Chapter 227 The Missing Ashes
"Mom, I brought you all your favorite foods!" Grace said, laying everything out in front of Evelyn's tombstone.
"Mom, I'm doing great. I called off my engagement with Ryan. I don't know why you set it up, but I think you'd support my choice, right?"
"You always wanted me to be happy and live simply. Breaking off the engagement has made me feel alive again. I've never been this relaxed and happy," she added.
"Mom, I haven't seen you in a long time, not even in my dreams. Whether you support me or want to scold me, please visit me in my dreams, okay?" Grace gently touched the tombstone, which had a photo of Evelyn smiling brightly.
Evelyn looked pretty ordinary, but Grace knew this was her mom with makeup on.
When she was little, she thought her mom looked plain. It wasn't until she got older and saw Evelyn putting on makeup that she realized her mom had been hiding her true beauty.
Grace had a cherished photo she secretly took of Evelyn, showing her mom's real beauty. Grace looked a lot like her.
Grace didn't know what Evelyn had gone through, but for her to hide her looks and Grace's too, something must have happened. Maybe even Zach didn't know Evelyn's true appearance.
Now Grace understood her mom's intent. Beauty can be a double-edged sword; it can bring trouble or unfortunate circumstances.
Grace sat there, just chatting with her mom, filling her in on her life.
"Mom, I think I have feelings for someone. I'm not sure if it's love, but being around him makes me happy. Don't worry, I won't get too involved. I'll stay away from the Montgomery family!" Grace said.
Grace didn't expect anything with Xavier. They might part ways and never see each other again.
Her feelings for Xavier might seem trivial to someone as amazing as him.
Xavier was open to more mature interactions, maybe thinking she was easygoing and wouldn't get too attached.
If he knew she had feelings for him, Xavier might find it troublesome, and their relationship would likely end.
Xavier was great but also ruthless. Not all the rumors about him were false.
"Let's not talk about him, Mom. I'll manage the studio well. And the shares you invested in the Lewis Group, I'll get them back someday." By the time Grace stood up, it was afternoon, and her legs were numb. "Mom, I'll visit you again. I'll come often."
It was time to go. She had said everything she needed to.
As she was about to leave, Grace cleaned the small tombstone again and noticed something was off. The stone slab seemed loose.
Grace pressed it and found it wobbly, which wasn't the case before. She called the cemetery staff to fix it.
The staff also found it strange. "Maybe it's just old and worn. I'll fix it right away."
He lifted the stone slab and, just as he was about to reattach it, noticed something was off. "This isn't right," he frowned.
"What's wrong?" Grace asked.
"It looks like someone tampered with it recently. Can I open this area?" the staff asked.
Grace nodded, feeling uneasy. Why would someone mess with her mom's grave?
There was nothing inside except her mom's ashes. Who would touch ashes?
The staff quickly opened it, looking serious. "It's empty. There's nothing inside. Are you sure your mom's ashes were placed here?"
"That can't be. My mom's ashes were always here." Grace had personally placed them inside. She was sure they were there.
She pondered, 'How could it be empty? Where did my mom's ashes go?'
Grace peered inside and confirmed the absence of the ashes. Who would dare to take her mom's remains? Such a heartless act seemed unimaginable. Didn't the person fear any consequences?
Could it be Zach? Zach was always shameless, doing despicable things.
Grace immediately called Zach, who answered quickly this time. "What is it?"
"Zach, did you visit my mom? Did you have someone do this?" Grace asked right away.
She had called off the engagement with the Montgomery family, and Zach had taken their money. The Montgomery family must have given Zach a hard time, so it was possible he did it.
Zach sounded impatient. "What are you talking about? Why would I visit her? Grace, you're unbelievable, calling off the engagement. Have you ever considered me?"
Judging by his tone, it didn't seem like Zach was involved. Grace ended the call. If Zach wasn't responsible, then who could it be?
Suddenly, Ryan's words echoed in her mind: "You will be my wife sooner or later."
She also remembered Xavier's advice to visit her mom when she had the chance.
'Could it be the Montgomery family?'
Grace called Ryan. When he answered, she didn't give him a chance to speak. "Ryan, did you have anything to do with what happened to my mom?"
Ryan's voice sounded surprised and a bit shaky. "You found out?"
"You guys..." Grace was trembling with anger.
She thought Zach was shameless enough to sell his daughter, but the Montgomery family was even worse. They had actually gone so far as to dug up her mom's grave!
"Ryan, aren't you afraid of divine retribution?" Grace shouted. "Don't you have respect for your ancestors' resting places? If you enjoy disturbing graves so much, why not disturb those of your own ancestors?"
Grace's eyes welled up with tears. Some people in this world were truly inhumane, capable of any atrocity, utterly shameless.
"Where are my mom's ashes? Give them back!" Grace yelled.
"Grace, calm down. I didn't do it. I didn't know about it," said Ryan. If Patrick hadn't told him, he wouldn't have known either.
He didn't know when Patrick took Grace's mom's ashes, but having the ashes meant Grace might still agree to marry him. The wedding preparations hadn't been canceled, and the wedding might still happen as planned.
Ryan didn't care about the details; he just wanted to marry Grace.
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