One month later, it was finally summer. Cody went to the cemetery with his family. They had found Clyde’s bones, and they could finally put what remains of him into a proper tomb.
Franco stood before the tombstone for a really long time. And he barely said anything as he looked at Clyde’s photo on the stone.
“Clyde, my sweet boy, now you can finally Rest In Peace above. Your brothers are very brave, and they made those people who did this to you pay. You also have a brave nephew and a smart niece. Everything is going great now. The house is finally safe, and we don’t have any enemies who dare to covet our wealth and power.”
Franco’s tears started to flow as he talked to Clyde.
Cody knew Pop was getting weak lately. He thus went forward to comfort him, “Pop, don’t be sad. I’ll take care of you. Let’s go back and play chess. Mr. Weston is still waiting for us.” Franco nodded as he looked at his lovely great-grandson, “Of course. Let’s go.”
Before they left the cemetery, Cody went back to the car and grabbed a bouquet of lilies he bought on the road, and went to a tomb not far from Clyde’s.
On the tombstone, Lana White’s face was smiling brightly at him.
The boy put the bouquet of flowers before the tomb and nodded, “Thank you.”
“Cody?” Linford’s voice called from a distance as he turned in Cody’s direction, “What are you doing there?”
“I’ll tell Dad that you’re a great woman. Thanks for saving my life,” Cody whispered before running off.
****
Things went pretty smoothly after they went back to the mansion. However, three days later, Claire suddenly told Cristelle that she was going to leave with Frank.
“Where are you going?” Cristelle asked nervously.
“Relax, Cristelle,” Claire smiled, “We’re not leaving this country. We’re only returning to our hometown, which is not even that far from this city. Frank and I… are getting married. We need to go back and pay his family a visit. We don’t care about the wedding, but manners can’t be skipped. I want you to keep it a secret because we really want to keep it low-key.”
“Aunt Claire is getting married!” Candace suddenly bounced up and down on the spot before running off to tell everyone about the good news, leaving her Mom and aunt behind with their jaws hanging loose.
“Sorry about that.” Cristelle turned to smile apologetically at her sister, “Guess we won’t be able to keep it low-key for now. When are you gonna hold the wedding? I want to go back to our hometown to help you.”
Linford went upstairs after a short while, smiling as he entered the door, “You’re getting married, Claire? Congratulations. When will be the wedding date? Cristelle must want to go back and help you. Oh, Cristelle, you’re here. I thought you were in the kitchen.”
Claire shook her head and smiled defeatedly, “You two really share the same brain cells, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley.”
Frank walked over and pulled Claire to his side, giving her a peck on the forehead.
“Congratulations,” Drew also came upstairs, “Hey, Frank. We should definitely go grab a drink tonight. It’s disappointing that you never mention this to us. So it will be your treat tonight.”
Frank’s laughter rang through the entire room, “Of course.”
“Where’s Fritzi?” Cristelle asked, “I need to tell her about this good news as well. She mentioned that she would love to attend Claire and Frank’s wedding.”
“Oh…” Linford suddenly looked a bit sad, “Fritzi’s leaving.”
“What?!” Cristelle’s mouth dropped open as the smile on Drew’s face froze, “Where’s she going?”
“I don’t know. But she quit the job a couple of days ago. She only said she was gonna leave this country sooner. I remember her plane would take off today.” Linford shrugged, casting a meaningful look at Drew. Drew was just standing there with his face pale.
Was she leaving? Was she leaving with Paul?
Before he could react, however, a call suddenly came in. Drew took out his phone and noticed the caller was Paul. Was he calling to ask him to go to their wedding? He didn’t want to pick it up, but he wanted to know how Fritzi was doing lately.
So he swiped the button up, “Hello?”
“Fritzi’s leaving. The plane will take off at 12. She’s on her way to the airport right now.”
Drew frowned, “And?”
“And?” Paul sounded a bit annoyed for some reason, “She’s alone and pregnant. She needs somebody.”
“She’s pregnant?” Drew’s jaw dropped, “Con… congratulations?”
“You don’t need to congratulate me. The baby is not mine anyway. I said she was alone and she needed you, and you only want to congratulate me? No wonder she’s so mad at you!” Paul almost yelled at the other end.
“Wait… the baby is not yours? Then.” Drew stuttered. Fritzi was all alone, and she needed him.
“She’s five months pregnant. I really don’t want to explain anything to you anymore, man. If you don’t know what this means, then you are really stupid,” Paul hung up the phone.
If Fritzi was five months pregnant, then…. the father was definitely him.
Drew cast a look at his clock, and it was already half past 11. Could he even make it there on time?
Drew stood up from his seat, his eyes wild.
“Whoa! What’s wrong, bro?” Frank was a bit freaked out by the way Drew acted.
“I need to go to the airport NOW!” Drew was anxious.
Linford nodded, “Let’s drive my car.”
When Drew got in Linford’s sports car, he was still calling his grandpa, “No, Grandpa. Fritzi is different. Anyway, do you want your grandchildren or not? You need to do everything you can!”
****
Fritzi was brought into the security room right before she could take the flight. All the passengers were looking on as the airport security guards took her.
They probably thought she was a drug dealer or a criminal escaping her committed crimes.
The security guards didn’t explain anything. They only told her she was kept because they got orders from the higher administration.
Fritzi was locked in the room, confused and frustrated.
She banged the locked door with her palm, yelling. “No! You guys need to let me go immediately! I don’t care who gives you the orders! Let me go immediately, or I’ll call the police!”
Drew showed up about 10 minutes later. His hair looked like a mess, and his eyes were wild. He looked like he had run all the way here.
Fritzi fell silent as she engaged with his gaze. For some reason, the air seemed to become still.
Drew didn’t take his eyes away from Fritzi as he approached her.
And, suddenly, he pulled out a ring and got on one knee to the ground, “Would you marry me, Fritzi?”