"What are you doing?" Ada demanded, her voice tight with worry. "I heard all about it-Dn and ra are married now. Simon, you haven''t been yourselftely. The way you look at me... honestly, it scares me. Maybe you can''t let go of ra yet, but if you just left Manhattan for a year or two, you could have any woman you want. Didn''t your grandfather arrange for you to help run the Chicago branch as vice president?"


    Simon''s jaw clenched, anger flickering across his face. He leaned forward and snapped at the driver, "Pull over. Now."


    The driver flinched, panic in his eyes. "Sir, we''re on the highway-I can''t just stop here."


    Simon started to climb toward the front, but Ada grabbed his arm, holding him back with all her strength.


    "Simon! Are you really going to fight Dn for a woman? Do you honestly think you can win against him? What do you even have topete with?"


    Her words stung, cutting right through him. All his life, Simon-and every Ferguson kid—had lived in Dn''s shadow. Losing ra to Dn was already enough to make him hate his cousin. He never expected his own mother to tear him down like this.


    Simon let out a bitter, twistedugh. Without warning, he lunged forward and grabbed the steering wheel from the driver.


    The car swerved violently. The driver screamed, "Mr. Simon! We''re on the highway! We''ll crash!"


    Ada''s face went white. She tried to pull Simon back, but she was no match for his strength.


    The car shot off the bridge, plunging straight into the dark, cold water below.


    Simon knew how to swim. He made it to the surface almost immediately, gasping for air, but the driver and Ada were trapped inside, struggling as the car started to sink.


    Simon dragged himself up onto the muddy riverbank, his mind spinning and unfocused. A voice in his head urged him to save Ada-she was his mother, after all. But another, colder voice whispered, Let her go. She''s only ever held you back.


    He stared at the sinking car, frozen, then suddenly copsed onto the ground, numb and motionless, like someone had pulled the plug on his body.


    The crash was quickly discovered by other drivers. Some people wanted to jump in and help, but the car sank too fast-it was already gone by the time anyone could do anything.


    The river here ran deep, over sixty meters, connecting Manhattan to the next city. Rescue teams arrived quickly, but by the time divers got there, the car had already vanished into the depths. The people inside were surely gone. Now, all they could do was send divers down to bring up the bodies.


    Simon didn''t move or say a word the entire time. Everyone nearby just assumed he was in shock, too devastated to speak.


    News of the ident reached the Ferguson family almost immediately. Word was, Simon had crashed on his way to the other city, and Ada had died.


    Walter, the family patriarch, sighed


    dd called Simon, instructiet


    him


    Ada''s funeral arrangements.


    On the drive back, Simon just stared nkly out the window, silent. The men sent


    by Walter spoke gently, their tone full of sympathy.


    "Mr. Walter never wanted things to turn out like this. Don''t me him, Simon it was your father who first suggested you go to the other city probably just didn''t want you causing trouble in Manhattan."


    Simon''s lips twisted into a strange, empty smile. Suddenly, he started tough, low and broken.


    The driver nced at him in the rearview mirror, uneasy. He figured Simon was just overwhelmed with grief.


    Ada''s death was so abrupt that the Fergusons decided to hold a big, formal funeral for her.


    That night, Simon stared up at the pitch-ck sky, rubbing his tired face as if trying to wake himself up.


    When the Warren family heard about Ada''s passing, they canceled Tara''s wee party and sent people over to offer their condolences.


    Walter showed up at Simon''s ce, finding him sitting there, silent and dazed. He let out a heavy sigh.


    "Simon, everyone has their own fate."


    Simon gave a weak, empty smile.


    It had only been six hours since Ada died. Now it was ten at night, and the rest of the Ferguson family had gathered.


    Leaning on his cane, Walter sighed again. "Tomorrow, let''s have everyonee together for her funeral. Onest goodbye."


    ет


    Ada''s body had already been sent for cremation that night-she''d be buried in the morning. The new year


    had just begun; they couldn''t keep the body at home.


    Simon''s eyshes fluttered. For the first time, it seemed like he was actually present. "Okay."


    Walter gently patted his shoulder. "If you don''t want to go to Chicago right now, then don''t. Stay home, keep your mompany."


    Simon startedughing again-soft at first, then uncontroble.


    Everyone exchanged worried nces. They all thought he''d finally snapped from grief.