Chapter 249
Chapter 24.9
Emily had bought eleven graves, with Austin’s grave being an extra addition. The rest were lined up by age. Zack’s was the only exception. His grave was set apart, right next to Quiana’s.
After having Jeremy’s tombstone engraved, Emily visited Quiana and her grandmother. She had promised Jeremy that she would convey the words he never got to say to Quiana.
She would let Quiana know that all those years, their friendship wasn’t just her one-sided crush. He loved her, too. He’d had feelings for her for a long time.
But because of his family background, he was always afraid of causing trouble for Quiana and her grandmother, so he kept all those feelings locked deep inside.
It wasn’t until one night that he got a call from Quiana. On the other end, all she did was choke out a tearful “Zack.” She didn’t say anything else, but that single word burned through his heart like wildfire.
Quiana always made sure to get enough sleep for her studies. She never stayed up that late, and she wouldn’t call him when she knew he was at the Windrose residence.
He didn’t think twice. He rushed out alone, but not long after leaving the Windrose residence, he was kidnapped. When he woke up, he was already at St. Gabriel Reform Academy.
The fact that he never got to tell Quiana himself that he liked her was the one thing Zack regretted most. Not knowing what had happened that night when she called him was a question that always weighed on his mind.
So, as he lay dying, he gripped Emily’s hand with all his remaining strength, begging her to promise she’d pass on his words. But Emily still wasn’t able to pass on his words.
Emily watched Zack’s tombstone. “I’m sorry. In the end, only you can tell Quiana those words yourself. I hope that if there’s
nother chance, you’ll have a loving family and meet her again when the time is just right.”
All that drama about being the real or fake heir, and all that pain of being the one his parents always favored less… May he never have to go through any of that ever again.
Emily turned her gaze to Quiana’s spot. “That day on the rooftop, I should have held you back.” Every time she thought
bout that day on the rooftop, that’s the one thing she always regretted the most.
Austin walked over and caught those words. He crouched down beside her. “She was already at the end of her rope. Even if you had tried to hold her back, it wouldn’t have helped her. And I believe she never blamed you.”
Emily tilted her head up slightly to look at him. After a long pause, she nodded. “I know.” Zack always talked to her about Quiana, whom he missed so much. Emily knew that Quiana was kind and that she would never hold that against her.
Seeing that she wasn’t dwelling on it, Austin decided not to bring it up again. Instead, he changed the subject. “The hospital just called. They’ve already taken him away. Jeremy won’t be able to find him.”
Emily immediately realized he was talking about Walter, who had survived the car accident, but he’d been in a coma ever
since.
Emily suspected that Jeremy might try something at the hospital, so she sent more people to keep watch over Walter. She knew she couldn’t handle Jeremy’s people on her own, so she went to Austin for help.
Even though they managed to stop Jeremy once, there was no telling if he’d try something again. So, Emily just decided to have someone spirit Walter away. And she could only pull that off thanks to the people Austin had set up for her.
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Chapter 249
Emily had no clue how Austin, who didn’t even have a legal identity in Cloudridge, managed to pull all that off. She just nodded at him and said. “Thanks.” But even as she said it, she quietly told herself that she owed him once.
