Chapter 5
Colette’s heart sank when she saw the stuff on the floor. How did James get his hands on them? She thought she had hidden them well.
After panicking for a moment, she had an idea. She stammered, “Tomorrow is my parents‘ death anniversary. I was making some preparations.”
James‘ feelings of doubt vanished after hearing the explanation. After a pause, he volunteered, “I’ll visit them with you tomorrow.”
“Uncle James, it’s fine. Just spend your time with Sophie and on your work. I was a burden to you in the past, but I will no longer trouble you anymore.”
James was shocked by her rejection, as he had thought she would be happy about it. She left before he could react.
Colette quietly tore off another page from the calendar and tossed the shreds into the waste bin. She only had four days left.
James recounted her words when he watched her leave. He blurted out softly, “You’re never a burden to me.”
Colette did not hear him, as she had made her way back to her room.
With four days left in this world, Colette visited her parents at the cemetery alone. She placed the flowers in front of their tombstones and stared at their photos. Their warm smiles still felt like yesterday.
Sitting between the two graves felt like sitting between her parents. “Dad, Mom, I wonder if you are enjoying your next life. Please do not blame me for my stubbornness in giving up reincarnation for seven more days on earth.
“I used to be jealous of those kids loved by their parents, but that feeling went away because I have my Uncle James. He’s good to me and showers me with love. That’s why I fell for him, which I know is unforgivable.
“Now, I realize that my existence is just a burden to him. He will start a family sooner or later. I was destined to be alone from the very start.
“Life sucks. I don’t think I want a next life. I don’t regret my decision, but I feel sad that I have not received any proper love before I die.”
She had a long chat with her parents in the cemetery, but she did not leave right after that. She met with the cemetery caretaker. After some discussion with the caretaker, she bought the grave plot beside her parents so she could rest in peace by their side.
After the cemetery visit, she sold off the assets she inherited from her parents and the gifts from James. She planned to return the money–stored in a debit account–to James to make up for his hard work of raising her in the last decade.
It was late when she got home. James wasn’t home yet, which worked out for her. She tiptoed into his study with the debit card and quietly placed it in his desk drawer.
She was about to leave when she caught sight of his messy study that he had no time to tidy up due to his busy work. Sighing, she glanced at his documents before carefully tidying up the study, during which she accidentally opened a drawer with contents that stunned her.
She had discovered a stack of love letters!
She held her breath and shockingly picked up the love letters. Did James write them? She never knew he’d write love letters, but to whom?
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Riddled by questions, her mind was a mess. James entered the study when she was deep in thought. His face fell when he spotted the love letters in her grasp.
He addressed her in a stern and nervous tone, “Why did you go through my stuff without my permission?”
