Echo of Pieces by Charles Dickens 7 Summary
In Chapter 7 of “Echo of Pieces” by Charles Dickens, Isabella grapples with profound grief as she mourns her mother’s death. The chapter opens with her kneeling in prayer, overwhelmed by sorrow as she covers her mother’s lifeless body with a white sheet. The finality of her loss hits her hard, leading to a physical manifestation of her pain as she coughs up blood and collapses. Memories of her mother’s interactions with Joseph, who had promised to love and care for Isabella, haunt her, intensifying her sense of betrayal and loss.
As Isabella prepares for her mother’s cremation, she is struck by the irony of Joseph’s affection for another woman, Sophia, on the very day she is burying her mother. This juxtaposition deepens her anguish, as she feels abandoned and isolated in her grief. She spends several days at the graveyard, her sorrow palpable, only returning home to collect her mother’s ashes. However, the warm sounds of laughter from Joseph and Sophia starkly contrast her despair, forcing her to retreat into herself, feeling emotionally numb and detached.
In the midst of her turmoil, Isabella discovers Sophia’s malicious intent to drive her away from Joseph, revealing the depths of animosity she has faced within her marriage. Despite the pain, Isabella finds a sense of empowerment in her decision to leave Joseph and the Ashford family behind. She hails a taxi to the airport, clutching her mother’s ashes, and prepares to embark on a new journey to Country A— a place where Joseph cannot follow her.
As she boards the plane, Isabella feels a surge of liberation, symbolized by the confirmation of her new life and identity. When Joseph tries to reach her one last time, she decisively cuts him off, signaling her determination to sever all ties. The chapter closes with Isabella ascending into the sky, her reflection in the window representing her newfound resolve, ready to embrace a life free from the shadows of her past.
Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below
**Echo of Pieces by Charles Dickens**
**Chapter 7**
Isabella knelt in prayer, her spirit heavy with grief, throughout the long, sleepless night. The dawn broke with a chilling clarity, and as she meticulously draped a pristine white sheet over her mother’s still form, an unbearable wave of sorrow crashed over her. In that moment, she shattered, her fingers clutching at her collar as silent sobs wracked her body.
Her mother was truly gone. The finality of it struck her with the force of a merciless blade, cleaving through the very essence of her being.
A metallic taste flooded her mouth, a harbinger of the turmoil within. Suddenly, Isabella was seized by a violent fit of coughing, blood spilling forth as her vision dimmed and the world around her began to fade. She collapsed to the floor, the coldness of the tiles grounding her in a brutal reality.
In the depths of her despair, an image flickered in her mind—Joseph, kneeling before her mother, pledging his heart.
“Mom, I will love Isabella for the rest of my life,” he had vowed, his voice earnest and unwavering.
“Mom, thank you for allowing me to marry Isabella,” he had continued, each word a promise of loyalty.
“You’re Isabella’s mom, which makes you my mom too. I’ll always be good to you.”
Those declarations echoed in her ears like sharp needles, intertwining with the harsh truth of her loss, suffocating her under the weight of their cruel irony.
The memories of happier days ebbed away like a receding tide, leaving only the haunting image of her mother, lifeless and shrouded in white, before her tear-stained eyes.
Time seemed to stretch infinitely as she gathered herself, finally rising from the floor, steeling herself for the next step: her mother’s cremation.
As she passed a nearby VIP ward, she caught sight of Joseph, tenderly holding Sophia in his arms, their laughter mingling with whispered words. “The new ventilator has arrived. I want you to live a long, healthy, and happy life,” he said, his voice dripping with affection.
Isabella stood frozen, a bitter laugh escaping her lips—a laugh laced with irony and pain. On the day of her mother’s funeral, her husband was bestowing wishes of longevity upon another woman.
In her heart, she had already prepared a grave for her mother, a resting place in Coastal Harbor where her wandering spirit could find solace.
For the next few days, Isabella remained at the graveyard, her grief a constant companion. She returned home only on the day she was to leave with her mother’s ashes.
As she approached her home, a cacophony of intimate sounds wafted from the living room, pulling her back to a reality she wished to escape.
Sophia was perched on Joseph’s lap, both of them sunk deep into the comfort of the sofa, their laughter ringing hollow in Isabella’s ears.
She turned her gaze away, resolutely marching upstairs, her heart encased in an icy shell. The pain was dulled, her emotions muted as if a switch had been flipped within her.
“Isabella, what are you holding?” Joseph’s voice called out, thick with lingering desire.
She remained silent, pressing forward, determined to ignore the chaos behind her.
Joseph watched her thin frame retreat, a frown creasing his brow. A strange panic surged within him; she appeared so fragile, as if a gust of wind could whisk her away into nothingness.
Sophia, nestled against him, turned his attention back. “Mr. Ashford, it’s unbearable. Please give me…” Her words trailed off, the insinuation hanging in the air.
