She Turned Her Grief Into Wings novel Chapter 43

When Caden Hayes arrived at his mother's grave with his umbrella, he spotted a figure already there.

Helga Sutton.

She was facing the headstone, murmuring to herself in a quiet, tear-choked voice.

He hadn't expected Helga to remember his mother's birthday, let alone arrive before he did.

As he approached, her words drifted into earshot.

“Caden… he’s lost so much weight lately. He’s always so busy with work that he forgets to eat.”

“I’ve tried talking to him, but he won't listen. If you were here, I know you wouldn't be able to stand seeing him like this.”

There were two bouquets of flowers in front of the headstone. One was already wilted—the one he had left during the spring memorial. The other was fresh and blooming, clearly brought by Helga.

White roses. His mother’s favorite.

His parents' marriage had been a business arrangement with zero affection. After his mother passed, his father, Dewitt, had barely visited.

Every year, aside from himself and Shera, almost no one came to pay their respects.

Yet today, he saw Helga here.

Caden stopped in his tracks, staring at her silhouette with a complicated look in his eyes.

Her voice was impossibly soft. Her long hair swayed gently in the breeze as she spoke to the photo on the headstone as though she were simply catching up on family gossip.

“At Mr. Hayes’s birthday banquet the other day, I met Ms. Jewell. She’s beautiful and accomplished, a perfect match for Caden. Sometimes I look at her and see echoes of you.”

“She’s gentle but resilient. I really like her and want to be her friend. It’s just… Ms. Jewell seems to have a deep misunderstanding about me because of my father. I don't know what to do.”

She fell silent for a moment before speaking again. “Caden and I grew up together. I trust his judgment in people. I’m going to work hard to clear up this misunderstanding and make Ms. Jewell accept me.”

She crouched down and lightly touched the photo. A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye. “Please watch over my mom up there. Tell her I miss her so much, but with Caden around, tell her not to worry about me.”

Caden’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Finally, he stepped forward and handed her a handkerchief.

Helga looked at him from the side, her eyes full of heartache.

“We should live well, just like they wanted us to.”

On the drive back, Helga kept biting her lip, looking as though she had something to say.

“What is it?”

As they walked side by side, Caden was the first to break the silence.

Helga hesitated before finally speaking. “That competition…”

Caden stopped walking, not following her train of thought.

Helga lowered her head, her fingers nervously gripping the hem of her jacket. “Is Ms. Jewell participating in that design competition?”

She looked up at him. Seeing his expression shift, she hurried to explain, “No, I wasn't prying on purpose! It’s just that at a gathering the other day, I heard some friends talking about it, and Ms. Jewell’s name accidentally came up.”