Chapter 703

Grandpa Whales’s funeral was a quiet affair. Aside from Simon and Eleanor, only a handful of close relatives and old friends came to bid the old man their final farewell. A fine, misty rain drifted down from the gray sky, as though the heavens themselves were mourning his passing. Under that sorrowful drizzle, they laid Grandpa Whales to rest. The ceremony was simple, solemn, and brief. When it was over, the small gathering slowly dispersed, leaving the cemetery steeped in silence once more. Eleanor held Lilly’s small hand as they prepared to leave. But just as they reached the path leading out of the cemetery— Simon stopped them. “What are your plans now?” he asked. His gaze lowered slightly to meet hers, his eyes filled with genuine concern. “I…” Eleanor pressed her lips together, about to answer. But Simon suddenly interrupted. Something in his eyes shifted. The calm composure he usually carried seemed to deepen into something more intense—something almost tender. “If you’re willing