Chapter 10
After the sky burial was complete, everyone departed.
The vultures had long since flown away, leaving only a few scattered feathers and a faint metallic scent on the burial platform.
Aurelia’s remains had been consumed entirely, as if she had never existed in this world.
The burial master’s words still echoed in his ears “The deceased was a pure soul in life. Her spirit will
ascend to heaven.”
A pure soul? How could such a woman possibly be considered pure? Yet the sky burial master’s assessment lodged like a thorn in his heart.
The assistant hesitated for a long time, struggling with whether to investigate further into what had happened years ago. Just as he was about to make a call, his phone rang.
It was Nolan.
“Your leave is about up. Are you back yet?” Nolan’s voice remained cool, carrying an undeniable
authority.
The assistant hesitated briefly before answering, “I’m returning immediately, boss.”
Nolan made a sound of acknowledgment before continuing, “I’ve decided to postpone the wedding for some time. The invitations and venue will need to be rearranged. This time, I want something more
spectacular.”
The assistant’s heart skipped a beat. The wedding was postponed?
He instinctively asked, “Sir, you’re not proceeding with the wedding right away? Will it be delayed for a significant period?”
for
Nolan was silent for a moment, his tone tinged with impatience when he finally spoke. “Evangeline hasn’t fully recovered. A postponement will be better for her health. Return quickly and make arrangem the new wedding plans.”
The assistant nodded, though something felt off.
Though Nolan’s tone was cool, the assistant detected something unusual in it. Could Nolan still love
Aurelia?
After hanging up, the assistant took one final look at the sky, sighing inwardly.
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Chapter 16
He knew he had no reason to continge redigating,
Aurelia was gone, and her secrets were buried forever beneath these snow capped momedios
He turned and left the burial platform, beginning his journey back
Upon returning to North Kingston, the assistant immediately went to Solan’s estate.
Nolan and Evangeline were in the living room discussing wedding detalh
Evangeline’s face glowed with a sweet smile while Nolan occasionally nodded in response to her suggestions.
“You’re back,” Evangeline greeted the assistant with a smile. “Nolan and I were just discussing the wedding. Do you have any suggestions?”
The assistant shook his head, responding respectfully, “Miss Winters, whatever you and Mr. Creed decide will be fine. I’ll support you fully.”
Evangeline nodded with satisfaction and enthusiastically began listing her requirements“We need to choose a new venue, preferably by the sea–I love the romantic atmosphere there. The wedding dress needs redesigning too; I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the previous one. And we should revise the guest
list–I’d like to invite some friends…”
The assistant diligently recorded her requests, though his mind was elsewhere.
His gaze occasionally drifted to Nolan, who, despite sitting beside Evangeline, seemed distant, not fully engaged in the wedding discussion.
“Nolan, do you have any preferences?” Evangeline suddenly turned to him with a smile.
Nolan snapped back to attention and stated flatly, “December 10th is an perfect day. We’ll hold the wedding then.
Both Evangeline and the assistant were taken aback.The date Nolan specified was three months away.
“Three months from now?” Evangeline frowned slightly in displeasure. “Why wait so long? We could
choose a closer date.”
Nolan gave her a level look, his tone calm but brooking no argument “That day is particularly auspicious. Having the wedding then will be better for us. Besides, your body needs time to recover–there’s no rush.”
Evangeline’s expression soured, but she forced a smile and didn’t insist.
She turned to the assistant and asked, “What do you think?”
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Chayas 16
The woodstand fit a wave of tendra, aware that Holes’s derition was final, but also noting Evangeline’s
dissatisfaction
He carefully responded, “Mr. Creed surely hat his reasons. I’ll arrange everything according to his
instructions,”
Evangeline said nothing more, though her expression remained donded.
She changed the subject“What about our honeymoon? Where shall we go? I’m thinking the Maldives, or perhaps Paris would be nice,”
Nolan shook his head, his tone dismissive. “Those places are too common, not particularly interesting”
Evangeline pouted slightly. “Then where would you like to go?”
After a moment of silence, Nolan replied slowly “Tibet.”
The assistant’s heart seized, nearly dropping his pen.
Tibet? Why would Nolan want to go to Tibet?
And Aurelia–why had she chosen to have a sky burial in Tibet?
Could it have been some agreement between them from the past?
Evangeline, oblivious to the assistant’s reaction, frowned and said reluctantly, “Tibet? What’s there to see? It’s cold and desolate–I don’t want to go.”
Nolan glanced at her, his tone leaving no room for argument“Tibet is a sacred place. I want to take you
there.”
Evangeline was about to protest further when Nolan stood up and said to the assistant, “Come with me. I have additional matters to discuss.”
The assistant followed Nolan upstairs, an uneasy feeling settling over him.
Nolan covered some work–related issues, though his manner seemed distracted.
Once the business matters were concluded, he didn’t dismiss the assistant.
Standing in Nolan’s study, the air seemed to thicken around them.
Nolan stood with his back to the assistant, facing the floor–to–ceiling windows. The cigarette in his hand had burned down to the filter, though he seemed not to notice.
The assistant sensed something unspoken, carefully asking, “Sir, is there something else you’d like to
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Chapter 19
discuss?”
After a long silence, Nolan finally asked, “How is… she?”
His voice was deep and hoarse, as if dragged from the depths of his throat.
The assistant’s heart sank. He knew Nolan was asking about Aurelia.
Though Nolan hadn’t mentioned her by name, the assistant understood who “she” was.
He lowered his head, fingers trembling slightly as he struggled to keep his voice steady“Sir, you instructed her never to appear before you again. I believe she’s left North Kingston for abroad.”
Nolan said nothing, standing motionless as if processing this answer.
The assistant could feel a suppressive emotion permeating the air, like the stillness before a storm, making it difficult to breathe.
After what seemed like an eternity, Nolan finally spoke That blood donor… how was that handled?”
The assistant’s heart lurched, his mind instantly recalling Aurelia’s bloodless, pale face.
