Chapter 90: Anniversary


    Finally, this day came around again this year. Today is the death anniversary of my dear mother. As per


    the custom of the house, everyone in the mansion was dressed head-to-toe in ck today as a sign of


    mourning and remembrance of my mother. I woke up at dawn to shower and get dressed. Reiner and


    Laura helped me get dressed in a long silk ck dress that was matched with a big ck bow


    headband. ck patent leather mid-heel shoespleted the look. The absolute must-have essory


    for today are big and ck sunsses. The bigger the better to cover my swollen eyes when I cry. I cry


    every year; this year won’t be any different.


    Today, Lucien and I will visit my mother’s grave which was located on a hilltop in the outskirts. Due to


    family politics, my mother was notid to rest in the Rosenhall’s family graveyard. I’m sure she is much


    happier where she is now rather than being buried underground forever amongst the dead and gone


    Rosenhalls. Usually, it would just be Lucien and I on this day trip, but this year Reiner was joining us


    because Lucien had requested for him to drive.


    I met Lucien in the sitting room as we prepared for our departure. The atmosphere was solemn at best


    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    and as always, this day seem to hit Lucien hard. Lucien also wore ck from head to toe. ck suit,


    shirt, pants, necktie, belt, and shoes. Everything about him was ck and dark today including his


    mood. The only thing that had color in him was his green eyes. Wordlessly we got inside the back of


    Lucien’s ck Rolls-Royce.


    The journey was long, but no one spoke a word during the whole ride. Lucien held my hand all the way


    and silently our presenceforted each other. I’m sure that during the ride to my mother grave,


    Lucien must have been recalling memories he shared with her simr to how I reyed the happy days


    I had with her in my mind. I really miss you, mother. I’m about to start crying already, and we’re not


    even at her grave yet. It never gets any easier.


    …


    As Natalia recalled her precious memories with her mother, Lucien was thinking of his future with


    Natalia. Natalia was twenty-two now and a young woman already, Lucien thought to himself as he kept


    his eyes forward. Lucien had been sleepless for a few nights already as he antagonized about how he


    should tell Natalia the truth. He probably couldn’t tell her everything all at once, but slowly over time he


    had hoped to slowly tell her parts of the truth. Today is an important day for her to remember her


    mother, it is the perfect day to tell her the truth about her mother.


    I wonder how she will react. Would she even believe me in the first ce?


    …


    After around two hours in the car, we arrived at my mother’s grave. Reiner opened the door for us with


    a bow as he took my hand to help me out of the car.


    “Reiner, please wait here,” Lucien instructed. Reiner nodded and bowed before closing the car door.


    From here, we had to walk by foot up the hill a little in order to get to the tombstone. Lucien had chosen


    this hill so that my mother would have a view from the top of the city nearby and the nature. Even my


    mother’s final resting ce must have been chosen with so much love and care by Lucien. I felt sorry


    for Lucien that my mother passed away too soon; he was and perhaps still is, clearly heartbroken.


    Lucien held my hand firmly in his as he supported me up the slightly uphill path towards my mother’s


    grave. Soon we arrived at our destination. For a grave that was located in such a remote area, it was


    well kept in order. Thanks to a family that lived near here who had agreed to take care of my mother’s


    grave in exchange for a fee.


    Lucien and I ced our bouquet of flowers onto her grave before we knelt down to pray silently. I


    usually had many things that I wanted to tell my mother whenever I visited her here. However, this year,


    I didn’t know what to tell her. There were so many things that I’ve done that I’m sure she wouldn’t be


    too proud of. For example, having sex with the handsome man next to me, who was her ex-husband,


    although I knew that he was about to marry someone else.


    I’m a terrible daughter and I don’t have anything to say for myself. I love you, mum. I want to believe


    that your decision to ce me under Lucien’s care was the right one. I will not run away from anyone or


    anything, so just watch over me. Ok?


    I got up to my feet when I was done. Lucien was already done and was standing silently while he


    waited for me to finish. Now we stood side by side and he took my cold hand into his. The wind blew


    around us on the mountain top and the view was breathtakingly beautiful. I closed my eyes as I took


    deep breaths of the fresh air that nature had to offer.


    ncing over at Lucien, I made up my mind to ask him the questions I’ve had on my mind for a while.


    We were standing in front of my mother’s grave, so it seemed like the right time and ce to ask him.


    “Lucien, may I ask you a few questions?” I said to him softly and slowly as I tugged at his hand a little.


    “Sure,” he replied as he smiled at me. I wonder if he would still be smiling after he’d heard my question.


    “You’re going to marry Ang, right? Do you…really love her?” I asked firmly without hesitation.


    Enough putting it off, I needed to know right now.


    Lucien was quiet as he thought it over a bit.


    --To be continued...