Joseph shook his head, pushing aside the troubling thoughts, refocusing on the moment at hand.
Meanwhile, Isabella stepped into the shower, the water cascading over her like a cleansing balm. She changed into a plain dress, a reflection of her inner turmoil. As she rummaged through her belongings, she discovered her mother’s jade pendant and tucked it into her bag, taking nothing else.
As she prepared to leave, a voice drifted from the garden, piercing through her thoughts. It was Sophia on the phone, her words dripping with malice: “Madam Ashford, rest assured, I will definitely drive that bitch Isabella away!”
Isabella’s heart quivered, a tremor of anger and disbelief, yet she felt no significant surge of emotion.
So, Joseph’s mother had brought Sophia in to dismantle her relationship with him!
The absurdity of it struck her, a laugh bubbling up from within.
Joseph, your self-righteous schemes are nothing but a game played on someone else’s board, and I am merely a pawn you’ve discarded.
Isabella could not fathom the depths of Joseph’s mother’s hatred for her. She had cared for the woman tirelessly during her hospitalization, sacrificing her own well-being, even donating a kidney in her time of need. And yet, after five years of marriage, Isabella had found herself cast aside.
But now, she was done seeking understanding. She was leaving this place behind, severing all ties with the Ashford family.
She hailed a taxi to the airport, her heart resolute.
With a ticket to Country A in hand, she felt a sense of liberation wash over her. Country A was the domain of Joseph’s greatest rival, a place where he was banned for life.
This was her sanctuary, a place where Joseph would never find her.
Just then, a text message pinged on her phone, confirming the erasure of her legal identity.
[Mrs. Garcia and Ms. Garcia, congratulations on your new life!]
With red-rimmed eyes, Isabella picked up the urn containing her mother’s ashes and walked towards the boarding gate. “Mom, let’s leave together,” she whispered, her voice barely audible above the din of the airport.
Before she could step onto the plane, Joseph’s voice broke through, laced with an edge of anxiety. “Isabella, are you going out to clear your head? Just one more time with Sophia, and the ritual marriage to ward off misfortune will be over. Our wedding anniversary is in three days. I’ll have a surprise for you. Your mother should be awake by now, right? Remember to bring her along…”
Before he could finish, Isabella cut him off, hanging up the phone with a swift motion. She blocked and deleted him without a second thought.
Joseph, my mother’s passing has severed all ties between us forever.
From this moment forward, we will never cross paths again.
As the plane roared into the sky, ascending into the clouds, the reflection in the window revealed her stoic silhouette. There were no tears to fall, only an unwavering determination propelling her forward into a new life.
Conclusion
Isabella’s journey through grief and betrayal culminated in a powerful act of self-liberation, marking the end of her ties to the Ashford family and the life she once knew. The weight of her mother’s death had initially threatened to crush her spirit, but in that moment of despair, she discovered an unexpected strength. The jade pendant, a symbol of her mother’s love, served as a talisman, reminding her of the bonds that truly mattered. As she boarded the plane to Country A, the heaviness in her heart transformed into a fierce resolve to reclaim her identity and embrace the unknown, leaving behind the shadows of her past.
In choosing to sever her connection with Joseph, Isabella not only liberated herself from a toxic relationship but also honored her mother’s memory by asserting her own worth. The echoes of her grief were replaced by the promise of a new beginning, one where she could redefine herself on her own terms. As the plane soared into the sky, she felt a sense of empowerment wash over her, a realization that she was no longer a pawn in someone else’s game. With her mother’s ashes beside her and a future waiting to unfold, Isabella stepped boldly into the horizon, ready to carve out a life filled with hope and possibility.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**
In the upcoming chapter of “Echo of Pieces,” readers can anticipate the tumultuous journey of Isabella as she ventures into the unknown realms of Country A, a land steeped in both promise and peril. With the ashes of her mother cradled close, she will grapple with the haunting memories of her past while seeking solace in a place where Joseph’s shadow cannot reach her. The emotional weight of her loss will continue to shape her thoughts, igniting a fierce determination to reclaim her identity and autonomy. As she navigates this new environment, the question of whether she can truly escape the ghosts of her past will loom large, setting the stage for a gripping exploration of resilience and rebirth.
Moreover, Isabella’s decision to sever ties with Joseph and the Ashford family will have far-reaching consequences that ripple through her new life. Will she find allies in this unfamiliar territory, or will the specter of betrayal and heartbreak continue to haunt her? The chapter promises to delve deeper into the complexities of her character, revealing her strength and vulnerability as she confronts the reality of her choices. Readers should brace themselves for unexpected encounters and revelations that could redefine Isabella’s understanding of love, loyalty, and self-worth. With each turn of the page, the tension will mount, leaving readers eager to discover whether Isabella can truly forge a new path or if the past will relentlessly pursue her.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
