The wind didn’t feel cold anymore. It blew gently against her burning eyes, providing a cool and comforting sensation, like a tender hand wiping away her tears.
Winifred feared the dark because it made her mind wander uncontrollably. She would scare herself with thoughts of ghosts appearing behind her, under the bed, or on the ceiling.
It was said that cemeteries were the places with the heaviest yin energy, colder than other areas on the same day. Most people attributed this to psychological effects, while a few believed it was due to the heavy yin energy.
Winifred used to be afraid of ghosts. Now she wished they existed. She remembered a saying: “The ghosts you fear are often the ones others have spent their lives longing to see but cannot.”
“I miss you. Can you appear in my dreams? They say people become ghosts in the form they had before death. Did you wear something nice before you died? You always cared about your appearance. When you visit my dreams, wear something beautiful, like in your portrait. Visit often; otherwise, I might forget you over time.”
Her tears had dried in the wind, but her voice still carried a sobbing tremor.
“You liked the milk I brought you. I’ll bring it here often for you to drink. There won’t be any more milk with medicine in it. I didn’t know that medicine would harm you… I just didn’t want anyone else to take your love. I didn’t want another child calling you ‘Dad.’ Please don’t be mad at me anymore.”
Winifred clutched her phone tightly. She didn’t know how long she had been there, only that her body had gone numb from the cold. If she stayed crouched by the tombstone, it could shield her from the wind. But she couldn’t stay there forever; she had things to face, no matter how painful or exhausting.
She played a recording on her phone again. Gregory’s weak voice called out to her repeatedly, “Winifred.”
Each call made her respond with a soft “Hmm,” as if answering him.
…
Leland got into the car and actually told the driver to drive away. He seemed unconcerned about Winifred’s well-being.
The driver, however, looked worried. After driving for a while, he asked, “Mr. Burns, should I come back later to pick up Miss Dawson?”
Leland glanced coldly at the rearview mirror. “Are you that concerned about her?”
The driver’s heart skipped a beat at Leland’s icy tone and he dared not say more.
Leland looked out the window. “It’s not going to rain tonight, and no one will be in the cemetery. Even if she sleeps there overnight, nothing will happen.”
“But Miss Dawson is a woman and easily scared…”
“Scared?” Leland sneered as if hearing a joke. “She wasn’t afraid when she drugged her father; why would she be afraid of this?”
The driver hesitated. “Mr. Burns, shouldn’t we explain what happened back then to Miss Dawson…”
Before he could finish, he felt a chill down his spine as he met Leland’s icy gaze in the rearview mirror. Fortunately, his strong nerves kept him from swerving off the road.
“Do you know what should and shouldn’t be said?”
“I understand.” The driver quickly responded, ending the conversation. He drove nervously until they reached Autumn Joy Estate.
“Mr. Burns, we’re here.”
Leland had been looking at his phone during the drive, perhaps waiting for Winifred to call him after thinking things through. But an hour passed without any call.
He opened his contacts and hovered over Winifred’s name several times but never pressed it, eventually returning to his home screen.
“Wait here for further instructions; don’t leave.”
“Okay.” The driver nodded, thinking that despite Leland’s outward indifference towards Winifred, he couldn’t let go of her in his heart. They were like two peas in a pod.
He guessed it wouldn’t be long before Leland asked him to pick Winifred up.
A contradictory man indeed.
Leland got out of the car and opened a page on his phone displaying a map with a red dot that started moving seconds later, giving him an uneasy feeling.
His phone suddenly vibrated with an incoming call from Winifred, covering the map display.
Leland steadied himself, thinking he was overreacting. How could anything happen to Winifred there? He was certain she wouldn’t do anything foolish after listening to those recordings.
She cared about Gregory and Garrison; these attachments were her weaknesses and would keep her from seeking death.
Another reason was hatred; someone as proud and fiery as Winifred would seek revenge before leaving this world.
Leland felt confident in his assessment of her and answered the call nonchalantly: “So, have you thought it through? If so, I’ll send the driver to pick you up…”