“Still scrolling through that online drama? Why bother? Isn’t it enough to simply be the Harris family’s daughter-in-law?” Sabrina added, trying to redirect her focus.
Fortunately, they had managed to shield George from the online rumors, or else Emily would have been subjected to yet another lecture from her grandfather.
Sabrina felt a sense of helplessness wash over her. No matter what Emily did, George was perpetually critical, never as pleased with her as he was with Whitney.
Yet, Emily was her daughter, the one she had nurtured and spoiled. If George wouldn’t shower her with affection, then Sabrina would have to compensate for it.
“I’m not looking anymore. Mom, let’s go,” Emily replied, determination flickering in her eyes as a plan began to form in her mind.
Three days later, Whitney stumbled upon Emily’s wedding photos plastered all over the internet.
Many assumed it was merely a PR stunt aimed at salvaging Emily’s reputation, but Whitney understood the deeper significance. Those were the very wedding gowns she had meticulously chosen for her own wedding with Carter.
She had even modeled that exact dress herself. The similarities were striking-almost identical.
Emily was flaunting her success, even if it was just through the digital realm.
Whitney smirked, her resolve hardening as she hopped into her car and drove straight to the cemetery, her heart racing with a mix of emotions.
Time slipped away, and before Whitney realized it, the memorial day had arrived.
With a bouquet of flowers in hand, she gently scattered the petals over her grandmother’s tombstone, her voice trembling as she spoke.
“Grandma, it’s me. I promise I will take care of myself,” she murmured, her heart heavy with longing.
“You don’t need to worry about me anymore, Grandma. I’ll be okay,” she whispered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
On that memorial day, Samuel arrived as expected, accompanied by Laura and Tina.
Tina observed Whitney standing in front of the tombstone, a smirk playing on her lips.
‘Who is she trying to fool, pretending to be so sad?’ Tina scoffed inwardly.
After putting on a show of paying her respects, she complained about the chill in the air and announced she was heading down the hill.
“Dad, you guys can go ahead. I want to spend a little more time with Grandma,” Whitney said softly, her voice laced with sincerity.
Samuel, knowing how close Whitney had always been to her grandmother, nodded without hesitation. “Alright, we’ll be waiting for you at the rest area down the hill,” he replied, his tone understanding.
Whitney opened her mouth, intending to suggest they didn’t need to wait, but finally nodded in agreement.
Once the three of them made their way down the hill, Whitney finally found herself alone at the grave.
Some things were simply too personal to be shared in front of her father.
She sat down beside the tombstone, speaking softly, “Grandma, I’m going to marry Klein. Do you remember him?”
A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she recalled, “He visited you at the nursing home.”
“So, Grandma, you don’t have to worry about me anymore. I’ll take care of myself, I promise. This time, I really have to go…”
Just then, her phone buzzed insistently in her bag. Glancing at the screen, she was taken aback by the name flashing there.
Klein’s voice, deep and warm, echoed through the line, “Hey, I’m back from my trip. Where are you?”
‘Speak of the devil,’ Whitney thought, her heart fluttering at the sound of his voice.
With a soft smile, she replied, “I’m at the cemetery. It’s the memorial day, so I came to visit Grandma.”
“Ah,” Klein responded, his tone relaxed. “Are you still there?”
“Yes, I’m still here,” Whitney confirmed, a sense of comfort washing over her.
“Which section are you in? I’m coming over,” Klein said, his casual demeanor making her heart race.
The easy way he spoke made her feel cherished.
“Wait… you’re here too?” Whitney asked, genuinely surprised.
“I’m at the foot of the hill. Whit, just tell me which section you’re in. I’m your soon-to-be husband. Of course, I’d come see Grandma. Don’t act so shocked,” Klein teased, his voice light and playful.
In that moment, it felt as if a weight had been lifted. The shadows that had loomed over Whitney began to dissipate, replaced by a warm glow of hope.
She mumbled, “Section Three at Fortune Lake.”
Klein let out a soft laugh, his affection palpable. “Alright, give me ten minutes. I’ll be right there.”
As Samuel and his family descended the hill, the sky above them darkened ominously, and a light drizzle began to fall. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, and the sound of raindrops pattering against the leaves added an eerie ambiance to their journey.
“Ugh, this is just so annoying! Why did it have to start raining out of nowhere?” Tina exclaimed, her voice tinged with irritation as she pulled her jacket tighter around her.
“It’s merely a drizzle, Tina. Just a little rain. We’ll be at the rest area shortly,” Laura replied soothingly, her tone laced with maternal warmth, as she tried to ease her daughter’s discontent.
Samuel glanced at his daughter, who was fidgeting with impatience, and a wave of disappointment washed over him.
*How did Laura and I, with our good natures, end up with such a spoiled and impatient daughter?* he pondered, shaking his head slightly.
*She doesn’t even act like a proper young lady,* he mused, feeling a twinge of annoyance.
Just then, his thoughts were interrupted as he caught sight of a figure in the distance, shrouded in black. The man was tall, clad in a sleek black suit, and wielding a matching black umbrella as he ascended the hill with surprising speed.
In mere moments, the figure became a mere speck against the backdrop of the rain-soaked landscape.
That silhouette seemed oddly familiar, yet before he could place it, Laura’s voice pulled him back to the present.
“Samuel, hurry up. We don’t want to catch a cold in this weather,” she urged, glancing back at him with a hint of concern in her eyes.
Reluctantly, Samuel tore his gaze away from the enigmatic figure and climbed into the car, feeling a strange unease settle in his stomach.
“Dad, are we really waiting for Whit?” Tina grumbled, her voice dripping with impatience.
Samuel shot her a sharp look, his patience wearing thin. “If you’re so eager to leave, you can always walk back on your own,” he retorted, his tone firm.
They were in a single car, after all. How would Whit manage to get home without them?
*Am I supposed to walk home alone?* Tina thought, her annoyance bubbling just beneath the surface.
With a huff, she turned her head away, sulking in her seat, her frustration palpable in the confined space.
Samuel, however, was too preoccupied with the road ahead, which led to a district where generations of the Moore family lay in eternal rest.
Suddenly, an outrageous thought crossed his mind. He pulled out his phone, his eyes glued to the image of the man’s silhouette he had just seen.
*If he merely changed his attire and hairstyle, isn’t that the same man in black I just spotted?* Samuel mused, a flicker of recognition igniting within him.
*Could that have been Klein?* he wondered, his heart racing slightly at the possibility.
“Samuel, I brought some chicken soup. Would you like to taste it?” Laura inquired softly, her voice breaking through his spiraling thoughts.
Samuel was caught off guard, a goofy grin creeping onto his face as he daydreamed.
Laura narrowed her eyes at him, suspicion creeping into her expression. Today was the memorial day marking the anniversary of his mother’s passing. There was no way Samuel should be smiling on such a somber occasion, she thought, her mind racing with concern.
*Even if he never really cared much for his mother, he always adhered to family traditions. What could possibly make him this cheerful?* Laura wondered, her brow furrowing.
“Samuel?” she called again, her voice tinged with worry.
Snapping back to reality, Samuel quickly wiped the grin from his face. “Huh? What did you just say?” he asked, his tone slightly disoriented.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.