Chapter 6

Remy's funeral was on Wednesday morning.

Leona had just put on her black suit when Bastian suddenly called. His voice trembled as he spoke. "Leona... I'm not feeling well."

Leona stopped in her tracks. "What's wrong?"

"I'm really dizzy, and my heart is racing..." His breathing quickened. "Maybe I didn't sleep well last night, and I'm just nervous about today. But the signing ceremony starts at 9:30 am, and all those investors are waiting..."

"Have a doctor take a look." Leona frowned. "I'll get my assistant to—"

"No, don't!" Bastian cut in quickly. "Leona, can you come to the hotel first? I just want you here with me."

Leona looked out the window. The car from the funeral home was already parked downstairs.

Jonas walked out holding a small white box. His steps were slow, and his back was perfectly straight.

Her voice grew heavy. "Bastian, today is Remy's funeral."

"I know... I know. I wanted to be there for Remy too, but look at the state I'm in. Leona, what if I pass out on stage? The foundation just launched, and there's going to be so much press there."

Leona gripped the phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

She looked down again. Jonas had already gotten into the car.

"Bastian..." She clenched her jaw.

"Leona..." Bastian's voice grew weaker and weaker. "Can you... Can you come? I really don't feel right. I'm scared I'll pass out."

Leona closed her eyes, then opened them again.

"Wait for me."

Meanwhile, Jonas stood alone beside the glass-topped casket. A funeral home attendant asked when the rest of the family would arrive.

"There's no one else," he said calmly. "It's just me."

The attendant was taken aback.

Jonas kept his head down, gazing at the small face inside the casket. He remembered so many moments, like Remy's first smile, the first time he said 'Daddy' and his first wobbly steps.

Every memory was vivid, and every one of them cut into him like a blade.

At last, the minister said, "May he rest in peace."

Jonas stepped up to the casket, bent down, and pressed a kiss to his son's forehead.

He spoke softly. "Don't be scared. I'm right here."

The attendant came over to close the casket.

The burns on his face began to ache again, throbbing as if something were burning beneath the skin.

Then a news report suddenly came on the TV in the funeral home lobby.

"Bastian Northcott, head of the Northcott Medical Foundation, made a grand appearance today alongside investor Leona Chalmers."

On screen, Bastian wore a gentle smile and kept sneaking glances at Leona. She stood beside him with a hand resting lightly at the small of his back.

Jonas stared at the image for a long time. On the day of their son's funeral, she was cutting ribbons with another man.

Perhaps Jonas had gone completely numb, because his face showed no expression at all.

After the cremation, Jonas brought his son's ashes home. Holding the urn, he knelt in Remy's favorite spot in the garden and stayed there.

Slowly, the stinging pain in his knees faded into numbness until he could no longer feel them at all.

The sky gradually darkened, and it began to rain. He was soaked through and looked utterly wretched, yet he stayed on his knees without moving.

Over the sound of the rain, he began to hum Remy's favorite lullaby.

"Hush now, sleep now, my sweet little boy..."

His voice was soft and warped by the rain, the tune coming in fits and starts. He hummed all night long, until the sun came up.

Jonas took one last look at the house where his son had grown up, picked up his passport, and murmured to himself. "Remy, let's run away together."

This time, no one stopped him. He made it to the airport and took a window seat on the plane.

He thought back to many years ago, when he had flown to an academic conference for the first time. Leona had wrapped her arms around him and refused to let go.

Jonas had said, "It's only three days."

Leona had said, "Three days is still a long time."

Now, he was never coming back.