Turning Of the Tide by Diana Sander

The chirping of insects, the calls of birds, the lush greenery of trees, artificially planted orchids, roses, marigolds... all competed for attention, blooming and vying in their beauty.

At a glance, it felt as if one had wandered into a beautiful garden. But upon closer inspection, one could see cold, black tombstones standing in rows, solemn and stark.

And those attractive blooming flowers only added a different atmosphere to the icy, dignified, and heavy graveyard.

Today was the day the Blackwell family visited their family's graves.

The Blackwell couple didn't dress in flamboyant colors, sticking to the proper black and white hues.

Hackett wore a black t-shirt and gray pants, while Sherri wore a white shirt and black casual trousers. They squatted in front of the tombstone, joining Hackett's mother in offering something to the deceased.

Nathan stood to the side and briefly glanced at Jasper, who shared a similar aura as Trevon. Jasper remained silent. He stood respectfully to the side, yet his gaze was unwaveringly fixed on the tombstone, reflecting sincere emotions.

Standing at 5.9 feet, Jasper's height made him particularly conspicuous, especially with his strikingly handsome face. No one could resist the urge to take a second look at him. His refined demeanor made it pleasing to stare, as even in simple attire, his innate dignity couldn't be concealed.

Jasper sensed the intense scrutiny but didn't turn. He kept his gaze fixed on the tombstone, standing composed and calm.

From Nathan's perspective, Jasper was a head and a half taller than Ruby and half a head taller than Liam. In this gathering, Jasper was the tallest, surpassing his son by a few inches. Nathan could not help but ask, "Jasper, any particular reason your dad couldn't make it this year?" Trevon felt in debt to Henry, and he'd come every year without fail. However, this year's absence was due to someone voluntarily offering to take his place.

But the Blackwell family was unaware of it, so it was natural for them to inquire. It wasn't meant as an obligation for Trevon to come and visit the grave.

Jasper remained outwardly unaffected and replied casually, "Oh, Olivia's back." Everyone knew that Trevon doted on his daughter. It was no exaggeration to say that almost everyone in Athana knew about this. Therefore, when Jasper mentioned those words, everyone present believed him without a doubt.

A gentle breeze swept by, causing the white skirt of Ruby to flutter and unintentionally tangle with Jasper's black sweatpants.

Spring attire isn't particularly thick, and she could feel her legs brushing against the fabric of his pants.

a pang of embarrassment and

Jasper's reason, Joy and Nathan simply smiled without

She remained squatting on the ground. She lifted her gaze, which could easily trace the outline of her future son-in-law's angular jawline.

future, thinking that their genes and looks would be off the charts. She coughed lightly, pulling herself back to reality. "Ahem, ahem, your dad's indulgence toward Sophia and Olivia is undeniable. Especially when Sophia was younger, she was so mischievous, but Trevon never scolded her once. His indulgence knows no bounds." Nathan chimed in, saying, "They say daughters are a father's precious treasure. Looks like there's truth to that saying." Sherri continued, "Jasper, my straightforwardness might come across as strong. Hope you don't mind. I'm just someone who speaks my mind." Jasper stood tall, a rare smile gracing his lips as he politely replied, "You speak the truth, and | don't mind." His smiling demeanor made Sherri find him even more handsome, inwardly commenting on his striking appearance while maintaining a calm exterior. She praised, "Oh, Jasper,

Liam, who wore short sleeves. When the breeze passed by, Liam was the only one who instinctively

Jasper, who was a bit taller than him and started to tease, "Your dad's pulling a fast one here. No, scratch that. He's burning the bridge after crossing it. Back when he needed my grandpa, he dragged me out of bed on Christmas to come to the grave. Now, his daughter's back, and he decided not to show up. Seriously, his character's questionable.” Jasper remained composed,

father, signaling him to mind his words. Sensing his daughter's message,

Hackett squatted next to Sherri, playfully taunting

Henry's story had become a familiar anecdote within the Blackwell family. Hackett had recounted it numerous times, making it a well-known tale. Following the

knew precisely how Trevon had initially

like this? Jasper, he's just joking. Don't listen to his nonsense. He's used to teasing your

from my dad's younger days." After that, Ruby chuckled, covering her mouth with one hand. Jasper always managed to present amusing things with

with a mischievous tone. "Okay, | promise to detail it meticulously, more thoroughly than an 800-word essay." Liam's shoulder was tapped by Ruby. She delivered her warning in gentle tones, and it carried an underlying sense of intimidation. "That's enough. Pay your respects to great-grandpa and great-grandma. You always fool around and do not take things seriously. If you fail a course or don't complete the credits this semester, you'll be grounded just like Harper." Liam, who had been playful moments ago, instantly had a terrified expression as he shivered. The

final say about his grades. It was

I'm sorry, don't be so serious. I'll go pay respects now. I'll even kneel straight away." Ruby wasn't amused by her brother's words. She simply stared

Jasper stood out of sight from everyone and smiled. He harbored a different thought

at a construction site. Worker wages are pretty high nowadays. If

to education, aiming for excellence. They

The entire

were headed to the company, and Joy,

total of three cars, including Jasper's white Lamborghini sports car that

daughter, "Ruby, get in the car. I'll drop you off at the studio first, then I'll go to the company with your grandpa..." "No need for the trouble. Jasper is heading back to

was stunned