Chapter 200 Rose Goes to the Cemetery
The mention of Athena seemed to catch the manager off guard, and his gaze lingered on Rose for a moment longer. The name “Athena” had brought a sudden flash of memory—of a little girl, heartbroken and lost, calling out for her mother in the midst of grief. He hadn’t seen Athena in years, but the image of her clinging to her grandfather all those years ago remained vivid in his mind.
Rose, sensing the manager’s sudden shift in demeanor, straightened her back, her expression cold and distant. “What do you know about Athena?” she asked, her voice sharp, though there was an underlying tremor of fear in it.
The manager hesitated, his eyes darting to the cemetery gates before he spoke. “It’s not my place to speak about families… but I remember Athena. That girl, she—” He stopped himself, swallowing hard. “She was so small, and it’s been a long time, but you were her mother, weren’t you? I haven’t seen her in many years.”
Rose clenched her fists tightly, her nails biting into her palms. The mention of Athena—the daughter she had lost, the daughter who was now so far removed from her—hurt more than she had anticipated. Her mind raced, memories flooding her of a time when Athena was still part of her life, before everything fell apart. She had let go of her daughter, she had distanced herself for reasons she’d never fully explained to anyone, least of all Athena herself. And now, after all this time, the gap between them felt insurmountable.
“Can you help me find her?” Rose asked, her voice quieter now, softer, as if the bitterness from earlier had drained out of her.
The manager looked at Rose again, his face softening as he considered her words. “I don’t know if I can find her for you, but I can tell you this—Athena’s family, they never left her. Even after all these years, she’s been surrounded by people who care about her.” He paused. “And I think she might be happier that way.”
Rose flinched, but she forced herself to hold the manager’s gaze. “I never wanted to hurt her,” she whispered, more to herself than to anyone else. “I just didn’t know what to do…”
Jaxson, who had been standing quietly behind Rose, spoke up, his voice soft but firm. “Madam Stella, you can’t keep running from the past. If you want to make things right, you have to face it head-on. You can’t hide from Athena anymore.”
Rose stood still, taking in Jaxson’s words, but for the first time, she wasn’t sure if she was ready to face the consequences of her actions. She wasn’t sure if Athena could forgive her, or if there was even any chance of healing the wounds that had long since scarred their relationship. But one thing was clear: if she wanted to make amends, it had to start now.
She turned away from the manager, the flowers still clutched tightly in her hand. “Let’s go, Jaxson,” she said quietly. “We’re not done here yet.”
They walked away from the cemetery, and the fog that hung heavy in the air seemed to close in around them. Rose’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but one thing was certain: she couldn’t continue living with the regret of her decisions. The journey ahead would be difficult, but for the first time, she felt a spark of hope—hope that one day, she might be able to find her way back to Athena.
For the first time, she allowed herself to hope for reconciliation.