"What did you just say?" Sena asked, taking a step back, her voice tinged with fear as she hid behind Carmen, "Mom."


    "Charles, today is your grandmother''s funeral—”


    "Oh, now Auntie remembers it''s Grandma''s funeral?" Charles cut Carmen off, his tone icy and sharp.


    Evelyn pulled away from Charles''s embrace, steadying herself before walking inside without a backward nce. Charles watched her slender figure disappear, then turned his gaze to Sena.


    "What did I tell you before?" he asked.


    Sena knew exactly what he meant. Back in the hospital, she had called Charlie a "little brat," and Charles had pped her hard, sternly warning her. Being sent away overseas without the Jenkins family''s influence, and with her credit cards cut off, life had be unbearable. She dared not cross Charles again.


    Sena raised her hand and gave herself a light p. "Bro, I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have said that about Charlie."


    Charles continued to watch her with cold eyes. Sena, driven by fear, pped herself again, much harder this time.


    "If it weren''t for Grandma''s funeral today, it wouldn''t have stopped at just two ps," Charles said, his voice frosty. Then he turned and walked inside. Before entering, he paused and looked back at Sena and Carmen. "Charlie is my daughter, and Eve is Charlie''s mom. That will never change."


    The implication was clear: he would protect them both. No one was allowed to bully Evelyn or say anything bad about Charlie.


    Evelyn had no idea about the


    confrontation happening behind her. Even if she did, she wouldn''t have cared. She walked inside, ignoring Patrick''s disapproving nce, and headed straight to Rosa''s casket: Tears streamed down her face as she knelt, bowing her head in respect to the woman who had been like a grandmother to her. After paying her respects, she moved to a quiet corner and knelt down again.


    She wasn''t part of the Jenkins family, so she didn''t have the right to mourn openly for Rosa. But in her heart, Rosa was her grandmother, and she wanted to stay by her side a little longer. Evelyn remained kneeling until all the mourners had left, then she tried to stand. Her legs were numb from kneeling too long, and she stumbled.


    A strong hand caught her just in time. Without looking up, Evelyn knew it was Charles. His voice, heavy with sorrow, whispered beside her ear, "It''ste. Why don''t you rest in Grandma''s courtyard for the night?"


    He had to stay for the vigil and couldn''t take her home. Evelyn didn''t respond, just shook off his hand and walked away from the funeral hall. She didn''t head to Rosa''s courtyard. Without Rosa, the Jenkins family meant nothing to her. She walked away under the moonlight, the night growing darker around her.


    After leaving the Jenkins Estate, Evelyn drove aimlessly. Rosa''s death weighed heavily on her heart.


    Charles had told her that if she


    hadn''t used Dahlia of causing Charlie''s death, maybe Rosa wouldn''t have died seeking revenge. Evelyn knew it was Dahlia who caused her grandmother''s death. But if she hadn''t told Rosa during hera about Charlie''s death and Dahlia''s involvement, maybe Rosal wouldn''t have confronted Dahlia, and maybe she''d still be alive.


    And Charlie-if Evelyn hadn''t harbored fantasies about Charles loving his daughter, if she hadn''t filled Charlie''s head with those ideas, maybe Charlie wouldn''t have pinned so much hope on him. Maybe she wouldn''t have waited so eagerly for his attention, and her condition wouldn''t have worsened. Maybe Charlie would still be alive.


    Two voices battled inside Evelyn''s heart. One told her it was Dahlia''s fault Charlie died, that it wasn''t her fault. The other voice used her relentlessly: it was her, it was her, it was her. She felt suffocated, struggling to breathe.


    She didn''t even realize where she was until she suddenly mmed on the brakes, the caring to a halt by the roadside. She got out, leaning against the car, trying to catch her breath. Fresh air hit her face, but she still felt like she was drowning. The voices in her head were silenced by a single, overpowering thought: if it wasn''t for her, Rosa and Charlie wouldn''t have died. It was her fault.


    Without realizing it, she wandered to the riverbank. Staring into the dark water, she wondered if jumping in would set her free. She was so tired, and she missed Charlie terribly. The thought of ending it all surfaced, and Evelyn knew she was spiraling. She''d forgotten to take her medication in thest few days, but she couldn''t fight the impulse anymore.


    "Charlie, Mommy''s sorry..." she whispered, feeling useless for not avenging Charlie, and for dragging Rosa into it. "Charlie, Mommy''sing to join you."


    Evelyn touched the ne around her neck, closed her eyes, and leaned forward. With a ssh, she jumped into the water.