章 65: Tribute(2)

The news of the heiress was met with waves of sympathy, as many fell into shock from the misfortune that she encountered within hours of her acquittal.

The Hong family was in a state of disbelief. Where she stood by the couch, Hong Ruolan cried her eyes red till there was hardly any tears left, her pale face starkly contrasted with the dress she had on. When Hong Lian could no long bear to see his sister cry, he got up to hold her in his arms, as her head rested squarely against his chest.

So used was he in masking his inner emotions, not even Hong Yongrui and his wife could tell from where they both sat, that the fingers Hong Lian ran tenderly through the tendrils of Hong Ruolan was anything brotherly. He kept muttering comforting words to her, not too long after he felt her sobbing subside, it was only then he changed positions, by releasing her from his arms, to wrap his hand against her back, heading towards her room, which was a couple of stairs away from the living room.