Chapter 17
Ashley crouched before her mom’s gravestone, her eyes filling with tears as she gestured for the kids to join her. “Guys, come say hi to grandma.” She gazed at her mom’s serene face in the photo, now faded from years of exposure to the elements.
The two kids obediently came closer. “Hi, Grandma, we’re here with Mommy to visit. Hope you’re resting easy. We’ll take care of her, we promise!”
Watching their maturity, Ashley’s heart swelled with emotion. She placed fresh flowers by her mom’s gravestone. “Mom, I brought the kids to say hi. Hope you’re watching us from up there. Also.” She clenched her fists, determination in her voice. “Help me uncover the truth about what happened to you years ago, so those who harmed us both can finally face justice”
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She also placed some flowers at her own grave, though she didn’t know the girl who was buried hereunder and had kept her mom co these years. She found a resemblance between herself and the girl–both abandoned, unable to reclaim their true identities.
Patting the kids‘ heads, she said, “Okay, let’s go. We’ll visit grandma’s spot again later.”
In the backseat, Chloe sat with a pour still thinking about what happened earlier. She cautiously asked, “Mommy, do you not like Mr. Anderson? Why did you throw away the flowers he brought for Grandma? To Chloe, Eric seemed like a nice guy who treated them well. So she didn’t understand why her mommy appeared to have an issue with him.
Catching Chloe’s gaze in the rearview mirror, Ashley sighed and began setting some ground rules. “Listen, sweetie, don’t get involved with people like that in the future. If you come across them, try to stay away as much as possible, okay?” She knew Eric was sharp and wouldn’t be fooled by a simple gravestone. He would keep digging into her and the kids‘
Chloe asked, looking puzzled, “Why? Is Mr. Anderson a bad guy?”
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Ashley explained, “You can’t judge someone just by what you see on the outside. We’ve only recently come back from overseas, so we’re still getting used to everything here. It’s always better to be cautious around people you’re not familiar with.”
During the ride back, Eric’s phone rang, and it was Olivia on the line. Her voice, sweet as honey, came through “Eric, I’m feeling pretty lousy stuck in this hospital room. Can you swing by and see me, please!
Eric turned to Tristan and declared. “Hospital, now.”
In the ward, Olivia fumed, messing with her phone. She couldn’t understand why Ashley being at the hospital bothered her. If she could handle Ashley five years ago, why stress now? Her main concern was ensuring Eric was still interested in her.
Erie rushed to the hospital and into Olivia’s room, relief washing over him when he saw her. The moment Olivia saw him, she broke down in tears. “Eric, I thought I’d lost you forever.
