Even after Her Death by Rita Bond

Chapter 526 Goodbye

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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.

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It felt like it was studying me, examining the life I had led. Jeffrey must have told it

taken.

don’t worry. F’ll take care of the kids and Carter.” I wanted to believe it myself, but the weight of his absence

beside 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

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

a vision bloomed–a young girl, no older than 20, carefree and full of life. She ran through a bustling night market, laughing as she held candied apple in one hand and an ice cream cone in the other. Milkshake and

standing beside a tall man who spoke softly, offering wisdom in gentle tones, guiding her forward, and

Bolton descendant,

for a moment before it moved on, one last farewell to each of them.

colorful butterfly, their reunion

paused again, fluttering its wings before it landed on Adam’s tie.

fought to bring into the world, the one she

old hag had

of age, the sister

body broken, his legs fractured, his spirit shattered too. He was like a

part was the resemblance–he looked so much like a young Jeffrey. The old hag had kept him close, as if he were some kind of rare treasure, a forbidden thing she couldn’t bring

bear a child from

along, we thought her obsession was with wealth and legacy. But the truth was far darker.

a perfect match–both from respected families, destined to marry, or so

had fallen for a poor flower seller, and Commander’s

to the marriage would make Jeffrey see her

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her as a sister.

she married the Commander. But that marked her

she saw him with the flower seller, her heart broke a little more.

affection for the woman only deepened, while her own life with Commander

with him, the colder her heart became. Her bitterness grew like an unforgiving vine, twisting and pulling her further away from the person she used to

couples in love that hurt the most–couples like the Carlyns.

temple, Jeffrey with his pregnant wife, his arm around her as he whispered soft words

longed for,

been trying to please Commander. She had her eyes set on

the woman at the temple, pregnant and seeking blessings. My grandmother’s eyes darkened with jealousy as she watched Mrs. Carlyn Senior.

grandmother. The hag, consumed

Mrs. Carlyn Senior, he

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 Mrs.

her. She couldn’t stand the thought of Commander loving another woman, especially one so kind. In a fit of rage, she set out to destroy Mrs.

she tore apart the Carlyns‘ happiness, leaving them broken and

own, easily swayed by those around him. My grandmother, though strong and determined, had no illusions about love. They cared for

he would have never chosen, introducing him to other women, hoping

health had already begun to fail. The Carlyns knew exactly how to finish him off–by introducing a few more

was Mrs. Bolton–the woman whom Jeffrey

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