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Chloe opened the closet, carefully picking out a suit for lan to be cremated in. With her back turned to Patrick, she didn’t say a single word.
She admitted to herself that she had become colder, almost unfeeling. But she hadn’t always been that way.
Chloe and lan were both Scorpios. There was one dangerous thing they shared–passionate when they cared, ruthless when they stopped.
Chloe picked out one of the most formal suits for Ian, her movements careful, making sure every detail was perfect.
Patrick said softly, “It’s your choice not to forgive him. Nobody has the right to judge you, so don’t let it weigh on your mind p>
Chloe just nodded, without a trace of emotion on her face. They returned to the Old Hamilton Manor. No one felt like sleeping. Everyone was waiting for the cremation the next morning, the final goodbye to Ian.
Patrick said in a low voice, “Once Ian’s body is taken out of the cooler, his face will start to change. Miranda really can’t handle seeing that. You should talk to her, try to persuade her not to go to the ceremony p>
Chloe answered, “I’m not going either. I’ll stay back with Miranda. Just give me a call after the cremation’s done, and I’ll take her to the cemetery p>
At the doorway of Miranda’s room, Arthur was about to head out. “Carl’s flying out tomorrow morning. I’ll go see him off p>
Chloe zipped up Arthur’s jacket for him. “Thanks, Mr. Logan p>
Arthur shot her an exasperated look. “Hey, it’s what friends are for. I’m off p>
After Arthur left, Chloe headed into the kitchen. She cooked up some Mac and Cheese to give Miranda a bit of strength, gently encouraging her to have a few bites before scooping out a small bowl for Mia.
In the side hall on the first floor, Chloe found Mia looking utterly drained and heartbroken.
Chloe didn’t know how to comfort her. She said, “You’ve got a long day ahead of you tomorrow. Try to eat a little, okay? You need to keep your strength up p>
Mia still didn’t take the bowl from Chloe. Her eyes, rimmed with red, gazed at Chloe as she asked, “Tomorrow is Grandpa and Ian’s funeral. Are you going to say goodbye to lan one last time p>
The two of them locked eyes. Chloe shook her head. Seeing Chloe’s answer, Mia turned away, refusing to look at her again.
Chloe placed the bowl on the table, exchanged a brief, silent glance with Patrick, then left the side hall
without another word.
‘When someone dies, they’re really just gone. Whether I see him for the last time or not–what difference does it make now?‘ Chloe thought.
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After Chloe left, Mia just couldn’t hold it in anymore; tears streamed down her face as she cried. “If lan can see us from wherever he is now, I know she’s the one he’d want to see more than anyone p>
Patrick helped Mia sit down, switching her shoes for slippers so she could rest her tired feet.
Mia held onto Patrick’s arm, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe. “Patrick, you know how Ian was. He was just as stubborn as Grandpa and Dad.
“Since we were kids, Ian always used to scare me with tough talk. He’d threaten to cut off my card, stop my allowance, even send me abroad. But he never meant it. He just wanted to scare me a little. I knew he loved.
“It was the same with Chloe. Yeah, he messed up, but whatever he did to Chloe–it was all just to scare her, he never actually went through with anything. He wasn’t really out to hurt her.
“I get why Chloe can’t forgive him, I really do. But now he’s dead… Why won’t she even come see him one last time? Just a goodbye p>
Patrick pulled Mia into his arms, giving her something solid to hold onto. He spoke softly, “Mia, Chloe and Ian have been strangers for a long time now. She’s only here because she cares about you and Miranda, not for Ian p>
It sounded harsh, but it was the truth. Mia was drowning in grief, and for a while she forgot what was real. Deep down, though, she knew Patrick was right.
Just as dawn was breaking, the first rain of winter started to fall over Kingsford. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to get everything wet.
By the time daylight flooded the house, the Old Hamilton Manor was crowded with guests. Chloe stayed with Miranda, never once stepping outside the room.
Everyone who came to visit Miranda glanced at Chloe–some with bitterness, some with disgust, some with pity, and some just sighed.
Chloe kept her head down, taking it all in silence. Only after the guests had left did she step out of the room for some air.
When Miranda noticed Chloe hadn’t come back for a while, she forced herself out of bed to go find her.
Chloe was out in the covered walkway by the door, wind blowing the rain inside and soaking half her clothes and hair. Her face was all wet now; no one could tell if it was rain or if she’d been crying.
Miranda saw Chloe standing there, facing southwest–staring off in the direction of the crematorium, lost in her own world. Tears filled Miranda’s eyes as she turned away and went back into her room.
Two hours later, Chloe got a call from Patrick. She accompanied Miranda to the cemetery. The whole way there, Miranda didn’t speak or cry, her gaze empty and unfocused. Chloe could feel the deafening weight of Miranda’s grief, even in her utter silence.
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The car pulled up at the base of the hill. Chloe helped Miranda out, and right away, their relatives and friends -who’d been waiting for them–hurried over to support Miranda.
Chloe just froze in place, silently watching as Miranda was carefully helped up the slope. Before Chloe even noticed, a black umbrella appeared overhead, blocking out the rain. She turned and saw Philip standing beside her.
Philip was in a sharp black suit, his face set in a solemn expression. “Let’s go. I’ll walk up with you p>
They climbed the stone steps side by side, slowly reaching a spot halfway up the hillside. From where Chloe stood, she saw a dense, dark crowd gathered ahead.
The Hamilton family released the news last night: [Hamilton Group CEO Ian Hamilton died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Edward Hamilton couldn’t take the shock and passed away as well p>
All of lan’s medical records before his death were kept strictly confidential, and the truth behind Edward’s death was hidden from everyone.
The blow was devastating for the rest of the Hamilton family, leaving them utterly broken.
After the Hamilton and Weasley families discussed it, they decided the funeral would be quick and simple. In fact, the bodies were cremated without even a single day’s delay.
To everyone’s shock, all the movers and shakers from politics and business showed up, and even royalty from other countries flew in overnight.
One could really see just how terrifyingly powerful the Hamilton family was, and how tangled the web of connections Ian had built up had become.
When Chloe heard Miranda’s wrenching sobs, she quietly turned away.
Time crawled by, every second passing in a slow, heavy silence. In the end, Miranda’s strength gave out; she collapsed in front of Ian’s gravestone.
Mia completely broke down facing that cold, silent tombstone. She fell in front of Ian’s grave, clutching it as she sobbed uncontrollably, refusing to leave. “Ian, you promised me. You said we’d go on a family trip at the end of the year.
‘Didn’t we pinky swear on it? You liar. Wake up, Ian. Come on, get up p>
In the end, Patrick had no choice but to pick Mia up and carry her away,
Chloe stayed put right there until afternoon had passed, waiting for the very last person to leave before she finally moved.
Philip held out a bouquet of funeral flowers to Chloe. “Here p>
Chloe accepted it. She walked toward lan’s grave.
Behind her, Philip remained where he was, quietly giving her space.
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Chloe crouched beside lan’s headstone and left the bouquet. She just stared at Ian’s photo–young, handsome, and all too serious.
“lan, we’re even, Chloe murmured. She straightened up, standing over his grave. “If we ever meet again in heaven, let’s just pretend we’re strangers p>