As they approached the highway, an unusual purple-gray SUV caught their attention, parked conspicuously among more traditionally colored vehicles.
Oliver maneuvered their car to pull up alongside it, and Camille immediately leaned out from the passenger window, calling out, “Elizabeth!”
Albin, seated at the wheel behind her, also leaned forward and said, “Hey, Elizabeth.
Elijah.”
Albin’s presence surprised Elizabeth. She shut her laptop and asked, “Albin? What are you doing here?”
Before Albin could explain, Camille interjected, “He was free, so he decided to help out. Hiring a driver for such a long drive gets pricey, and I’m trying to manage my expenses now that I’m on my own.”
Elijah gave them a doubtful look, clearly skeptical of her rationale.
Brushing off his scrutiny, Camille suggested, “Let’s skip that topic. Elizabeth, why don’t you hop in here with us? You and I can squeeze into the back. I’ve downloaded loads of movies. We can watch them together!”
“Sure!” With enthusiasm, Elizabeth quickly exited their car.
She had grown weary of overhearing Elijah’s discussions about multimillion-dollar deals, finding them increasingly disheartening.
She slid into the back seat of the SUV, and as she was about to close the door, she saw Elijah stepping out of his car.
Maintaining a neutral demeanor, he said, “I need a break from work. I’ll join you for the movie.”
Camille promptly shut the door, blocking his entry. “Sorry, no space left.”
In the front, Albin tried to remain inconspicuous. As Elijah approached, Albin discreetly pressed down on the gas pedal.
Left standing alone, Elijah’s expression darkened with irritation.
As they drew closer to Esterhall, Elizabeth’s initial playfulness waned.
Memories of her youth in that town, of her grandmother and mother, began to stir within her.
Out of the blue, Elijah called, and his voice came through her phone, asking, “Do you want to stop and see your mom before we head home?”
Elizabeth’s gaze shifted outwards, noticing Elijah had lowered the rear window of his car at some point. He was holding his phone, his eyes fixed on her.
With her window still raised, it seemed impossible for him to see her clearly.
However, his intense, steady stare gave her the unsettling feeling that he could look right through the barrier— as if he could peer into her soul.
Feeling a flutter in her heart, she responded in a gentle voice, “Okay.”
After ending the call, she addressed Camille, saying, “I need to visit my mom’s grave first. Why don’t you and Albin grab something to eat?”
Camille paused the movie on her tablet and looked up. “No, we’ll accompany you.”
Albin checked the rearview mirror and said, “We aren’t hungry anyway. It’s more important to visit your mom since we’re all here.”
Upon reaching the cemetery, they found the area in disarray due to ongoing expansion work. The mess made it impossible for the car to proceed.
They parked their vehicle alongside the road and disembarked for a stroll. Elijah was holding a bouquet of roses in one hand while firmly clasping Elizabeth’s hand with the other.
Hidden beneath a blanket of dirt, the ancient stone steps caused Elizabeth to falter as she sought stable footing. Elijah, on the other hand, stood unflinchingly by her side.
During such instances, he consistently provided a sense of security, a sentiment she had deeply cherished in the past.
Previously, she had been captivated by this feeling, relying on it fervently, even to the detriment of her self-esteem.
However, as she now contemplated distancing herself, the familiarity of this security unnerved her, fearing it might soften her resolve.
While reflecting on these thoughts, she turned to Camille, saying, “Camille, let me give you a hand.”
Camille, preoccupied and looking elsewhere, responded skeptically, “Really? With your slender arms, how much can you actually help?”
Instead, she grabbed Albin’s arm and scolded, “Can’t you see I might need help? Why aren’t you assisting me?”
Albin quickly adjusted to support her better. “You should have mentioned something.”
“You should have mentioned something.”
“Do I have to spell out everything?” retorted Camille, clearly irritated.
Elizabeth’s effort to distance herself from Elijah’s support was unsuccessful. Disheartened, she faced him again.
Wanting to divert from her internal conflict, she queried, “Is it just me, or is something odd going on between Camille and Albin?”
Elijah cleared a branch from their path with a flick of his foot and smirked. “Just catching on, are you?”
His tone bore a teasing edge, implying her slow realization.
She shot him a stern look. “Camille is a decent person…”
With a playful raise of his eyebrow, Elijah responded, “The type of ‘decent’ who introduces you to male escorts?”
Elizabeth tensed up. “Don’t bring that up. Just ensure he doesn’t complicate things for Camille.”
Elijah laughed softly. “They’re grown-ups. It’s not my place to dictate their dating choices.”
Elizabeth found herself without rebuttal.
“Wait, who’s that over there?” Elijah suddenly paused, his focus shifting to a figure ahead.
