Dylan bent forward before Mrs. Bennett’s memorial portrait and struck his forehead against the floor three times with enough force that each impact echoed through the silent funeral hall.

His shoulders trembled. A tear slipped free and fell heavily onto the cold ground below.

Whether it was silent repentance, unbearable grief, or a grandson’s belated devotion, only Dylan himself knew the answer.

Across the hall, Elise lifted her gaze to the portrait.

The black-and-white photograph captured Mrs. Bennett exactly as she had always been in life. Her smile was warm and gentle, while her eyes carried the wisdom of nearly a century spent loving, enduring, and giving.

The only regret she had carried with her into eternity was likely the one wish she never lived long enough to see fulfilled.

She had wanted to meet her great-grandchild. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Elise lowered a hand to her abdomen. The gesture was instinctive and tender.

In her heart, she spoke to the woman who could no longer hear her.

Grandma, if you’re watching from above, please protect this child. Keep them safe. When they’re old enough, I’ll bring them to visit you.

The thought brought another memory rushing forward.

Robin.

Mrs. Bennett’s first great-grandson.

At least before she died, she had been able to acknowledge him and know him as family. Perhaps because of that, her departure was not entirely without comfort. Perhaps one cherished wish had still been granted.

Elise slowly withdrew her gaze.

Then she turned toward Susan.

"Susan, I’ll leave this to you."

The older woman wiped tears from her face and hurried over, accepting several flowers from Elise’s hands.

Elise rose to her feet. The long vigil had left exhaustion woven into every movement.

Crossing the hall, she stopped beside Mrs. Lander.

"Dylan is back now," she said softly. "I’ll be leaving."

Mrs. Lander’s eyes were red and swollen.

She nodded immediately.

"Madam, it’s very late. Shall I have a driver take you home?"

"There’s no need. Someone is already coming for me."

Mrs. Lander understood and said nothing further.

Elise took out her phone and called Zoey. After ending the call, she quietly stepped outside to wait.

August was nearing its end.

The nights in North City had begun to carry the first traces of autumn’s chill.

Mournful funeral music drifted through the darkness.

The entire funeral home seemed wrapped in sorrow, every corner steeped in grief and silence.

Standing beneath the pale glow of a fluorescent lamp, Elise looked almost fragile.

The harsh white light illuminated her features while shadows pooled beneath her lowered lashes.

She stood perfectly still, like a figure carved from loneliness itself.

A few minutes later, Aaron stepped outside as well.

Officially, he had come out for a cigarette. In reality, he had come looking for her.

The cigarette rested between his lips but remained unlit.

For a long while, neither of them spoke. Eventually, Elise turned her head and looked at him.

"When did you come back?"

Aaron flinched. He removed the cigarette and cleared his throat.

"Last week."

Elise gave a slight nod. "Leaving again?"

"No." A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "My parents are getting older. Ever since my sister got married, they’ve started pressuring me to settle down too."

Elise nodded again.

Silence stretched between them once more.

Aaron tucked the cigarette behind his ear and slipped one hand into his pocket.

His gaze lingered on her, soaking in her appearance.

Five years had changed Elise more than anyone realized.

She was thinner now. The brightness that had once filled her eyes had faded. When she wasn’t speaking, a quiet distance surrounded her, making her seem untouchable.

The Elise he remembered had been radiant and fearlessly alive. She loved fiercely, hated fiercely, and never hid either emotion. Everyone in their circle knew that about her.

She had always been the kind of person who gave her whole heart or nothing at all.

The kidnapping had shattered something fundamental inside her.

Aaron understood that better than most.

He knew the coldness she presented to the world was nothing more than armor.

Behind closed doors, beyond the reach of curious eyes, she was still fighting battles no one else could see.

She was surviving a private hell.

He also understood why she had become distant from him.

It wasn’t because he had done anything wrong. It was because she had already decided to sever every connection linking her to Dylan.

Sooner or later, everyone and everything associated with Dylan would be erased from her life.

One memory at a time.

A pair of headlights suddenly swept across the funeral home’s entrance.

The brightness forced Aaron to narrow his eyes and raise a hand to shield them.

"My ride is here." Elise looked toward the approaching vehicle. "You can handle things here from now on."

She started walking forward.

Then Aaron’s voice stopped her.

"Elise."

She paused.

"Today was an accident. Dylan never wanted this to happen."

For a moment, she stood perfectly still.

Then she opened the car door and drew in a slow breath before turning back around.

The headlights illuminated her slender figure.

Bathed in white light, she seemed impossibly distant.

Several meters separated them, yet the distance between their worlds felt infinitely greater.

Her eyes settled on Aaron again.

"The outcome is the only thing that matters." Her voice was neither angry nor bitter––only exhausted. "Everything that happened today was the result of Dylan’s choices."

A faint breeze stirred her dark hair.

"I stayed because of Grandma. Because of the bond I shared with her."

She lifted her chin slightly.

"I did everything I believed was right. My conscience is clear, and that is enough for me."

The corners of her lips curved into a smile that never reached her eyes.

"As for everything else, it has nothing to do with me anymore."

Aaron opened his mouth, somewhat shocked.

Perhaps he intended to defend Dylan. Perhaps he wanted to reveal something. Perhaps he wanted to beg her not to give up completely.

He never got the chance.

Elise stepped into the car and the door closed with a muted click.

In an instant, the barrier of glass and steel cut off Aaron’s view.

The vehicle pulled away almost immediately.

There was no hesitation. No lingering glance. No farewell.

Just as she had once walked away from the Bennett family, Elise disappeared into the darkness without looking back, leaving behind only the fading glow of taillights and a silence that felt heavier than any goodbye.