Chapter: 1512

Corey stayed seated, numb to both the chill and warmth around him, now haunted by a creeping doubt. Was he wrong? He had only wanted to protect his family. How could that be wrong?

Corey arranged a dignified burial for Pierre.

After the funeral, Gemma was discharged from the hospital. She gathered all of Pierre's belongings, packing them into a box which she then buried next to his grave. She had become noticeably thinner, her fingers dry and fragile as she traced the outline of Pierre's portrait.

Nightmares haunted Gemma throughout her hospital stay, robbing her of restful sleep. The physical pain from her strained heart felt unbearable, worse than death itself. She had planned to share these feelings with Pierre today but hesitated, fearing it would only cause him to worry. He had always been terrified of her tears. Whenever she cried, it would send him into a panic.

Gemma thought back to their fleeting moments of joy and, smiling through her tears, whispered reluctantly, “Pierre, the osmanthus trees in the yard have bloomed. In our next life, will you bake me that cake?"