Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 580

People moved quietly into the house as more cars pulled up outside-by now, there had to be almost twenty parked along the drive.

Walter stood at the front, solemn and tall, as the younger family members stepped forward one by one to offer incense and bow their heads.

A few monks, brought in just for the ceremony, sat cross-legged on woven mats, chanting softly. The whole mansion was filled with the sweet, heavy scent of sandalwood.

It had been years since the Fergusons held a funeral like this. Not even when Lincoln passed did it feel this formal, this crowded.

Dylan kept his eyes lowered, breathing in the incense. He found himself thinking of his mother, who'd left the city a long time ago-maybe she was already on her way back.

Ada had started as the other woman, but she'd always managed to get along with Mrs. Ferguson. Coming from a family that favored boys, Ada had learned early how to win over the older generation.

That was why she could stand in front of Walter, sobbing about Michael's affairs, and not get blamed for it.

Back then, if Mrs. Ferguson felt even a little unwell, Ada was always the first to show up at the old house to check on her. Even if people gossiped, saying she acted like a servant, Ada just smiled and never argued.

She understood how these families worked-always humble with her elders, but when it came to anyone she looked down on, like Clara, she could be impossibly proud.

The house hadn't been this full since Ada and Michael got married.

Just as the younger ones finished offering incense, hushed whispers broke out near the door.

"Mrs. Ferguson is back!"

"Grandma's home."

They'd heard Mrs. Ferguson wouldn't be back for at least another

Everyone turned to look.

in, carefully supporting Mrs. Ferguson

the younger woman's arm, her clothes beautifully stitched by hand, a simple jade pendant at her neck, and green jade beads

her traditional outfit gave her an old-fashioned elegance-she looked every

stiffened as he

else dared to

left ten years ago,

the younger kids barely even remembered

Ada's portrait, lit a few sticks of incense, then turned to

paid your

took Simon a few seconds to react before

the monks' chanting as it echoed through the house. She sighed. "I never thought she'd leave

that Mrs. Ferguson liked Ada, but he'd

nobody red Ada. If it

family's influence, meet

even

care about someone who

sometimes felt embarrassed by Ada's

in Mrs. Ferguson's eyes, the way

For the first time, he realized

and the soft thud of the wooden fish echoed through the room, making

was

Everyone knew Mrs. Ferguson