Joanna Sherman’s face flushed red, then turned green, then purple. Her pretty features were twisted into an ugly, unrecognizable mask.

Yvonne Sherman promptly pulled her arm, giving her a warning shake of the head.

Only then did Joanna Sherman manage to squeeze a few words through her teeth. "Thank you for the advice, Mrs. Grant."

Unable to stay for another second, she stalked toward the door, filled with burning hatred. Her heels struck the floor with added force.

Sophia Shaw watched the family scurry away in disgrace, and the tightness in her chest finally began to ease.

She looked at Old Mrs. Grant gratefully.

She had to admit, the way Old Mrs. Grant had dealt with Chad Jennings and the Sherman women was incredibly satisfying.

"Faye."

Old Mrs. Grant beckoned to her.

Sophia Shaw walked over and placed her hand in the matriarch’s palm, murmuring, "Thank you, Grandma."

Old Mrs. Grant squeezed her fingers affectionately. "I wasn’t exaggerating one bit just now. That Joanna Sherman just doesn’t cut it!"

’That damned Vincent! He has a pearl right in his hand but refuses to cherish it, insisting instead on picking up a pile of crap and burning money on it.’

With everyone’s attention on the pair, Old Mrs. Grant’s favoritism toward Sophia Shaw was obvious.

The more perceptive guests immediately understood that Sophia Shaw’s position in this family was considerable.

’They would have to be very respectful the next time they met her.’

Quite a few people also wanted to ask Old Mrs. Grant who this girl, supposedly far more capable than Joanna Sherman, was.

However, they knew this was a high-level secret. Since Old Mrs. Grant hadn’t named her, it meant the information wasn’t for public knowledge, so they had to suppress their curiosity.

"Grandma, did Mom... really leave last words like that?" Lena Grant asked tentatively.

Old Mrs. Grant simply smiled without answering, continuing to pat Sophia Shaw’s hand.

"Oh," Lena Grant said, a look of understanding dawning on her face.

’That explained it,’ she thought. ’Her mother was busy being furious with their father right up until her death. How would she have found the time to worry about Sophia Shaw?’

’Even if Grandma had fabricated it in her mother’s name, she was still thrilled!’

Sophia Shaw, of course, understood as well. She leaned her head on the matriarch’s shoulder.

A tear soaked through the fabric of the matriarch’s clothes.

’If Old Mrs. Grant hadn’t protected her, Vincent Grant and Cedric Grant would have utterly humiliated her, making her the laughingstock of the entire family!’ 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The men of the Grant family returned from handling the arrangements, and shortly thereafter, Skye Sutton’s body was sent for cremation.

After the cremation, Miles Grant, as the eldest son, stood at the front of the procession, holding the urn.

Julian Grant, as her husband, stood beside the urn-bearer to lead the way.

Behind Miles Grant were Shane Grant and Vincent Grant, in that order.

On Miles Grant’s other side were the female relatives: his wife Eleanor Crawford, then his eldest sister Claire Grant. Sophia Shaw stood in the same row as her husband, Vincent Grant.

Behind them were Lena Grant and her husband.

After them were Skye Sutton’s brothers and their families.

At the very end were the men from the collateral branches of the clan, and also Cedric Grant.

As an elder, it was not customary for Old Mrs. Grant to attend the burial procession, so she remained at the funeral home.

Old Master Grant had only managed to rush back today. He paid a hasty farewell to his daughter-in-law and left again in a jeep.

Old Mrs. Grant stood on the second-floor veranda of the funeral home, watching her daughter-in-law’s procession depart. Seeing the line of people snaking its way up the mountainside in the distance, she felt a profound sense of relief.

’Julian Grant had been ensnared by Skye Sutton’s obsession his entire life; he’d never had a single day of peace.’

’Thinking of this son of hers, her heart couldn’t help but ache with pity.’

’Skye Sutton, a young woman from a respectable scholarly family, should never have crossed paths with Julian Grant.’

’At the time, Julian Grant was already in love with a woman from the military.’

’If things had proceeded as they should have, he would have married her and started a family.’

’The tragedy began with a training exercise.’

’Julian Grant had been assigned as a drill instructor to the all-women’s university that Skye Sutton was attending.’

’A man in his early twenties, heroic and dashing with sharp, handsome features, he instantly captivated a throng of the young women.’

’Skye Sutton was one of them.’

’But compared to the other girls, who were aggressive and tried every possible way to get his attention, her affection was discreet.’

’She remained silent, content to simply watch him from afar.’

’When Julian Grant publicly admitted he had a girlfriend, the other young women, though disappointed, were willing to give up.’

’Only the quietest one, Skye Sutton, buried her feelings deep in her heart.’

’Later, Julian Grant and the woman he loved participated in an international relief mission together.’

’Tragically, the woman was kidnapped by insurgents.’

’When Julian Grant went to rescue her, he discovered that Skye Sutton had also been taken captive and was tied up with her.’

’Given the circumstances, he could only save one of them.’

’Julian Grant chose to save his girlfriend, who was in greater peril.’

’By the time he returned for Skye Sutton, she had been gang-raped by the insurgents.’

’Saving his girlfriend’s life had come at the cost of ruining another young woman’s.’

’Julian Grant was consumed by guilt.’

’He went to the hospital to visit Skye Sutton, who made only one demand: he had to marry her.’

