Chapter 106
He led them up the mountain, chattering on about the past few years.
"Mr. Perkins has been sending us money all along, asking us to keep the Arden family graves well-maintained and to replace the flowers regularly."
"He specifically instructed us to place a bouquet of daisies at Miss Arden's grave every single day."
He glanced at Evelyn, hesitating, but ultimately said nothing more.
The love and hate of the younger generation—what business was it of outsiders to comment?
"Thank you. And please thank the previous caretaker as well for looking after our family's graves all this time and for keeping my secret." Evelyn thanked him sincerely.
"It's our duty." The caretaker's son gave a shy smile. "Miss Arden, thanks to your help, my father's illness has been well treated. We're very grateful too."
Before long, they arrived at the Arden family plot.
Five headstones stood quietly in place.
Grandfather. Grandmother. Father. Her own cenotaph. And the one erected during her mother's staged death.
Now, her mother would truly rest here.
Evelyn knelt before the headstones.
Carefully, she placed the urn into the grave, scooped up a handful of earth, and slowly let it fall.
The dirt landed on the box with a dull thud.
"Rest now, Mom," she whispered. "With Grandpa, Grandma, and Dad by your side, the road ahead won't be hard anymore."
As she spoke, tears began to fall.
Chloe and Caleb stood nearby, watching quietly with wide, uncomprehending eyes.
They didn't yet understand what death meant—they just stood in silence, not making a sound.
Evelyn wiped her tears and pulled the two children forward.
"This is your great-grandfather. This is your great-grandmother," she said, pointing to each gravestone in turn. "This is your grandfather. This is your grandmother. They're all our family."
Chloe and Caleb bowed solemnly, calling out to each one.
Evelyn's tears came again, unbidden.
A breeze swept in from the sea, carrying the salty tang of the tide. It brushed over the gravestones, over her face.
She closed her eyes and said silently, 'I brought the children to see you. Don't worry. I'll be okay.'
The wind stopped.
She opened her eyes and stood.
"Let's go," she said. "Time to head back."
After returning from the cemetery, Evelyn checked into a hotel with the children.
Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened.
Seaside City's nights were much quieter than those in City A. Only the occasional distant sound of a ship's horn, low and resonant, broke the silence.
Evelyn sat on the edge of the bed, staring out the window, lost in thought.
Her mother's ashes had returned to their homeland. Her mother was finally at peace. But her own heart still felt hollow.
"Mama, don't be sad." Chloe had climbed onto the bed at some point and nestled into Evelyn's lap. "I'll hug you."
She stretched out her short little arms and wrapped them around Evelyn's neck, pressing her cheek against her mother's.
On the other side, a small hand quietly reached over and rested on Evelyn's waist.
Caleb said nothing. He just buried his face in the crook of her arm and leaned against her in silence.
Evelyn's heart ached and warmed at the same time. She gently patted both children. "How about tomorrow Mama takes you to the aquarium to see jellyfish?"
"Yes!" Chloe immediately raised her hand, her eyes sparkling like stars.
Caleb nodded too, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.
"It's late. Time for bed." Evelyn tucked both children under the covers, one on each side, and lay down in the middle.
Chloe fell asleep quickly, still clutching the hem of Evelyn's shirt.
Caleb closed his eyes too, his long lashes resting against his cheeks, his breathing gradually evening out.
Evelyn stared at the ceiling for a while, dazed, before she too drifted off.
Early the next morning, Evelyn dressed the two children in matching blue sibling outfits.
Chloe's dress was embroidered with a little fish. Caleb's T-shirt had a small crab printed on it.
The aquarium in Seaside City wasn't large, but it had everything.
Jellyfish, clownfish, starfish, hermit crabs—each neatly displayed in glass tanks under dreamlike lighting.
Chloe pressed her face almost against the glass, her eyes wide and round. "Mama! It's moving! It's so pretty!"
Caleb stood beside her, not as animated, but his eyes were bright, too.
Though they'd grown up on an island, they'd never been in the ocean.
These sea creatures felt like something from another world.
Logan followed behind them, offering serious explanations. "This is a peach blossom jellyfish. See the tentacles around the edge of its bell? Don't they look like peach blossom petals?"
Chloe nodded vigorously.
"That's a moon jellyfish. Its body is almost completely transparent—like the moon."
Caleb tilted his head and stared for a long while before suddenly speaking. "It doesn't have a brain."
Logan blinked, then smiled. "That's right. Jellyfish don't have brains. But they've been living on Earth for a very long time—even before the dinosaurs."
Caleb nodded thoughtfully and went back to staring at the jellyfish.
Evelyn stood off to the side, watching Logan get bombarded with questions from the two kids. She couldn't help but smile.
Logan was getting better and better at this—keeping the little ones captivated.
Her phone rang.
She glanced at the caller ID, gestured to the bodyguard to keep an eye on the children, and stepped aside to answer.
"Is this Miss Arden? Chloe's artwork has been selected for this charity donation exhibition. It's scheduled to be displayed in City A in about a week."
"That's wonderful." Evelyn's voice brightened. "Thank you. Is there anything we need to do on our end?"
"I'll send you the details by email."
After hanging up, Evelyn couldn't suppress her smile.
She stood in front of a massive jellyfish tank, bathed in colorful lights.
The jellyfish drifted slowly, their bells opening and closing like tiny parachutes.
The dreamlike glow fell over her, softening the lines of her profile.
She didn't notice that this beautiful scene had been captured on video by a passing blogger.
After a full morning, both children were exhausted and had fallen asleep.
Caleb was draped over Evelyn's shoulder, his lashes like two little fans.
Chloe leaned against Logan, mouth slightly open, drool soaking into his collar.
Evelyn helped the children into the car and said to Logan, "Take them back to rest. I have something to take care of—I'm meeting an old friend. I'll be back later."
Logan nodded and got into the car with Pearl.
Evelyn watched the car drive off, then pulled out her phone and called a ride.
"Old district. The alley where the Arden Villa is."
The alley hadn't changed.
Betty's noodle shop had its door open. Steam drifted out from the window, mingling with the rich aroma of bone broth.
Evelyn pushed the door open and immediately spotted Ronald sitting by the window.
He was thinner than he'd been three years ago, his chin sharper, but his eyes were still gentle.
When he saw her, he stood up. There was warmth in his gaze—and something deeper, harder to name.
"Eve... are you okay?" Ronald's voice was soft.
Evelyn nodded. "Everything's fine."
She paused. "I didn't reach out before because I was afraid of exposing myself. I'm sorry I made you worry."
After returning to the country, she'd quietly contacted Ronald.
That's when he learned the truth—that the accident had been staged, that she was alive, and that she now had two children.
The two of them ate noodles slowly, then sat and talked for a long time.
By the time the sky began to darken, Evelyn remembered the children were still waiting for her at the hotel. "Ron, I need to head back. Take care of yourself."
Ronald stood and looked at her earnestly. "Eve, if you ever need anything, just say the word. You know I'm always here."
Warmth spread through Evelyn's chest. "I know."