A bouquet of red roses, baby's breath flowers, and a music box adorned with a tiny ballerina figurine in a graceful light pink costume—these three items filled Chelsea's arms as she held them close to her chest.
She wore a knee-length black dress with long sleeves, dark sunglasses, a mask, and a matching black fedora.
To arrive at this place without raising suspicion, Daniel Jiang had gone so far as to rent a car. He temporarily left behind the primary vehicle to avoid drawing attention.
If anyone saw his employer's car parked near the cemetery, it could easily lead to the discovery of Chelsea Moon's true identity.
She stood before two adjacent graves, each marked with a photograph radiating warmth and joy—images that tore at Chelsea's heart every time she visited her parents' final resting place.
Ronan Zhang and Margareth Li.
Those two names would never fade. They were burning flames embedded deep in her heart, etched permanently in her mind, and the greatest reason she had returned to this country—the very place that had once forced upon her its darkest memories.
"Hi, I'm here." Chelsea forced a smile. It hurt, but she had to.
Her parents needed to see their daughter smile, didn't they?
"I came back to see you, Mom and Dad. I'm visiting with someone." She glanced behind her—where Daniel Jiang stood about a meter away.
Responding to her silent cue, Daniel stepped forward and bowed respectfully before the graves, offering a gesture of honor, even though he had never met Chelsea's birth parents in his life.
"Greetings to Uncle and Aunt in heaven. My name is Daniel Jiang, Miss Chelsea's bodyguard."
"Now someone is protecting me, always by my side, so I'll be alright." She took a deep breath. "My adoptive parents are very kind, just like how you used to care for me. But... it will never be the same. I still miss you, every day."
Chelsea knelt to place the bouquet of red roses, the baby's breath, and the music box in front of the graves.
"I still remember Mom's favorite flower—baby's breath. You always picked them when we walked up the hill behind the house. Wasn't that so sweet? You used to say I was like a baby's breath—pure and innocent."
Daniel remained silent, soaking in the peaceful surroundings of the cool late spring afternoon.
"This ballerina... If you hadn't gone away, maybe my childhood dream could've come true." She removed her sunglasses and mask, revealing eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I was still wearing my ballet costume back then, I still... still—"
Her sobs broke free.
Chelsea collapsed to her knees in front of the graves, hands clutching the neatly trimmed grass beneath her.
How devastating it was, to grow up as someone who remembered every joyful moment of a happy childhood—only to have it all stolen by the greed of others.
How brave she was, to turn such pain—etched permanently in her memory—into a reason to grow stronger and face the world with courage.
She would cry here, pouring every ounce of her sorrow in front of her parents' graves.
The fact that Chelsea hadn't even been present at their funeral made her seethe with rage.
She often wondered—how many people came to pay their respects? Did the criminals responsible for her parents' deaths feign sadness for everyone to see?
"Of course, the bastards who stole you from me will face a defeat they cannot escape. I've stayed alive for this rage."
On the day of her parents' funeral, little Chelsea was likely still aboard a ship with Tomy Xu—how many vessels had they boarded, fleeing from one dock to another, just so she could survive, no matter how painful it was.
"So believe me, I'll carry this vengeance to my grave." She lifted her head, smiling with grace and confidence—the way she always did. "Mom, Dad—I curse every single person involved in your deaths. Rest in peace."
Chelsea turned as Daniel Jiang quietly joined her side and knelt beside her, offering his handkerchief.
She placed a few folded bills at the edge of the grave, then set them alight until they turned to ash.
"When that day comes, they'll know who I am—the girl whose life was shattered with nothing left. And they'll be defeated, left with nothing as well."
Once she felt more composed, Chelsea put her mask and sunglasses back on and left the cemetery with Daniel Jiang at her side.
"I have to go home. I'll come back another day. See you soon."
***
The late spring breeze carried a sense of suffocation, as if she were shackled by chains and trapped in a space far too small—pressing against her lungs.
But instead of struggling to free herself, Chelsea rather welcomed the pain. She needed that ache, that forceful push, to do something. And if she succeeded in what she aimed to achieve, the chains binding her would eventually fall away on their own.
Daniel Jiang's car pulled into the driveway at the exact moment Jonas' vehicle arrived. The two cars parked side by side, and both drivers and passengers exited simultaneously.
Although Chelsea had stopped crying, the traces of sorrow still lingered on her face, coloring her expression with a quiet melancholy. Jonas frowned slightly as he glanced between his personal driver and his wife.
Chelsea looked at him—briefly. But she didn't say anything. No teasing remark. No sarcastic greeting like she usually offered whenever they crossed paths.
She simply walked past him, silent, unbothered, disappearing through the front door without a single word. Daniel Jiang bowed respectfully, a gesture met with a curt nod from Jonas.
"There was a flicker of surprise in his eyes when Chelsea acted indifferent," Daniel muttered as he watched Jonas walk across the yard, before turning to return to the pavilion.
Jonas rarely came home in the late afternoon, but when he did, he never expected to be greeted by such a heavy atmosphere. It wasn't supposed to affect him—but it did. He couldn't deny a strange curiosity about his wife's mood.
At one point, he peeked into the bedroom, pausing for a few seconds at the door as Chelsea paced around the dressing room, stripping off her clothing one piece at a time. The sight made Jonas' ears flush red, and he quickly turned away.
"Am I that terrifying to him, that he always flees whenever I'm like this?" Chelsea had sensed his presence.
The black dress she had worn earlier was now replaced by a comfortable bathrobe. She only needed a shower before resting.
This villa had several spots ideal for relaxing or calming the body after a long day—besides the pool area, there was a gazebo in the garden, a mini bar, or even the quiet escape of the library.
One could choose any of them for a moment of peace. Jonas had spent some time in the library, simply lying on the long sofa by the large window, the curtain swaying in the breeze.
He remained there until the sun had fully set.
"Pardon me, Sir. Madam Wen has prepared dinner," a servant approached as Jonas emerged from the library.
"Oh. Is Chelsea there?"
"No, sir. Madam is still resting in her room."
"I see... I'll freshen up before dinner."
"Yes, Sir." The servant bowed and stepped aside as Jonas made his way to the master bedroom.
His thoughts remained clouded by Chelsea's odd behavior. Though it hadn't truly altered the way he treated her, something about her silence had triggered a deeper level of curiosity within him.
She should've been waiting at the dining table by now. Her earlier coldness and silence flashed in his mind again—especially the look on her face when she stepped out of the car that evening.
"You—" he murmured with a frown, pushing the door open.
Chelsea was already asleep, curled on the left side of the bed. She looked exhausted, having easily surrendered to sleep.
Usually, even if Jonas came home late, Chelsea would still be awake—sometimes in the dining room without waiting for him, or chatting outside with Daniel Jiang at the pavilion, their familiarity often blurring the lines of propriety.
Is she sick?
Jonas stepped closer, pausing as he stood beside her. After a brief hesitation, he reached out and gently pressed the back of his hand to her forehead.
"Hhmm... Dad, Mom... let's meet again... I miss you so much…"
Jonas flinched. She was speaking in her sleep, her voice thick with emotion, tears streaming from the corners of her closed eyes. Her hands clutched the blanket tightly, trembling, as if she were holding onto something precious.
"No! Don't go! I'm still here… Don't leave me… please don't…"
Jonas stood frozen, watching Chelsea tremble and sob in her sleep—clearly gripped by something heartbreakingly painful.
"Hey... Wake up."
Jonas briefly flinched just to think whether he should help her or let her stay that way.
The situation and his final decision was to yell for the waiter to call Doctor Ye Lan.
***