Two days later, the weekend arrived. It was the day of Elissa’s cremation.

Early that morning, Eric accompanied Hadley to the funeral home. Brady and Colleen were there as well, standing with them to bid Elissa farewell. Still, the gathering felt heartbreakingly empty.

Hadley stood by the entrance, arms crossed, her eyes scanning the quiet street. She hadn’t expected anyone from the Holland family to show… but where was Ernest? Was he truly not coming?

As the appointed hour crept closer, Eric appeared at her side, his voice low and gentle. “It’s time. We should head in.”

Though it was just a cremation, the date and time had been set in advance. Hadley’s gaze lingered at the doorway, her eyes growing colder with every passing second. But in the end, Ernest still didn’t show up.

Her expression hardened as she turned away. “Let’s go. It’s time.”

The staff began their work.

As Elissa’s casket disappeared into the furnace, Hadley’s grief spoke not in words, but in the quiet, steady rhythm of her falling tears.

The ceremony had come to an end. With both hands, Hadley reached for the urn, her grip shaky. She ran her fingers across the engraving that bore Elissa’s name. “Elissa…” Tears poured without pause, refusing to let up.

While quietly sobbing, Hadley allowed a faint smile to rise and whispered, “I’m sorry… I can’t stay long. However, it’s only for a short time. Your mom will be back soon to take you home.”

A voice interrupted gently. “Miss Pearson, we’ll need to close up soon,” said one of the staff members.

The columbarium had rules, and visitors were only allowed brief moments to linger.

“I understand.” Hadley wiped away her tears, wrapped the urn with care, and placed it gently into the niche. Without warning, she turned toward the staff. “You can lock it now.”

The weight of sorrow became too much, and she rushed out without warning.

? ．

“Hadley!” Eric called out and took off after her without hesitation.

Instead of stopping, Hadley darted into the restroom. Eric paused at the entrance, unsure of what to do next, so Tamara quietly followed her in. Leaning over the sink, Hadley splashed cold water onto her face, again and again, trying to steady herself.

Tamara stood nearby, unsure of the right words, offering silent support instead. Little by little, Hadley’s breathing slowed. Though the tears had dried, the redness around her eyes remained.

By the time she emerged, Eric was still waiting. He reached out to steady her, meeting her gaze with quiet worry. “There’s some ice in the car; it might help with the swelling,” he said calmly.

Hadley gave a slow nod. “Alright.” Her voice came out faint and raspy. As soon as they reached the car, Eric opened the mini fridge and pulled out a small pack of ice. He pressed it to his eyelid briefly to check how cold it was.

“Maybe a bit too chilly,” he muttered.

A towel from the trunk caught his eye, and he used it to wrap the ice pack before moving closer to Hadley. He lifted it to her face with care. “Tell me if it’s too much.”

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