to break away from the police who detained him, but she was pushed away, and went straight into the arms of Bu Mona who quickly held Leyla in a soothing embrace.

"Uncle!" tears were now streaming down her cheeks as she watched the police forcefully stuff Bill into their car, slamming the door right in front of her face, cutting off whatever Bill wanted to say to her. He just looked back at her in silence, smiling comfortably all this time.

Leyla falls to the ground when the police leave in their car, and Uncle Bill is with them before disappearing from the streets of Arvis.

People rushed to Leyla's side, trying to help her stand up, as she tripped and collapsed in their arms. Leyla's loud screams echoed throughout Arvis' winter night, before being drowned out by the alarming sounds of the servants around him.

But just before he fainted, he dared to swear the duke was there, standing right on the front porch of the mansion, on top of the stairs.

And then his world went black.

Leyla arrived at Arvis with a sunken face while staring blankly at the road in front of her. When he regained consciousness, he immediately went to the police station and asked what had happened to his uncle, and what he could do.

Unfortunately, there was nothing, the police told him.

The explosion occurred because of the large amount of firewood stacked beside it, which eventually knocked out about half the greenhouse. The surrounding glass broke and was fired at everyone nearby, including Ms. Norma, who was admiring a flowerbed near the greenhouse at the time.

It was fortunate enough that the maid who was with him protected him from the blast, but the mother of leader Herhardt still suffered a fracture from the impact of the blast when debris hit her. Coupled with the fact that greenhouses, which are hailed as the most beautiful greenhouses and home to a variety of rare plants, cannot be repaired anymore.

The police know it was all an accident, but even though his uncle Bill didn't mean to do it, the accident still happened, and someone had to take responsibility. Especially public figures such as Ms. Norma who was injured in the accident.

The police did feel sorry for him, allowing him to talk to Bill on his visit, but it only led to more distressing words before he had to say goodbye.

“Perhaps if Duke reduces the charges against him, he can come out sooner,” the police said as he was about to leave, “However, until now, there was nothing he could do but serve the sentence. for his current demands.”

They helped Leyla stand up, who had been on her knees begging for anything she could do so they could let her go. He failed to get his uncle out. None of the policemen in the office could look him in the eye after that. That was when he knew there was no other way they could show him.

'If the sentence is final, will uncle really go to jail?!' he thought desperately as he walked down the deserted road in Arvis.

He wasn't sure how the actual procedure was for such an incident, but he knew it would take a lot of time and money to file a lawsuit. He could not even afford to pay his uncle's bail at this time.

He's not sure how he can contact Arvis, but he knows the only way he can help Uncle Bill is by begging for mercy from the Herhardt family. All he could do was cry in the darkness, his body moving autopilot for him. But how could he do that?

Madam Norma was injured by the blast, not to mention their precious greenhouse was in disarray. If she presented herself in front of Madam Elysee, while crying and begging, she would probably make her uncle's problems worse…

And then he saw the mansion, the only source of light in the darkened environment. And then a thought flashed through his mind!

'Duke Herhardt! If it was him, then surely his mind disappeared as he began to accelerate his pace despite his staggered steps.

Duke is ultimately the owner of the household. Of course he made her uncomfortable, scared and oppressed him endlessly, leaving her bewildered by his actions over the past fall, but maybe he would help her.

He clenched his hands together in prayer as he passed through the tranquil rose garden, and passed the path in the forest. The river flowed uneasily as soon as he passed the riverbank, his breathing getting faster as he got closer to the mansion.

He could see the pavilion in front despite his breath gasping. The lights are still on!

So Leyla ran, towards the light at the end of the tunnel