CHAPTER 329: CHAPTER 329: MEMORIAL AND THE SUSPECT PORTRAIT

A gust of wind blew past.

A jingling melody came to his ears.

Julian Lawson looked towards the direction of the sound and saw a string of wind chimes.

The wind chimes danced with the wind, playing a lullaby that could lull a child to sleep.

"Sleep, my dear baby..."

It seemed as if Serena Sterling’s gentle, loving voice was softly singing by his ear.

Julian Lawson felt like he was having a hallucination at that moment.

He seemed to see Serena holding their child, gently patting the child’s back, and singing a nursery rhyme to lull them to sleep.

But the hallucination shattered.

What remained were two graves standing there, and a swaying wind chime.

Julian Lawson was stunned.

The pain radiated from his heart to his fingertips, constantly aching.

He looked down sadly and saw a Dream-Inducing Net placed not far away.

He remembered Serena’s troubled sleep.

Being awakened by nightmares, did she also hope that the children would come to find her in her dreams every night?

Julian Lawson’s tightly clenched hand was trembling.

The pain was unbearable at this moment.

Jude Chaucer was watching from not far away at this moment.

After pushing Julian Lawson here, he had gone to buy offerings like paper money.

Now Jude Chaucer had a handful of paper money, paper houses, small clothes, toy cars, various appliances, and even paper cats and dogs representing pets.

He thought for a moment and then brought the lighter and these items to Julian Lawson. After handing them to Julian Lawson, he walked a bit farther away.

"Click."

The sound of the lighter igniting could be heard as Julian Lawson lit the paper money and paper items, burning them one by one.

He burned them for a long time.

After an unknown amount of time had passed, Julian emerged, wheeling himself out.

"President Lawson." Jude Chaucer looked at him with concern.

Julian Lawson’s eyes were bloodshot, his pupils slightly unfocused.

"Let’s go." He said, pausing for a moment before adding, "Find Vera Hansen."

He looked up at Jude Chaucer and said, "You must find her!"

"Yes!" Jude Chaucer understood immediately and responded.

...

Serena Sterling and Silas Hawthorne arrived at the cemetery in the evening.

Serena didn’t let Silas go up with her; she was alone carrying items for the memorial.

However, when she arrived at the grave, she noticed traces of someone else having paid their respects.

Who was it?

Serena looked up at the tombstone.

She called the administrator and learned that someone in a wheelchair had come earlier with others.

Julian Lawson.

So he knew about this place.

Serena slightly lowered her eyes.

Without thinking too much, she picked up the lighter.

With a "pop," she struck it and ignited the paper money.

In the heat of the flames, Serena’s vision became blurred.

She remembered that day, a cloudy day, sitting alone here with a carving knife, carefully engraving words on the tombstone.

She had thought about many things that day.

Her two children, her relationship with Julian Lawson, her company, other people, and all the things she intended to do in the future.

Until at last, she finished engraving all the words.

She placed wind chimes and a Dream-Inducing Net here.

"Remember to come find me, okay?" she whispered that day.

But in all these days, she hadn’t dreamed of them even once.

She didn’t even know what they looked like.

Right now, in the cemetery.

Serena was placing the paper items into the fire one by one.

The sun beyond the horizon was slowly setting, leaving only a sliver of light in the sky.

This made the flames before her appear especially bright.

Somehow, a breeze blew.

The wind lifted the ashes, along with the still-burning embers, encircling her.

The flames and ashes danced and swirled.

As if the two of them were holding hands around her.

Serena’s lips parted slightly, and her eyes welled with tears.

"Is it you?" she asked softly, reaching out toward the flames.

The feeling of burning engulfed her, but she didn’t stop.

The flames continued to flicker, and the wind moved the chimes, producing a clear sound.

Below, in the vehicle, Silas Hawthorne watched the distant fire, waiting quietly.

He wanted to help her, to lead her out of her pain.

But he knew that all of this required a process.

And what he could do was accompany her, help her.

Whatever she wanted, whatever she wished to do, he would gather and accomplish it for her.

No matter what it was.

...

Time slowly passed.

The night deepened.

This was destined to be a sleepless night.

Many people tossed and turned in bed.

Serena looked at the moon outside the window, her heart heavy with unexplainable feelings.

After thinking for a bit, she got up quietly and went to Seraphina’s room.

Seeing Seraphina sound asleep, holding a little cat, looking adorable, Serena smiled and tenderly touched Seraphina’s little cheek.

"Meow~" A ragdoll cat noticed Serena and mewed softly.

Serena understood its meaning and reached out to free it from Seraphina’s arms.

The kitten crawled into Serena’s embrace, nestling into her, and Serena scratched the kitten’s chin, making it purr.

Holding the cat with one hand, and watching Seraphina turn over, Serena tucked Seraphina in, feeling a deep sense of peace within.

A shadow was cast from the doorway.

Serena looked over and found it was Silas Hawthorne.

He noticed her gaze, walked over to her, and sat by her side.

"Meow~" The kitten mewed softly by way of greeting, then buried its head in Serena’s arms again.

Silas chuckled and nodded, reaching to gently poke the kitten’s head with his finger.

Since Serena and her children arrived, this chubby ragdoll preferred staying with Serena and Seraphina, treating him with indifference.

Serena glared at Silas and reached out to protect the kitten.

The kitten mewed pitifully, nudging closer to Serena.

It seemed to be complaining: He bullied me, poked my head, look at him, look at him!

This exaggerated act made Serena laugh.

Silas chuckled helplessly.

He wrapped an arm around Serena’s shoulders, letting her lean against him.

Moonlight streamed through the window, elongating their shadows behind them.

Elsewhere, Julian Lawson was leaning alone on a bed, gazing at the high-hanging moon outside.

On the bedside table was a Tanzanite stone reflecting the moonlight’s micro light.

Incapable of closing his eyes.

...

The next day.

Chloe Langley arrived at the hospital with her team.

She first informed Will and his wife about Vera Hansen’s matters and the search operation.

Then, she introduced her colleagues to Will.

And she said, "Later on, we’ll make a sketch. You describe it, and my colleague will draw based on your description to recreate the appearance of the perpetrator you saw that day."

"Can you manage it?" Chloe Langley asked with concern.

After all, Will had just woken up a few days ago.

Will nodded firmly, more eager to catch the person quickly, otherwise, he always felt like his life was in danger and was worried.

They soon began.

After an uncertain amount of time, finally, a sketch appeared before everyone.

"Will, is this the person?" a colleague asked.