Elvis stood, his gaze deep and unwavering as he stared toward the thicket. The figure in the woods seemed to sense his scrutiny and deftly slipped behind a tree trunk.


    Seated in her wheelchair, Mari gazed at a photograph of Lily, tears streaming silently down her cheeks. She wept without a sound, her gaunt face streaked with tears, but void of sobs.


    Evadne, fearing the grief might be too much for her fragile health, moved behind her and gently ced her hands on Mari''s shoulders, offering silentfort.


    Mari''s swollen eyes trembled as she slowly pulled a brand-new teddy bear from the nket wrapped around her. Evadne was taken aback.


    The bear was identical to the one she had given Mari.


    "These teddy bears are sold out back home. I got this one abroad, following Ms. Mari''s instructions," Murray''s voice was hoarse with shared sorrow.


    Mari attempted to rise from her wheelchair, but perhaps due to lying in bed for too long, her legs wouldn''t muster the strength.


    Aaron instantly read her intent and instinctively moved forward, but it was Jareth who lifted Mari gently to the ground, his hand supporting her lower back, a sturdy pir for her to lean on.


    With a sniffle, Mari ced the teddy bear before the gravestone.


    "Lily, let this clumsy bear be me, let it keep youpany. So you won''t be lonely as you rest here."


    After the funeral, the mourners slowly departed from the cemetery.


    "Chasel!"


    Evadne caught up with Cassius and Chasel, whispering, "Could I ask a favor?"


    "We''re family, no trouble at all. Just say it," Chasel replied warmly, his fingers interlocked with Cassius'' in a subtle gesture. Cassius looked ahead, indulging Chasel''s childlike fiddling with his hand.


    "Once we''re back, could you test the medication sent by Mr. Chad? If it''s not from someone we trust, I can''t rest easy."


    "Leave it to me," Chasel patted his chest confidently.


    "Evadne, have you seen Elvis?" Arnold approached, holding Camille''s hand. "He was here a moment ago, then vanished in the blink of an eye."


    "A man that size can''t just disappear," Cassius said lightly, intertwining his fingers with Chasel''s.


    "Yeah, you see all those trees over there? Wouldn''t be surprised if he climbed one to take a nap," Evadne joked.


    Camille blinked in astonishment, "Sleeping in a cemetery? Isn''t Mr. Avery afraid of ghosts?"


    Arnold chuckled, pulling her close, "You should ask if the ghosts are afraid of him."


    Jareth helped Mari into the car and was about to join her when he heard heavy footsteps behind him. Turning, he saw Aaron standing erect.


    "Jareth."


    "No me," Jareth interrupted before Aaron could finish, his voice warm. "And I haven''t thanked you. You''ve given Mari something I never could. You taught me about love and how to love."


    Aaron watched him, tears welling up, and though his heart, wrung with guilt and self-reproach, began to beat regrly again, finding freedom from the crushing weight of his feelings.


    He couldn''t forgive himself, but the person who had every right to hate him had offered forgiveness and helped him find peace.


    "If you and Mari ever need help, remember to call me," Aaron''s voice was hoarse, his words sincere.


    "Really? Anything?" Jareth smiled, his tone equally genuine.


    Aaron grinned, "I''ll be there for your good days, with a gift in hand. Unless you forget to send an invite."


    "You are Aaron, important to her. How could you not be invited?"


    Jareth looked down, a touch embarrassed, "I just hope you''ll want toe."


    Overwhelmed, Aaron stepped forward and embraced him tightly.


    Back in the car, Mari nestled in her nket, resting against the window. Her body was weak; even the wheelchair-bound journey was taxing.


    "The ss is cold; stay away from the window."


    Jareth opened his arms, hisrge palm cradling her head, pulling her close. His chin rested on her hair as he lightly rubbed her head. The car glided smoothly toward the hospital.


    Propped against his chest, Mari felt something stiff inside. Looking up in confusion, she asked, "Am I hurting you?" Jareth hesitated, then produced Lily''s journal from his coat.


    Mari''s eyes widened in recognition. She remembered this journal-once, when Jareth was away and she couldn''t sleep, she had found Lily writing in this very pink journal, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment when she saw Mari.


    "Mari, this is Lily''s journal," Jareth said, offering it to her with a constricted breath. "I think there are things about how she felt about me. I don''t want to hide them from you."


    Mari lowered hershes, not taking the journal. Instead, she took out her phone and typed a message to show Jareth,


    [I know. Lily has always loved you.]


    Jareth''s pupils shrank, his voice dry, "Mari, how did you know? Did she tell you?"


    She shook her head gently and continued typing,


    [I spent every day with Lily. She took care of me, so I had many chances to know her. You were with her every day, too. Couldn''t you tell? When you love someone, you can''t hide it in your eyes. I''ve known for a long time.]


    Jareth''s mouth hung open in utter shock, and in that moment, he was the one who was at a loss for words.


    Yeah, no matter how much Lily hid her feelings, love wasn''t something she could keep under wraps.


    But him, topletely overlook a girl''s affection, he had never truly cared about her.


    A single tear fell onto the screen, quickly wiped away by Mari,


    [All these years, Lily was right there with you, that in itself, is a confession of love. Because to be there for someone, is the most enduring deration of love.]


    Early this morning, Elsie silently waited in the cemetery.


    She witnessed the funeral from a distance, partaking in every moment of mourning.


    Finally, sheid down a bunch of pure white chrysanthemums beside a tree.


    As she stood up, tears streaked down her cheeks.


    She knew both she and Lily were star-crossed. Even though Lily was gone, she was lucky in her own way.


    Lily''s fortune was in following a man worth her devotion and sacrifice.


    And her, from the moment she grasped Avery''s hand, it seemed her fate was


    sealed in tragedy, incapable and powerless to escape.


    As Elsie turned to leave, a warm hand caught her icy one.


    In the next second, she was pulled back forcefully, her slender back crashing into


    a chest as solid as a fortress.


    Elsie panicked, fluttering in the man''s embrace like a butterfly caught in a, struggling in vain.


    "Trying to escape?" Elvis'' voice, husky and pleasing, whispered in her flushed ear.


    "Of course."


    Pressed against him, Elsie writhed, and with every movement, the hard contours


    of the man brushed against her waist, "After all, I shouldn''t be here."


    At her words, Elvis chuckled.


    His tone teased, like toying with a butterfly, his eyes crinkling at the corners


    yfully, "Now that I''ve finally caught you, I won''t let you go without having a bit of


    fun."