’When Julian Grant refused, she slit her wrists right then and there in a suicide attempt.’

’Skye Sutton was the Sutton Family’s only daughter and had been doted on since she was a child.’

’They treated her like a precious treasure, afraid she might break if they held her too tight, or melt if they kept her too close.’

’Now that she was attempting suicide, even though her parents felt she was wrong to force Julian Grant’s hand, they reluctantly sided with their daughter.’

’They went so far as to raise a fuss with Julian Grant’s superiors, accusing him of misconduct and abusing his position.’

’To protect his career, Julian Grant’s girlfriend had no choice but to concede and break up with him.’

’And so the lovers were torn apart, each going their separate way.’

’Skye Sutton got the man she desired, but it brought her no joy. Instead, she spent her days mired in suspicion and paranoia.’

’If Julian Grant spent too long at his post in the military, she would suspect he was intentionally avoiding her to carry on a clandestine affair with his ex-girlfriend.’

’When Julian Grant was home on leave, she would suspect his attentiveness was born of guilt, a sign he had something to hide.’

’At the slightest reminder of his ex-girlfriend, she would fly into a hysterical rage, screaming that he should have saved her first.’

’When Julian Grant, concerned for her frail health, suggested they have fewer children, she accused him of being disgusted by her, of looking down on her because she’d been violated by other men.’

’She had been a perfectly normal woman, but her own self-loathing had driven her into madness.’

’She had tormented Julian Grant for decades, and in doing so, had tormented herself just as fiercely.’

’Skye Sutton... deep down, she knew better than anyone that Julian Grant was an honorable man. He might not have married her by choice, but he would absolutely be responsible for her to the very end. He would never go back to his ex-girlfriend.’

’It was her own inner demons that, day by day, possessed her.’

’Only by constantly proving that Julian Grant’s intentions were crooked could she convince herself that what she had done wasn’t wrong.’

"Sigh..."

Old Mrs. Grant let out a deep sigh.

With Skye Sutton’s passing, she felt, if anything, relieved.

Old Mrs. Grant’s gaze swept over Miles Grant, Eleanor Crawford, Claire Grant, and Shane Grant, before finally landing on Sophia Shaw.

A sudden, inexplicable sorrow washed over her heart.

’She could feel it. This incredibly outstanding young woman was drifting further and further from the Grant family.’

’I can’t bear to let her go.’

’I truly can’t.’

After the burial, the men of the Grant family stayed behind to handle the final arrangements.

The female relatives, however, started down the mountain first to return to Old Mrs. Grant’s side.

The sun was already beginning its descent in the west.

Dusk was approaching.

Crows cawed in the distance.

It only made the cemetery feel more desolate, gloomy, and oppressive.

Perhaps because they had just attended a burial, everyone’s spirits were low.

This was especially true for Sophia Shaw, whose eyes were bright red.

She kept her lips pressed together, saying nothing. The beauty mark near her eye trembled, and she looked utterly dejected.

’Her birth mother’s grave wasn’t far from here.’

’Her burial had been just like this.’

’Chad Jennings buried her and then rushed off, unwilling to stay a second longer.’

’He had left her there all alone, terrified and helpless, clinging to her mother’s headstone and refusing to let go.’

’She couldn’t accept it. How could someone so full of life just suddenly be gone?’

’She would never see her face again, never hear her voice, never feel her touch.’

’There was no one left to stroke her face in the dead of night and whisper in her ear, "My little princess, hurry and grow up."’

’No more.’

’It was all gone...’

’Her mother wasn’t just away.’

’She had vanished into thin air.’

’Even the air she had once breathed, the wind that had once brushed past her face—none of it would ever cross paths with her mother again.’

’Never... ever again.’

"Faye."

Old Mrs. Grant gently pulled her close, patting her back comfortingly.

Sophia Shaw slowly emerged from her panicked reverie and looked dazedly at Old Mrs. Grant. "Grandma."

’She had lost a mother all over again.’

’Even though it was only her mother-in-law, a woman who wasn’t exactly easy to get along with, she had been a real presence in her life. She had worried about her marriage.’

’She had even once told her, with complete sincerity, "Sophia, from now on, I am your mother-in-law, but I am also your mother."’

’Those who have been hurt tend to cherish even the smallest crumb of kindness the world offers.’

Before long, the rest of the Grants came down the mountain, accompanied by Skye Sutton’s two older brothers.

Skye Sutton had been the apple of her parents’ eyes, but her two brothers had never been particularly close to her.

After attending the funeral, they exchanged a few brief pleasantries, then got into their cars and departed.

Cedric Grant stuck close to Vincent Grant, his eyes fixed dazedly on Sophia Shaw.

He had just said goodbye to his grandmother, and his emotions were a chaotic mess.

"I’ve arranged for a meal at the hotel. We should head over now," Julian Grant said, walking toward them.

The mourners were expected to share one last meal together before dispersing.

"Wait," Old Mrs. Grant said gravely, her gaze falling on someone behind Julian Grant. "Vincent!"

Every one of the Grants was a cut above the rest, especially the men, who were tall and imposing with strong, masculine features and sharp, intelligent eyes.

Even standing among his brothers, Vincent Grant stood out from the rest.

He possessed an air of refined nobility that those with a military background couldn’t match.

He strode forward. "Grandma."

"Sophia, slap him," Old Mrs. Grant commanded.