The Rodriguez family didn’t have a tradition of staying upte for the Ember Festival. By the time Celeste and the others got home, Betty was already asleep,


    When Celeste went <b>upstairs</b>, the clock struck midnight.


    Her phone had been vibrating nonstop.


    Matthias, Beck, and several colleagues from YodaVision had sent her Ember Festival greetings, including Theodore and Harold.


    She replied to each of them, including Beck, before sending greetings of her own to Zachary and Lottle.


    Just then, Theodore sent another message, asking if she had time in the next few days. He mentioned that he’d been too busy with work to properly <b>thank </b>herst time, and now that he had a break, he wanted to take her out for a meal.


    After finishing her chat with Theodore<b>, </b>Celeste set down her phone and went to take a shower.


    Whether they visited or not, seeing Isabelle was always painful for the Rodriguez family.


    But on a day like this, how could they truly not go?


    Every year, on the morning of Ember Festival’s first day, Celeste and Betty would prepare a feast, pack it up, and take it to the nursing home.


    to the


    This year was no different.


    <b>Hence</b>, on the first morning of the Ember Festival, Celeste was up early.


    Betty, Ivan, and Adeline were already awake when she came downstairs.


    Seeing her, Betty and Adeline both handed her a gift box.


    Betty gently cupped Celeste’s face and said warmly, “May everything go smoothly for you this year, Cel.”


    “Thank you, Granny.”


    After breakfast, Celeste and Adeline headed into the kitchen to prepare the ingredients.


    Both Betty and Ivan were skilled cooks, but when it came to making food for Isabelle, they could <b>only </b>assist because Isabelle could always tell who made the food, and it would trigger an emotional episode.


    So, for years, <b>this </b>had always been Adeline’s task.


    Over time, as Celeste learned to <b>cook</b>, she and Adeline began splitting the work


    In truth, she had wanted to learn how to cook ever since she was a child–for Isabelle’s sake.


    But Betty wouldn’t allow it.


    Betty believed Celeste was too young. If she learned to <b>cook </b>at an early age because of Isabelle, it would mean taking on that weight far too soon.


    Celeste’s childhood had already been difficult enough. Betty wanted her to have as much happiness as <b>possible </b>without being constantly tied to the past.


    Two hourster, a table full of dishes was <b>ready</b>.


    #25 NONUS


    Chapter 2/3


    Jamie and Hector helped pack everything up.


    With the <b>Ember </b>Festival gifts in hand, the six of them <b>made </b>their way to the nursing home.


    They had also prepared small gifts for the doctors and nurses who looked after Isabelle.


    Isabelle was still as frail as ever, her eyes vacant.


    Celeste, Betty, and the others stood where Isabelle couldn’t see them, watching as she showed no reaction to the gifts the doctors had brought on their behalf.


    The nurse ced the gift box prepared by Betty in Isabelle’s hands, but she barely seemed to notice it. After ncing at it briefly, she let it fall to the floor as if it meant nothing to her.


    She had little appetite, Even with a feastid out in front of her, <b>she </b>showed no interest. Only when the nurse ced a <b>few </b>bites in her bowl did she eat.


    Before she had even sampled every dish, she lost interest and withdrew into her own world once more.


    Seeing <b>this</b>, the nurse sighed and cleared the table.


    Celeste’s eyes stung, but she held it in, not wanting to dampen the mood for others.


    But really, they all felt it.


    After spending half an hour there, they left.


    #79 BONUT