Even after Her Death by Rita Bond

Chapter 526 Goodbye

51%

Finished

We sent Jeffrey off, the final step of a long journey. Everything had been planned by him, down to the smallest detail–his burial beside his first wife.

It wasn’t in the Bolton family plot, but in a quiet valley, where the air was crisp and the wildflowers bloomed in abundance.

There were no speeches, no grand ceremony. It was just us, the immediate family, standing in silent respect as he was laid to rest.

Carter spoke first, breaking the stillness. “He always said we didn’t need to visit on holidays. He owed her too much. She spent her life tied down, trapped by the Bolton name. She never knew a moment of peace. But now, in death, he can finally make it up to her. He has all the time in the world to share with her, to explore the world they never had.”

A man who had spent his whole life bound by duty–who would’ve guessed that in the end, he’d choose to let go?

Whentherich are buried, it’salways a grandaffair–thebesttime, thebestplace, theperfectconditionsforprosperityandfamilylegacy. Peopleconsultexperts, checkthestars,

andensurethateverythingisjustright.

But Jeffrey? He didn’t care about any of that.

He spent his years working to preserve the Bolton legacy. But on the day he chose to die, he was free.

Carter wiped away the tear at my cheek. “Dad said not to cry, this isn’t an end. It’s a new beginning.”

I nodded, unsure of what to say.

“It’s beautiful here,” Carter continued. “The birds, the flowers… He won’t be alone.”

“Yeah.”

It didn’t feel like a funeral. It felt more like a quiet goodbye.

We set the tribute and the wreaths, and that was all.

Everett and Everly had been still, calm in their stroller. But then, they started laughing.

Their tiny hands reached up, swiping at the air, their eyes focused on something only they could see.

Above them, two butterflies danced–one pure white, the other bright with color.

Maybe they didn’t see

tterflies at all.

The white one landed gently on Carter’s shoulder, while the colorful one fluttered in front of me.

Suddenly, I remembered Jeffrey’s words. “Your mother–in–law always had a love for beauty. Even if she turned into a butterfly, she’d still be the most beautiful one in the garden.”

The white butterfly gently landed on Carter’s shoulder, as if a soft hand had rested there, offering a quiet blessing. It seemed to whisper, “The Boltons are yours now“, a weight passing from one pair of hands to

another.

1/5

3

Chapter 526 Goodbye

Filebed

butterfly hovered near me, its wings flicking with a deliberate grace. It felt like it was studying me, examining the

taken.

the lump in my throat, my voice thick with emotion. “Jeffrey, don’t worry. F’ll take care of the kids and Carter.” I wanted to believe it myself, but the weight of his absence was already

the gravestone, resting for a moment. Carter had prepared it as a small tribute to Jeffrey’s wife, remembering her fondness for sweets. It was a simple, quiet gesture, but somehow, it felt like the

never pausing for long. It danced with the breeze, as if the world were a playground to explore, never bound to stay in one

as she held candied apple in one hand and an ice cream cone in the other. Milkshake and snacks swung from her wrist as

picture of youth and joy, standing beside a tall man who spoke softly, offering wisdom in gentle tones, guiding her

white butterfly drifted past every Bolton

for a moment before it moved on, one last farewell

were done, it returned to the colorful butterfly, their reunion quiet but full of

wings before it landed on Adam’s

was the child she had fought to bring into the world, the one she had given up

I learned the dark truth about the twins. The old hag

a mere eight years of age, the sister had died protecting

his spirit shattered too. He

like a young Jeffrey. The old hag had kept him close, as if he were some kind

twisted, cruel plan to bear a child

with wealth and

were a perfect match–both from

path. He had fallen for a poor

make Jeffrey see her

2/5

Mon, 3 Mar

Chapter 526 Goodbye

Finished

her as a sister. She had given everything–her time, her heart, her life–for a love that was never truly

that marked her descent into

saw him with the flower seller, her heart

while her own

bitterness grew like an unforgiving vine, twisting and pulling her further away

couples in love that hurt

with his pregnant wife, his arm around her as he

she had longed for, everything she could never have.

please Commander. She had

grandmother’s eyes darkened with jealousy as she watched Mrs. Carlyn Senior. “She must be

to my grandmother. The hag, consumed

Mrs. Carlyn Senior, he did not

kindness, something he hadn’t found in his own life. He grew to care for her, and he had plans about taking her in as a concubine, but fearing his wife’s wrath, he hid

the thought of Commander loving another woman, especially one so kind. In a fit of rage, she set out to destroy Mrs. Carlyn. She sent her into another man’s bed, breaking her both physically and

the Carlyns‘ happiness, leaving them broken and

too weak to stand on his own, easily swayed by those around him. My grandmother, though strong and determined, had no illusions about love. They

never chosen, introducing him to other women, hoping to break his faith in loyalty and

fail. The Carlyns knew exactly how to finish him off–by introducing a few more women and some carefully placed poison. His

Mrs. Bolton–the woman whom Jeffrey had

3/5

ས51%–

Chapter 526 Goodbye