That night, the realization finally hit him.


    Survival of the fittest, he thought. If you''re not strong enough, you have to learn when to back down.


    At his age, keeping his head down was just part of staying alive.


    So that night, clutching the puzzle box in his small hands, he knelt in front of Gideon for the first time and called him, "Grandpa."


    He begged Gideon to let him bury the puzzle with his father.


    Gideon, dressed in a sharp suit and sipping his Earl Grey in the armchair, looked down at him for a long, icy second before finally snapping,


    "Fine. You can put it in. But from now on, you do as I say.


    If the press ever interviews you, you do not show any resentment toward me or the Bradford family.


    And tomorrow at your father''s funeral, you will not mention your mother-not just tomorrow, but ever. No matter where you are, you keep her name out of your mouth. Wipe her from your memory.<fnab88> ?????? ???? Find[?]ovel</fnab88>


    Remember this: you''re a Bradford now. You have nothing to do with that woman Elizabeth."


    As a child, he was powerless against Gideon''s authority.


    He shook with hatred, but in the end, he had no choice but to obey.


    Only then did Gideon finally allow the puzzle to be ced into the coffin, to rest with his father.


    Lately, searching for clues about the eighth-generation virus, he found himself remembering every detail of his parents'' lives-especially that day they died.


    He kepting back to the puzzle box.


    Because, right before his father died, he''d mentioned it.


    He''d had plenty of toys growing up, but that was the only one his father ever talked about.


    It was impossible not to be suspicious.


    If his parents had really left any clues about the virus, it had to be in that box.


    Tarquin let out a long breath and pulled himself back to the present.


    He didn''t open the puzzle in front of everyone. Instead, he quietly set it aside with


    his other things and kept clearing out the coffin.


    When it was empty, Tarquin followed


    the minister''s instruct


    took Elizabeth''s ashes from Elysia, and ced them


    et to Kendricks


    s


    As the two urns sat side by side, eyes all around the gravesite grew red.


    It was respect for heroes.


    It was awe for love.


    Separated for over twenty years, finally together again.


    Maybe their lives hadn''t been perfect. Maybe there were regrets.


    But their love had found its ending.


    Together in life, together in death-never apart.


    With blessings from family and the prayers of the priests, the coffin was sealed, and new earth covered it.


    Insidey their most cherished belongings.


    A new headstone had been set, with Elizabeth''s name added and a photo of the two of them together.


    Atst, Kendrick and Elizabeth, the Bradford family''s heroes, were at peace.


    Soren took a medal and ced it on the grave himself.


    Everyone saluted, bowed their heads.


    The Bradford women watched, speechless.


    The woman they''d always looked down on was now a heroine,uded in a way they could only dream of.


    Later that day, with urgent business calling, Soren and his officers said their goodbyes. Before leaving, they personally handed Allegra and the others over to localw enforcement-never letting Tarquin get involved.  s


    If Tarquin had confronted them, it would''ve been just another family squabble.


    But when the military stepped in,


    national hero, it was on whol


    using them of ndering a


    different level.


    s


    Being wiped from the Bradford family records was the least of their troubles now.


    For them, the sky had finally fallen.