Even after Her Death by Rita Bond

Chapter 461 Let's End Here

A

Finished

I had finally returned to my hometown. The trip to Jaford hadn't taken long-barely a month..

A lot had happened in that time. When I got back to Snowville, it felt like a completely different world.

Snowville had just transitioned from the long winter in the warmth of spring. The streets were lined with cherry blossoms, their vibrant pink petals in full boom. As the wind blew, the petals danced through the air, creating a soft, romantic atmosphere in the city Carter was driving, slowing the car as I rolled down the window to soak in the gentle sunlight. It felt like the sadness and bloodshed I'd experienced were being washed away by the cherry blossoms' soft rain.

Carter had come with me to the Sander residence, where the Sanders had arrived a day before. When I got there, Whitney was sitting under the swing in the yard deep in thought.

The house had been renovated, but the main structure was still the same. I walked up behind Whitney and asked, "Do you remember this place?"

She nodded. "I don't recall much from before I was three, but I remember this yard. You used to push me on the swing, and our brothers would fly kites with me. Jake was always so naughty, climbing the cherry tree to shower me with petals. One time, the branch broke, and he fell. He had to wear a cast for three months."

Whitney smiled through her tears. "These memories have kept me going. I wanted to hold on to them, but as time passed, I started forgetting.

"I couldn't even remember your faces anymore. The only thing that stayed with me was this yard, the swing, and the tree. They appeared in my dreams countless times. Now that I'm back, it feels like those 20 years were just a dream."

I pulled her onto the swing. "Let me push you again."

"Okay."

The sky was clear, and the spring breeze gently brushed through Whitney's hair. Still, the sadness in her eyes remained, and her white skirt fluttered in the wind, reminiscent of when she was a carefree child. But that child would never return.

I came back to say my final goodbye to Grandma. Since the Sanders were worried about Dominic finding out, they didn't have a funeral for her. Instead, they quietly moved her to the family tomb.

When they heard I was coming, the Sanders prepared a big dinner. It was also the first time I returned as Chloe since my rebirth.

back to my room, which held

I loved Luke the most. Our photo sat on the desk, from a time

weren't for the things about him I'd left

my old photo album, learning

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by the door, looking more composed than he had on the island, but I could tell she could never go back to the carefree person she used

surprised. "Really? Are you sure you want to let

are decent. Selling it

doctor says your dad can get a prosthetic for his leg, so he won't limp anymore. As for Anna.... Kate paused

Josh was alive. But the one thing I wasn't ready

was Grandma's life's

of joy back then. Now, even though we're still alive, we're burdened with so much pain."

wrapped her arms around her.

to me, her eyes glistening with tears, and I glanced at the clock. "It's late. Let's go lay Grandma to

gently. "It's my way of fulfilling a wish. Let's have

all fallen apart," I replied.

sleeve, her voice soft. "Chloe, it's just one meal. Dad and Mom will leave

her, I gave

chairs. A mix of loneliness and faint comfort flickered

her eyes brimming with tears, Kate said, "We're finally all here

fish on Ethan's empty plate and shrimp on Jake's as if they were still sitting there. She hadn't

barbecue ribs to my plate. Her hands trembled, and

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08:32 Fri, Jan 24

Let's End

crying, but I didn't

long since you've had