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.

of embarrassment and tugged at her skirt, placing her hands on it

reason, Joy and Nathan

lifted her gaze, which could easily trace the outline of her

as she imagined the potential for beauty if Ruby and Jasper were to have children in the 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, your words are always delightful to hear, more pleasing than your dad's." Standing beside Jasper in a white short-sleeved shirt, Liam reached out to put his arm around Jaspers shoulder. Due to the height difference, it seemed a bit strained, almost like a stretching exercise. After a few seconds, Liam let go and leaned in, playfully bumping into Jasper. "Jasper, seems like your reputation’s better than your father's." Jasper didn't respond to this comment. Ruby glanced at her carefree

sleeves except for Liam, who wore short sleeves. When the breeze passed by,

at 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,

father, signaling him to mind his

playfully taunting Trevon. "Grandpa, you've

a familiar anecdote within the Blackwell family. Hackett had recounted it numerous times, making it a well-known tale. Following the pattern of learning from the past, everyone in the Blackwell family, from the couple to Ruby and Liam, could recite it effortlessly. It was

the Blackwell family knew precisely how Trevon had initially approached Henry for

look, a warning laden with authority. "You're an elder. How can you act like this? Jasper, he's just joking. Don't listen to his nonsense. He's used to teasing your dad without any restraints on his words. When there

okay. These are just memories from my dad's younger days." After that, Ruby chuckled, covering her mouth with one hand. Jasper

a short essay about it for you later." Suddenly, Jasper became very curious about the specifics of this event. At home, his father always kept his mistakes tightly under wraps. He replied casually, "Okay." Liam assured 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

It was his sister who decided if he could pass

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 at

everyone and smiled. He harbored a different

Worker wages are pretty high nowadays. If you go, we'll save on hiring an extra hand.” Liam was left speechless upon hearing that. They did not

to education, aiming

they were a united front. The entire family held the same

Hackett and Nathan were headed to the company, and Joy, Sherri, and Liam were going home. Ruby was off to

of three cars, including Jasper's white Lamborghini

company with your grandpa..." "No need for the trouble. Jasper is heading back

stunned and