bThe /bbnext /bbday/bb, /bChris bgot /bup very early and prepared quite a few thingsb, /beven buying a bouquet bof /bfresh flowers.

bJessica /bdrove, intending bto /bnavigate directly bto /bbChris’s /bmother’s residentialmunityb, /bbut Chris changed his mind and bgave /bba /b

different baddress/bb. /b

bJessica /bcould see quite a few things in the back seat from the rearview mirror.

Now that Chris had a job, and a stable one with a good sry, he could afford anything he needed, yet he insisted on saving money and taking responsibility for the household expenses.

After all, it was a man’s pride.

The car turned left and right, climbing up the mountain, and finally stopped at the entrance of a cemetery.

Jessica sat silently in the car for a long time, not speaking until Chris took her hand to get out.

But Chris was very happy.

He didn’t me Jessica for not knowing that his mother had already passed away, previouslyb, /bhe had always be /balone to bsee /b

his mother.

Today, atst, he brought his now–divorced wife along. Chris felt d.

They walked the familiar path to the gravestone, and Chris put down all the items one by one carefullyb, /bwhile Jessica held the bouquet in her arms.

Chris wiped the photo on the gravestone clean and smiled, saying, ‘Momb, /byour daughter–inw came to see you. How are you doing? Are you happy? Every time, it was just meing here alone. This time, I finally brought your daughter–inw. You can’t say I’m not doing well now, right?”

Jessica’s heart ached, and after several deep breaths to hold back tearsb, /bshe squatted down beside Chrisb, /bcing the bouquet neatly and looking at the kind woman smiling in the small photo.

“Mom.” Jessica spoke with a choked voice, and after a long momentb, /bshe suppressed her emotion, “Momb, /bsorry for onlying to see you now.”

”

This was what Chris had meant when he said she didn’t understand.

As a daughter–inw, she had not even known when her mother–inw had passed away.

Every time Chris went to see his mother, she only knew to give him ba /bcard and never apanied him.

Five years had passed, and only after the divorce was she brought here to see her once.

Jessica held Chris’s hand, her voice trembling a little, “It’s my fault. These years, Chris has suffered a lot, and I couldn’te to see you either. But don’t worry, it won’t happen again. I will take good care of Chris ande to see you more.”

They stayed by the gravestone for a long time.

The weather grew colder, and Chris worried Jessica might catch a cold.

He said goodbye to his mother and took Jessica back to the car.

This time, Jessica couldn’t hold back and hugged Chris, crying outright.

“Why didn’t you tell me? Every time you went home before, was it always here?”

Chris hummed in response, his emotions steady, gently patting Jessica’s back to soothe her.

“It’s okay. This is my home too. Wherever Mom is, that’s my home as well.”

bChapter /b83

b“/bbWhen /bbdid /bbit /bbhappen/b?b” /b

bActually/bb, /bChris’s bmother /bhad passed away not long after he married bJessica/bb.. /b

bIt /bbhad /bnothing to do with anyone elseb, /bsimply that his mother’s health was too poor, her body systems deterioratedb, /band bshe /bcould no longer be treated.

So bhe /bhad never med anyoneb. /b

bWithout /bany other rtivesb, /bChris handled his mother’s funeral alene and ultimately chose this ce.

A smallb, /boverly quiet cemetery.

This was all the money Chris could afford at the time–it came from his schrship, not a single cent from the Wilder family.

After crying, Jessica sniffled and immediately called Shannon.