Chapter 25
As soon as Dylan stepped into the mourning hall, he spotted Chester right away, his hair completely white. Violet sat there, looking blank in her wheelchair.
Dylan held a bouquet of Lilies as he stood before Mandy’s portrait, paying his quiet respects. He set the lilies in front of her photo and gazed at it, getting lost in his thoughts for a while,
His feelings for Mandy were a mess. He was grateful to her, but she’d burned five years of his life. He hated her, yet she had also been there for him financially, helping him keep his stude
But there was no bringing the dead back, and with Mandy gone, everything they had together faded away quietly.
Dylan glanced at Mandy’s portrait one last time before turning to Chester and giving him a nod. “I’m sorry about your loss, Mr. Padden”
Chester nodded back but stayed quiet
ry for your l
Then, Dylan walked over to Violet. He stared at her for a moment before quietly saying, “I’m sorry
Wolet forced a bitter smile and didn’t say anything in return.
Valerie atemporary release from prison under the guard’s watch because of Mandy’s death. She was family, after all.
After her time inside, Valerie’s tough exterior had faded away, leaving her feeling empty. She didn’t show any emotion even when she saw Dylan.
Bthe second Valerie can sign of Mandy’s portrait, she dropped to her knees, crying her heart out. “Mom!”
The guests paying their respects nearby looked away, unable to handle the sight.
Light rain started to fall on the day they laid Mandy to rest.
People from other prominent families showed up to offer their condolences. That was also the day Callum and Luna learned that Dylan had quietly returned, but they didn’t saya
trill, Dylan filled them in on everything.
Lona wrapped him in a hug. “We won’t let Violer off the hook if you were
were presumed into this
At the cemetery, Luna and Dylan huddledi
an umbrella, watching Mandy’s coffin being lower
Valerie was crying so hard that it looked like the might Laint. The resguards behind her weir holding her up rightly.
After the burial, the guests said thelt goodbyes and tricided out one by one
Dylan and Luru walked at the back, talking about their plans for the future
“Dylan,” Violet suddenly called out from behind
Dylan Farned to see her in the rain, watching him.
with me for a bir? Violet asked
Lena shot Dylan a worried look, trary to jump in and say us if he hesitated even a little.
Dylan pripped the unbrella tighter for a second, then let
The rain cattye down even harder as he walked to Violet, holding his umba Bufus rusted over, holding all over Violet while pushing her wheelchair toward the remetery
FOL
“Dylan, I don’t have a home anymore
Rufus catte to a halt. Dylan stopped and fixed his gaze on her
Mandy was ger, Valerie was looked up. Vide was left unable to walk, and Chester was to buy raising a new heir to come home for ages. He’d even been the first to bounce from the
funeral
Dylan opened his mouth, ready to say something, but the word wouldn’t come What could be possibly say? Har things always been like this between him and Violet?
Violet suddenly let out a day laugh as if she’d just thought of it, too,
“If only we could hit the reset beton,” she said.
Then she could’ve loved him fully and kept him ale with everything she hat. They wouldn’t have ended up in this situation, and the wouldn’t be staring down a future tha
Ladly, there was norure for repet
that was so empty and
With the rain muffling everything else, this was the first hand Dylan’s voice so clearly.
Dylan continued. “There are bodo we in life. All we can do is keep moving forward”
Neither of them could fuck time. They’d never get the chance to start over. This was the first time they’d spoken, ancalmly since their divorce three years ago. “Let i end this on a good note,” Dylan sald
He had mentioned that when they first met again, but all Violet could think a
dening laini bark, the didn’t realise was saying goodby
Kendy ket up
d headed for the pate. “Let’s not mert azal
Violent matchand as his figure gradually dappeared into the distance. “Goodbye. Dylan Chod ” she whispered
