Chapter 3

Gabriel and Anthony never came home that night.

When Andrea opened the bedroom door the next morning, all she saw was an empty living room.

Her phone suddenly vibrated, and she turned it on to see Gabriel's message.

Gabriel: [Darling, I have a meeting at the office, so I left first. I also dropped Anthony off at kindergarten. Don't forget to eat the breakfast on the table.]

Andrea did not expose his clumsy acting. She replied to him with an "Okay" and headed out. She had no time to indulge in their acting anymore as she had her own things to take care of. Andrea took a taxi to the crematorium and made an appointment for cremation.

The staff registered her information on the computer while asking her who the deceased was.

Andrea said lightly, "Myself."

The staff, who was typing, froze and looked at Andrea with pity, thinking, 'She's so young. What a pity. Does she have a terminal illness?'

Andrea ignored the look of pity and added, "Please send someone to Repulse Bay's Villa No. 9 on October 22nd to collect my body for cremation."

The staff looked at her in shock, wondering how she knew the precise date of her death. "What should we do with the ashes afterward? Should we call and inform your family or..."

Andrea shook her head. "No need. I'll pay extra. Once you're done with the cremation, scatter my ashes."

Her soul would be extracted after leaving this world, leaving her physical body to die. However, she wanted to disappear, leaving Gabriel and Anthony no way to mourn her.

After settling the payment, Andrea walked out with her phone in hand. She immediately noticed three familiar figures not far away.

Gabriel held Hannah in his arms, gently comforting her. Anthony also attentively used a handkerchief to wipe Hannah's tears. The three of them looked so harmonious together that they looked like a happy family.

If only Andrea had not spoken up... "What are you doing?"

As soon as Gabriel and Anthony saw Andrea, they panicked.

One immediately let go of Hannah, who was in his arms, and the other stood upright, just like his father. They instantly created a distance between themselves and her.

Andrea walked over and looked at Gabriel. "Shouldn't you be at work?"

After saying that, she lowered her gaze to her son aside. "And aren't you supposed to be at kindergarten?"

Gabriel hurried to her, his voice tinged with panic. "Andrea, don't misunderstand. While I was on the way to drop Anthony off at kindergarten, I saw her crying uncontrollably by the roadside. I asked her what was wrong and found out she had just lost a close family member. She didn't know what to do, so I brought her to the crematorium. I was only comforting her just now."

Hearing this, Anthony also walked over, tugging at the hem of her clothes. He pitifully explained, "Yeah, Mom! Dad sent Ms. Jennings here because he felt sorry for her. Don't be mad, okay?"

Hannah stopped crying and timidly glanced at Andrea. She bit her lip as she apologized, "Mrs. Fulton, it's my fault for interfering with Mr. Fulton's work and Mr. Anthony's studies. My close family member has passed away, and I'm in deep pain. They were just comforting me. Don't be upset."

There was nothing wrong with her remark, but just as Hannah finished speaking, a crematorium staff member walked up to her, holding a small urn. "Ms. Jennings, your pet dog's ashes are ready."

Andrea took a glance and asked, "Is this the 'close family member' you mentioned?"

Hannah's fingers tightened around the urn as she took it. The sorrow on her face froze. She opened her mouth to explain, but Gabriel spoke first. "Andrea, this dog has accompanied Ms. Jennings for over ten years. They were practically family."

Andrea looked meaningfully at him, but said nothing.

After burying the ashes in a grave, the four of them got into a car and headed to a restaurant. Halfway through the drive, Gabriel looked at Andrea as if he had just remembered something. "Andrea, why were you suddenly at the crematorium today?"

Andrea sarcastically smiled to herself as she pondered, 'You only thought of asking after such a long time.'

She glanced at Hannah sitting in the front and replied calmly, "My friend's dog also died. She could not stop crying, so I had to come on her behalf."