CHAPTER 359: CHAPTER 359: HIS INNER KNOT

Shane didn’t notice Audrey Sutton’s arrival at first. It was only when he turned around in the pool to swim towards her that he saw her standing on the shore.

He immediately stopped swimming, floated to the surface, casually ran his hand through his wet hair to slick it back, and looked at her, saying, "Finished school?"

Audrey Sutton nodded and approached him, asking, "Didn’t you go to work today?"

Shane gently glided towards the edge of the pool, "I came back after the meeting in the morning."

"Have you cooked?"

Shane grabbed the railing at the edge of the pool and stepped onto the ladder, "I’m waiting for you to cook; your cooking tastes better."

Audrey Sutton gave him a sideways glance, naturally not believing his words, and muttered, "Lazybones."

"You swim a bit longer; I’ll call you when I’ve cooked."

However, Shane followed her into the house. Audrey Sutton put down her bag and headed straight for the fridge, while Shane wiped his head with a towel and walked upstairs.

Audrey Sutton looked at the ingredients in the fridge and asked him, who was heading upstairs, "What do you want to eat?"

Shane glanced at her and said, "Whatever you want to eat."

"Then I’ll stew potatoes for you." Audrey Sutton said this on purpose, knowing he was into fitness and didn’t want to eat high-calorie foods.

Of course, if she insisted on making it, he would eat it, although he’d probably increase his exercise for the day.

In terms of self-discipline, she really admired him.

Normally, he would be down from his shower in just a few minutes, but this time, Audrey Sutton had already finished cooking and he still wasn’t down, so she went upstairs to find him.

She opened the bedroom door and called out, "Hubby, it’s time to eat."

No response came, so Audrey Sutton peeked into the room but found it empty.

She walked out of the room, raised her voice, and called again, "Hubby?"

Since he didn’t respond, when she was about to check the study, she spotted him on a curved balcony next to the gym.

Walking along the narrow corridor, Audrey Sutton reached the balcony and saw him smoking, noticeably different from usual.

She walked up behind him, observed him for a moment, and softly asked, "What’s wrong?"

Shane seemed to be lost in thought; only upon hearing her voice did he realize she was there. He immediately put down the cigarette he’d been about to smoke and extinguished it in the ashtray on the balcony wall.

"Is the food ready?"

Audrey Sutton nodded, asking worriedly, "Is something wrong? You seem to be in a bad mood."

Shane smiled, wrapped his arm around her, and walked down: "Nothing."

"But you’re not acting normal. You always tell me to tell you if something’s wrong, but you never tell me if something’s up."

He smiled as he glanced down at her, sighed, and said, "Come with me somewhere this afternoon, okay?"

Audrey Sutton scrutinized him suspiciously before nodding.

While eating downstairs, perhaps affected by his mood, his appetite was lackluster.

Audrey Sutton, influenced by him, didn’t feel like eating either.

After swiftly tidying the kitchen, she changed clothes and followed Shane out.

She didn’t ask him where they were going, sensing his gloomy mood; she didn’t dare speak carelessly.

The car stopped by the street, and before Audrey Sutton could react, he unbuckled his seatbelt and said to her, "Wait in the car."

Before getting out, he rolled down her window so she wouldn’t feel stuffy staying inside.

Audrey Sutton obediently sat in the car and watched him walk towards a flower shop by the street.

He came out in just a few minutes, holding a bouquet of white gardenias.

White flowers can inevitably remind people of not-so-good things. Coupled with his mood today, Audrey Sutton guessed it might be related to his brother.

Sure enough, the car arrived at the cemetery.

As he led her from the parking lot into the cemetery, he explained the reason: "Today is my brother’s death anniversary."

Audrey Sutton quietly uttered, "Oh."

She wanted to say something to comfort him but didn’t know what to say.

After all, so many years had passed, and anything she said seemed so inadequate.

After walking in the cemetery for a few minutes, they saw Sean Warner’s tombstone.

Audrey Sutton had no contact with Sean Warner when he was alive, but upon seeing the young, smiling face in the tombstone photo, she felt touched, regretful, and sorrowful.

Shane bent down and gently placed the flowers he held before the tombstone, crouched down, and wiped the thin layer of dust off the photo with his hand.

He stared silently at the photo, with Audrey Sutton quietly standing by him.

He was probably saying the words he wanted to say to his brother in his heart. After staring at the photo for a good two or three minutes, he stood up, glanced at Audrey Sutton, and said softly, "Let’s go."

Audrey Sutton was taken aback, seemingly surprised they would leave so soon.

As he led her by the hand on their way back, Audrey Sutton couldn’t help but glance back at the tombstone, then at Shane, pursed her lips, and said, "Your brother would definitely feel happy for you."

Upon hearing this, Shane chuckled and teased, "Because I married such a good wife?"

Audrey Sutton paused again, seeing him smile and able to joke, her mood lightened instantly. She thickened her skin and nodded, "You could say that."

Shane smiled gently, "I hope next time it’ll be three of us here."

Audrey Sutton realized he was referring to having a baby, and she smiled and said, "It likely will be."

Compared to previous years when he came to pay respects alone, having her beside him made him feel much more fulfilled, giving him the sense that he has someone to rely on in this world.

After returning from the cemetery, it seemed like he had collected his thoughts and wasn’t as gloomy.

But Audrey Sutton knew he was merely hiding his internal emotions and hadn’t truly let go.

Maybe it’s because he always believed his brother died unjustly, and the perpetrator wasn’t punished, leaving him unable to let go.

This made Audrey Sutton increasingly want to uncover the truth from back then, to unravel his inner knots.

Yet, the mysterious person seemed to have vanished, and the envelopes never appeared again.

She wondered if that person was also investigating the truth and had discovered something worth sending her.

But if that were the case, what was their motive in sending it to her?

Maybe they thought she could offer some clues and wanted to share with her?

Audrey Sutton decided to find time to carefully study those photos; perhaps they contained links and clues she hadn’t uncovered yet.

She even considered asking Vincent Warner; after all, he was somewhat involved.

But knowing Shane disliked her meeting Vincent Warner, she’d certainly upset him if he knew, so Audrey Sutton dismissed this idea.

For the first time, she hoped that mysterious person would contact her again soon.