It felt as if the moment he let go, she would vanish from the world.
Celestine slowly pried open his desperate grip, one finger at a time, her gaze icy and her words merciless. “Sweetheart, your mother died the moment she fell into the pool. She’s been gone a long time.”
Raymond, hearing the old wound reopened, broke down completely. Tears streamed down his face.
“Mom, I’m sorry! I really am! Please, forgive me! I promise I won’t do it again!”
Celestine gently stroked his forehead. “Forgiveness is God’s domain, darling. Your mother… she never got the chance.”
Raymond’s sobs grew even louder, wracking his small body.
“No! Please, don’t go! Mom, don’t leave me!”
After a round of curious, probing stares, everyone finally realized that the woman in red before them—rumored to be a ghost—was, in fact, very much alive.
Dahlia’s face flushed with anger and embarrassment as the truth dawned. “What exactly are you trying to pull here?”
At that moment, the commotion outside drew everyone’s attention.
Luther Selwyn, upon hearing whispers about a woman in red causing a scene at the door, immediately strode out with a grave expression.
His cane, raised to shoo away the supposed troublemaker, clattered to the floor.
A single tear slid down Luther’s weathered cheek.
With a trembling voice, he managed, “Celly…”
Celestine turned at the sound.
In that instant, her eyes filled with tears.
It hadn’t been long since she’d last seen him, but her grandfather already looked so much thinner—his cheeks almost hollow.
A sob broke free. “Grandpa!”
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