RETURN OF THE LEGENDARY CASSIAN MARKAVELLI

9 - the memorial

Cassian sat motionless, in the front seat of the cathedral, expressionless, watching the ongoing procession.

To everyone, it was a memorial. To him, it was a haunting reminder of his trauma.

The soft hum of organ music floated through the grand hall, echoing beneath the stained-glass ceiling of the old cathedral. Sunlight filtered in muted tones of gold and orange, casting long shadows across the congregation.

At the front, a massive portrait of Clarence Markavelli and his late wife stood beside twin caskets draped in royal blue and silver, the colors of the Markavelli Group crest. A thousand white lilies surrounded them as if to compensate for the damage the accident caused.

People went to the altar to pay their homage, bowing respectfully to the caskets before walking away. The line moved slowly, like a procession of ghosts with eyes heavy with emotion or curiosity, no one could really tell.

As the people paid their homage, and the pastor prayed silently at the altar, quiet murmurs began to stir among the mourners.

"Is he really going to be the one to head his father's empire? Isn't he too young to go through all this?"

"No. I think his mother’s brother, Drako, is going to be in charge for the next six months until he’s ready."

"I feel so much pity for him. I heard he lost his voice."

"The accident really broke him. Poor kid."

" Well, nothing changed if he can't compose a full sentence without stuttering.. things like that can earn the board's disapproval.."

" You're right, he's much useless at the moment. He'll be a disgrace and shame to the company in the public eye when he comes into power"

But none of that mattered to Cassian as he sat stiffly in the front row, his hands clenched in his lap. His eyes were locked on Drako and his wife as they received condolences, smiling modestly and bowing their heads as if they hadn’t just inherited a kingdom.

Cassian’s blood boiled at the indignity.

His mind drifted back to his last conversation with his parents’ lawyer, Mr. Tream—just two days before the memorial— who was the only person he trusted.

Back during his stay at the hospital.

“How sure are you about this?” Mr. Tream had asked cautiously.

Cassian breathed out " I-I k-know w-wh-what I-I saw. It-it w-was h-him, D-Drako. B-Before the c-car ex-exploded... He-he w-wore a-a-a bl-black ho-hoodie, ”he breathed heavily after saying.

“But the security footage says otherwise,” Tream replied, sliding a tablet across the table. “It shows nothing unusual. Just your parents leaving… and then static. Then the explosion.”

Cassian had stared at the footage.

It showed nothing of what he had seen. It had been tampered with by no other person than Drako.

He turned to Mr Tream.

“B-but there w-was some-someone th-there,” he had insisted, thumping the bed weakly. “ It w-was D-Drako. He w-was wea-wearing g-gloves. He w-was the one w-who l-lit th-the car on-on fi-fire. P-Please be-believe me-me…”

Tream sighed. “I believe you, Cassian. But believing isn’t proof. I checked everything. On that day. Drako never left his residence, the FBI also confirmed it..”

" Cassian, I'm beginning to think that you may have gotten trauma induced hallucinations... I remember the doctor also mentioned the chances of it occurring are slim but very possible."

Cassian let out a pained smile.

He knew what he saw that night.

It wasn't a hallucination.

He would do whatever possible to get the truth.

Now, as Cassian sat in the church, his eyes narrowed at Drako. The man’s grip on his wife’s hand was just a bit too tight. He looked more distraught than any one in the hall.

But to Cassian, it was all a facade.

His fingers moved slightly against the bandage at his throat.

He may have lost his voice.

But not his mind.

And he was sure what he saw.

Just then, a hush fell over a section of the crowd as Gerald Merzari stepped into the hall.

He was dressed impeccably in a charcoal-black suit, a crisp white shirt, and a dark tie that complemented the dark atmosphere.

People shifted as he passed. Some whispered.

“That’s Gerald Merzari…”

“The eldest son of Mr. Merzari. What’s he doing here?”

Gerald walked down the aisle, past rows of grieving guests. He offered a slight nod to no one in particular as he approached the caskets, slowly placing a single white rose between them. Cameras flashed silently from discreet corners. Every gesture mattered.

He murmured just loud enough for a few nearby guests to hear, “Rest well… the city grieves for you both.”

Then he turned to walk back, but paused.

He turned to leave, the bow complete, but not before glancing sideways, his gaze locking with Cassian’s for a heartbeat too long.

Cassian didn’t blink.

Gerald held the gaze, then looked away first.

He straightened and adjusted the cuffs of his suit subtly. Then, with a slow turn, he walked toward the front pew where Drako and his wife stood, receiving guests like royalty cloaked in grief.

Drako looked up as Gerald approached. His expression was unreadable, varying between sadness and pain. Beside him, his wife offered a stiff, polite smile.

Gerald bowed slightly.

“My deepest condolences,” he said, but respectful. “The city mourns with you.”

Wow, Gerald Merzari,” Drako said, smiling briefly. “It’s an honor to finally meet you.”

Gerald offered a tight-lipped smile. “You’re Drako… Cassandra’s brother. I’ve heard a lot about you. You're doing well.”

Cassian felt something twist in his gut at the sound of his mother’s name spoken so casually.

Gerald turned to Drako’s wife. “Madam, may peace find you soon.”

She gave a faint nod, murmuring, “Amen.”

From his seat, Cassian watched everything.

Their voice was low but not low enough for Cassian to hear.

Drako chuckled lightly. “About your previous investment… is it still available?”

“Yes,” Gerald replied, rubbing his hands together as if sealing an invisible deal. “We can start working together whenever you’re ready.”

Cassian’s fists clenched in his lap.

Business talk. At his parents' memorial.

The indignity burned through his blood.

“I’ll be leaving now. Looking forward to our partnership. ” Gerald added, turning with a brief nod before exiting the chapel, flanked by his delegates.

" You'll hear from my lawyers soon," he said and exited the chapel.

Drako turned back to the mourners with a practiced sorrow etched across his face.

Cassian’s gaze followed him until the last coat disappeared through the doors.

His fists were clenched so tightly on his lap that his fingernails dug into his palms.

He couldn’t believe it.

They had almost turned his parents’ memorial into a business meeting.

His parents.

Barely two days in the ground and the vultures were already circling.

Their greed is so unbelievable.

No one mentioned the lives lost. No one mentioned the void that ripped through his soul the moment he woke up in the hospital, bruised and broken, only to find the two people he loved most were gone.

They didn’t even wait a week.

Drako, smiling too easily, like a man who’d just won a lottery ticket. And Gerald... Gerald hadn’t even tried to hide the smugness behind his eyes as he left with his entourage like royalty walking away from a successful conquest.

Cassian’s throat ached.

He wanted to stand. To scream. To grab Drako by the collar and demand answers. But all he could do was sit in that seat.