Early in the morning, Catherine wasid to rest in the cemetery.


    All of Catherine''s rtives, as well as neighbors close to her, came to bid her one final farewell.


    Dressed in ck, Summer and Aiden led the procession, wearing white roses on their chests.


    Mirabe stood at a distance, watching the scene unfold with a serene expression, feeling neither pain nor sorrow.


    She, too, was d in ck, her pale, thin cheeks and slender figure making her appear as if she might topple over with the slightest breeze.


    James, who was beside her, nced at her and began, "If you want to go..."


    Before he could finish, Mirabe, as if guessing what he was about to say, interrupted, "Actually, it''s nice to just send Grandma off this way."


    She hadn''t made it in time to be there at the end, and now that Catherine was beingid to rest, she preferred to let her go in peace.


    If she did show up in front of Mandy and the others, it would likely lead to arguments.


    She had no desire to dispute anything with the Gilbert family.


    Seeing this, James simply agreed.


    ...


    Catherine''s funeral was a simple affair,sting less than half an hour. After everyone paid their respects, they went their separate ways.


    Summer took off the white rose from her chest and ced it on the steps in front of the tombstone. Her gaze briefly swept over the photo on the tombstone before she quickly looked away.


    Mandy, who hadn''t noticed Summer''s actions, also removed her white rose, nced at her watch, and said, "Let''s go, Summer, or you''ll miss your flight."


    Summer nodded but then paused as if remembering something and looked around.


    "What are you looking at?" Mandy asked, puzzled.


    "Nothing," Summer replied, turning her gaze back. "Just wondering why Mirabe didn''te to the funeral today."


    At the mention of Mirabe, Mandy''s expression soured. "The ingrate, better she didn''te."


    Otherwise, she feared she wouldn''t be able to resist publicly berating her.


    Summer pressed her lips together, saying nothing more, and turned to leave the cemetery.


    Aiden, who had been quiet until now,


    followed behind Mandy and


    Summer. The events of the past year had matured him, the once reckless and extravagant boy now more silent and reserved.


    After a few steps, he stopped and called out to Mandy, "Mom, go ahead without


    me. I want to spend a bit more time with Grandma."


    Mandy looked back at him, "This ce is filled with gloom, why stay any longer?"


    Aiden simply nodded silently.


    Summer also paused, looking back at Aiden. In the past six months, ber brother had indeed be more sensible, no longer picking fights with her. Despite the changes, she still couldn''t feel close to him.


    Checking her watch, Summer simply said, "Mom, I''ll go ahead then."


    Realizing Summer was leaving, Mandy didn''t linger on her younger son, telling him to take a taxi home before hurrying to catch up with Summer.


    Soon, Aiden was the only one left in the quiet cemetery.


    He hugged himself, feeling a bit scared but eventually turned back and found a ce to hide.


    *


    Not long after, Mirabe arrived at Catherine''s grave, staring at the photo on the tombstone that bore a slight smile. Her expression turned somewhat distant.


    Even after three days, the loss was still hard to ept.


    Mirabe looked up, standing quietly for a while before gently cing the flowers


    down. Straightening up, she softly said, "Come out."