I Slept with My Boss and Ran Away

The helicopter arrived at Auroraville, landing in the backyard of Terrence’s villa. Terrence disembarked, holding the urn tightly. “Meredith, we’re home,” he whispered softly.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

The others followed him off the helicopter. Julian had already received the news and set up a mourning hall at home. After a year, Meredith finally returned, but in such a manner.

Julian waited at home and only truly believed Meredith was gone when he saw Terrence carrying the urn off the helicopter. Stella’s words on the phone were true.

Soon, the news of Meredith’s death spread, shocking everyone. How could someone who had survived a shipwreck die so suddenly? To outsiders, Meredith was someone who had miraculously returned from a disaster.

Liam Michaelson and John Wilkinson also received the news and rushed to the Sterling family. The mourning hall was set up with a coffin in the main hall, where Meredith’s urn was placed inside.

Terrence invited some monks to perform rites for Meredith, hoping she would find peace in another world and no longer suffer. The media wanted to interview the Sterling family but couldn’t get past the gate.

When John Wilkinson and Liam Michaelson arrived, Selene explained everything that had happened. Terrence stayed by the mourning hall, his calm exterior making everyone in the Sterling family anxious, fearing it was the calm before the storm.

Terrence knelt devoutly in front of Meredith’s portrait, chanting prayers with the monks. Puffy also came along this time, obediently following his master and helping transcribe Buddhist scriptures.

When Puffy got tired, Stella asked a nanny to take him to rest. As they passed through the garden, Puffy saw a girl squatting among the flowers, poking at something with a stick.

Puffy walked over. “It’s you, little sister.” He recognized Little Lucky as the adorable girl from the mountain months ago. Though she had changed slightly, she was still much the same.

Little Lucky didn’t remember Puffy. She used her stick to clear obstacles for some ants so they wouldn’t get lost and could find their way home. “What are you doing?” Puffy asked as he squatted down beside her.

“Helping the ants get home,” Little Lucky replied softly, her voice sweet and innocent.

Puffy, being older and having grown up on Mount Wutai, understood life and death better. He knew that his master and others were performing rites for Little Lucky’s mother. Like him, Little Lucky no longer had a mother to love her.

Puffy gently patted Little Lucky’s shoulder. “I’ll look after you from now on.” Little Lucky didn’t understand why he said that but smiled sweetly and continued playing with her stick.

The mourning hall was in the front room, and Stella didn’t let Little Lucky go there, worried it would harm her young heart. Meredith’s ashes stayed at home for seven days; Terrence guarded them day and night without leaving.

During the day, he kept vigil; at night, he slept beside the coffin as if lying next to Meredith. The cemetery plot had been arranged, and after seven days, Terrence escorted Meredith to her final resting place.

Meredith’s grave was next to Bianca’s. In those seven days, Terrence had lost weight noticeably; he looked almost unrecognizable.

On the day of Meredith’s burial, the weather was gloomy. At six in the morning, a large procession set out for the cemetery. Prince Darcy bore his grief over losing his daughter; these days left him weak and needing Lady Catherine’s support to walk.

Selene, Azure, Reese-all dressed in dark clothes-came to bid their final farewell. Terrence carried Meredith’s portrait at the front as her coffin was lowered into the grave amidst silent mourning.

Nearly a hundred people attended but remained silent and solemn. Little Lucky stood by Terrence’s side; though young, she understood that her mother was in that coffin and had become a star in the sky. Everyone was here to say goodbye to her mother.

People sympathized with Terrence but also felt for Little Lucky-such a small child without a mother now. Selene noticed an empty plot next to Meredith’s grave; it seemed reserved for someone else-who could it be for?