Chapter 10
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Once the sky burial was completed, everyone left.
The vultures had long since flown away, leaving only a few scattered feathers and the faint scent of blood on the platform.
Valerie’s body had been picked clean. It was as if she had never existed in this world.
The burial specialist’s words still echoed in Shane’s ears. “The deceased was pure in life. Her soul will find peace.”
Pure? How could someone like Valerie be called pure? And yet, those words lodged in Shane’s heart like a thorn. They were impossible to ignore.
He hesitated for a long time, torn between letting the past rest or digging deeper. Just as he was about to make a call, his phone rang.
It was Fabian.
“You’ve been gone long enough. Are you coming back?” Fabian’s voice was as cold and commanding as ever.
Shane was momentarily stunned before quickly replying, “I’m on my way, Mr. Porter.”
Fabian let out a brief hum before continuing, “I’ve decided to postpone the wedding. The invitations and venue need to be arranged again. This time, it needs to be grander.”
Shane’s heart skipped a beat. The wedding was postponed?
He instinctively asked, “You’re not holding the wedding right away? Will the delay be long?”
Fabian fell silent for a moment, then replied with a hint of impatience, “Sasha hasn’t fully recovered. Delaying the wedding is better for her. You better get back here and take care of the new arrangements.”
Shane nodded, though a nagging feeling of unease crept up his spine.
Fabian’s tone was indifferent, yet Shane caught something unusual in it. Did Fabian still care about Valerie?
After hanging up the phone, Shane cast one last look at the sky and sighed inwardly.
He knew he no longer had a reason to investigate further.
Valerie was gone. Whatever secrets she had had died with her. They were buried in the snow–capped mountains.
He turned and began his journey back.
When Shane returned to Nobert City, he went straight to Fabian’s villa.
Inside the living room, Fabian and Sasha were discussing wedding details. Sasha’s face was alight with joy, while Fabian merely nodded at her suggestions.
“Welcome back, Shane,” Sasha greeted him with a bright smile. “Fab and I are going over wedding plans. Do you have any suggestions?”
Shane shook his head and replied respectfully, “Ms. Donaldson, you and Mr. Porter can make the decisions. I’ll do my best to assist.”
Sasha nodded in satisfaction before eagerly continuing, “We need a new venue. Preferably by the sea. I love the romantic ambiance. My wedding dress also needs to be redesigned. I wasn’t satisfied with the last one. And we should revise the guest list. I want to invite some friends from overseas.”
Shane took notes, but his mind was elsewhere. He occasionally glanced at Fabian and noticed that while he was sitting beside Sasha, his gaze seemed distant. He wasn’t fully engaged in the wedding discussion.
“Fab, do you have any requests?” Sasha suddenly turned to him with a smile.
Fabian snapped out of his thoughts and replied, “December 10th is a good date. Let’s have the wedding then.”
Both Sasha and Shane froze.
December 10th? That was three months away.
“That’s three months away.” Sasha frowned in displeasure. “Why wait so long? We could pick a closer date.”
Fabian looked at her. His voice was calm but firm. “It’s a good date. Having the wedding then would be better for us. Besides, you need time to recover. There’s no rush.” Sasha’s expression darkened slightly, but she forced a smile and didn’t argue further.
She turned to Shane. “What do you think?”
Shane’s heart skipped a beat. He knew Fabian’s decisions were final, but he also saw Sasha’s discontent.
Cautiously, he replied, “Mr. Potter must have his reasons. I’ll make the necessary arrangements as he requested.”
Sasha said nothing more, though: her expression remained sour.
Shifting topics, she asked, “What about our honeymoon? Where should we go? I want to go to Marteave, or maybe Solmara.”
Fabian shook his head. “Those places are too ordinary.”
Sasha pouted. “Then where do you want to go?”
Fabian hesitated briefly before answering, “Eleyburn.”
Shane’s breath caught. The pen in his hand nearly slipped from his grasp.
Eleyburn? Why would Fabian want to go there?
Valerie had chosen Eleyburn for her sky burial. But why? Had they made some kind of promise in the past?
Sasha, who was oblivious to Shane’s reaction, wrinded her nose. “Eleyburn? What’s there to see in Eleyburn? It’s cold and desolate. I don’t want to go there.”
Fabian glanced at her. His tone left no room for argument. “Eleyburn is a sacred place. I want to take you there.”
Sasha wanted to argue, but Fabian had already stood up and turned to Shane. “Come with me. There are things I need to discuss with you.”
Shane followed him upstairs, but he felt uneasy.
Chapter 10
Inside the study, Fabian went over some business matters, but his mind seemed elsewhere. Once the instructions were given, he didn’t dismiss Shane.
Shane stood still. The air was so heavy it almost felt suffocating.
Fabian remained by the floor–to–ceiling window with his back to Shane. The cigarette in his hand had burned down to the filter, yet he seemed oblivious.
Shane sensed something unspoken in the air. Carefully, he asked, “Mr. Porter, is there anything else you need me to do?”
After a long pause, Fabian finally asked, “How… is she?”
His voice was low and hoarse, as if forced out from the depths of his throat.
Shane’s chest tightened. He knew Fabian was referring to Valerie.
Although Fabian hadn’t said her name, Shane understood.
Lowering his gaze, he steadied his breathing and forced his voice to remain calm. “You told her never to appear before you again. She’s likely already left Nobert City and gone abroad.”
Fabian said nothing. He just stood there, lost in thought.
The air was thick with an oppressive silence, like the calm before a storm. Shane found it hard to breathe.
After a long time, Fabian asked again, “And how did you handle the blood donor?”
Shane’s breath caught in his throat. His mind flashed back to Valerie’s pale face.
