Chapter 21

The cemetery was cloaked in morning mist. Vanessa held a bouquet of white roses as she walked along the stone pathway. Her fingertips unconsciously traced the velvet box in her pocket. Matthias' headstone stood quietly in the corner. "Matthias, I've come to see you," she murmured, crouching down as she gently brushed fallen leaves from the grave. Then, she laid the roses carefully before the stone. After that, she took out the silver ring and placed it beside the flowers. "Back to where it belongs," she whispered, her fingertips resting briefly against the cold surface of the headstone. "I promised you I'd keep living... but this time, I'm living for myself." A gentle breeze stirred, causing the roses to sway lightly like a silent response. Vanessa stood up as sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on her face. She smiled with a sense of relief. In the distance, Alexander leaned against an oak tree, quietly watching this scene. He shouldn't hav