Chapter 377
Chapter 377:
Then, just as smoothly, he shifted the subject. “You two are perfect together. It’s a shame about all the trouble with Kristine — that must have been a real headache, Mr. Yates.” He paused. “But it seems that’s all over now. I heard Kristine passed away. Is that true p>
Colton’s grip tightened around his wine glass. “She is not dead,” he said flatly.
Lance raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because Asher brought her ashes home. He’s planning to bury her in our family cemetery. The man must have lost his mind p>
Colton’s frown deepened. “What did you just say p>
“He’s burying a complete stranger in our family plot — and my grandfather is actually letting him go through with it.” Lance sighed. “Grandpa has always indulged him far too much. It’s simply wrong.” He shook his head, then gave Colton the address when he pressed for it.
Colton stood without a word and walked out.
іո𝗍𝘦n𝗌𝘦 𝘳𝘰m𝘢𝗇cе о𝗻
Lance looked at Elyse. “What’s gotten into him p>
Elyse forced a smile she didn’t feel. “Something must have come up at the office. I’ll go check on him.” She turned and left before he could say anything more.
Lance watched her until she disappeared — then his smile vanished entirely, and his eyes turned cold and calculating.
In the Edwards family cemetery, a small group of people stood before a brand-new grave marker. Every face there was heavy with grief.
Danica was suffering most visibly, so broken that she could barely hold herself upright. Nathan kept a steadying arm around her, his worry deepening each time she swayed. She had barely stopped crying since the news broke.
He looked over at Asher.
Asher sat in his wheelchair in a sharp black suit, looking older and harder than Nathan had ever seen him. His gaze rested on the photograph of Kristine on the tombstone, and he hadn’t moved in what felt like a very long time.
While Danica wept openly, Asher hadn’t shed a single tear. He simply stared — lost, hollow, emptied of whatever had made him himself. It was that quiet devastation, Nathan thought, that made it clear who was hurting most.
The man leading the service finished the prayer and looked softly at Asher. “It is time to put her to rest p>
Asher gave a small nod. He handed the urn to Tripp, who placed it carefully into the ground. The officiant looked up. “You may now cover the grave p>
A shout tore through the silence.
“Mr. Yates — stop! You are not permitted to be here p>
Everyone turned. Colton was striding toward them, pushing past the bodyguards as though they were made of paper, his expression dark and his presence overwhelming.
When he saw the workers beginning to throw dirt over the grave, his face hardened. “Stop. Right now p>
Even though the workers answered to Asher, the force of Colton’s voice made them flinch. They froze and looked to Asher for direction.
Asher didn’t turn around. “Keep going,” he said firmly.
“I said stop!” Colton reached the graveside in three strides, ripped a shovel from a worker’s hand, and drove it into the earth. “If any of you move even an inch, you will answer for it p>
No one moved.