Chapter 232
When Cecilia concluded the acupuncture treatment, Evan felt a significant relief from his pain, prompting him to slowly sit up on the bed.
As he began to stretch, Cecilia halted his movements.
“Evan, avoid moving around too much. Acupuncture can help for now by numbing the pain, but it’s not a permanent fix. Once the acupuncture wears off, the pain might come back, and it could be worse. Try to take it easy to prevent more discomfort.”
Evan obediently withdrew his hand.
The past few days had been a grueling ordeal of confinement to his bed, and he was growing restless.
If he did not regain his mobility, he would go stir–crazy!
Cecilia helped Evan settle into a wheelchair which she had prepared beforehand.
“Aiden, usually, acupuncture doesn’t come with any major side effects, and the increased pain is just a short–term thing. No need to worry.” Evan managed a reassuring smile. “I’m not too bothered. I can handle a little discomfort.”
With Aiden steering the wheelchair, they made their way to the living
room.
Their butler, Bruce, had meticulously prepared the offerings for their visit to their parents‘ grave.
“Mr. Shaw, I’ve placed the candles and flowers in the trunk. It’s safer to carry the food offerings to avoid any spills,” he informed.
Aiden nodded and reached out to take the food container.
“Cecilia, you can push Evan’s wheelchair, and I’ll lend a hand to
Grandma.” Having made that arrangement, Aiden turned his attention to Christopher. “You’re welcome to come along, too.”
He recognized Christopher’s intention to pay his respects at the
cemetery. His invitation to Christopher was a subtle yet profound sign of his acceptance of the latter.
That spontaneous invitation took Christopher by surprise, causing him to freeze for a couple of seconds. He hurriedly responded, “Okay. Thank
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you, Aiden.”
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He had originally planned to visit the cemetery but had not expected Aiden’s invitation. Being asked to join was a whole different thing from him wanting to go on his own.
Initially, he had thought that winning over Aiden would be the most challenging, but without any effort on his part, he had secured the other man’s acceptance.
Cecilia, too, was taken aback by Aiden’s decision.
She had never expected her typically hard–to–please brother to grant Christopher an easy entry.
In response to her inquisitive gaze, Aiden smiled and said, “Christopher practically risked his life for you. He’s already a part of our family. Let’s get going. The weather’s getting warm, and Grandma might struggle in the heat.”
With that, Aiden held the food container and offered support to Elaine, guiding her outdoors.
Christopher followed closely.
In the rear, Cecilia took charge of Evan’s wheelchair.
Before they could get into their respective vehicles, Elaine offered a reminder. “My right eye has been twitching. Let’s be extra cautious today.”
“We understand, Grandma,” they all chorused in unison before the four of them got into two cars respectively.
The Martyrs Cemetery was situated at the southernmost edge of Acocester, conveniently close to the military base. Nevertheless, the journey from the Shaw residence took a full hour.
Not all of the security detail stationed outside the Shaw residence accompanied them; only Aiden’s personal bodyguards joined the procession.
Had all of them been present, there would have been no opportunity for Wolf Killer to strike.
The family arrived safely at the cemetery.
The sun, relentless at nine o’clock in the morning, beat down fiercely upon their skin.
The bodyguards, under the sun’s unforgiving rays, dutifully held umbrellas for the Shaw family members, accompanying them all the way
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to the joint burial site of the siblings‘ parents.
The bodyguards then swiftly left.
To maintain their act and keep Christopher’s recovery from the poison a secret, he also occupied a wheelchair.
George and Amelia had not been very old when they departed this world, but the photo on their gravestones aged them beyond their years.
At the moment Charlie was separated from them and Aiden disappeared, it felt as if a decade had been snatched away from George and Amelia, leaving their hair visibly streaked with gray.
As the eldest son, Aiden bore the responsibility of organizing all the offerings, and he stepped forward to lead the mourning and recite the
prayer.
Despite his injuries, Aiden managed to bow before his parents‘ gravestones.
Following Aiden was Cecilia.
She knelt beside Christopher and lit up the candles before grieving in silence. She then spoke. “Mom, Dad, this is Christopher. He’s the man I’ve, chosen to spend my life with. He’s been taking good care of me, and he’s quite accomplished. You’d surely approve of him, wouldn’t you?”
Christopher added, “Dad, Mom, I promise to take good care of Ceci. Please entrust her to me.”
A gentle summer breeze caressed their faces. It was as if it was George and Amelia responding to their words.
Cecilia continued, “Mom, Dad, soon, someone you’ve been longing to meet will come to pay their respects.”
After hearing that, Elaine asked curiously, “Ceci, who is the person you are talking about?”
She had not even considered that it might be Charlie, thinking it might be Aiden who had found a partner.
After all, Aiden, in his thirties, was a major concern for his parents; the person they wanted to see most would naturally be their future daughter–in–law!
Upon thinking that, she immediately turned to Aiden and said, “Aiden, if you have good news, why didn’t you tell me? I won’t be opposed to it unless the other person is a man.”
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Aiden was somewhat speechless.
Amused by his grandmother’s remark, he spoke up. “Don’t worry, Grandma. Your grandson is straight.”
While he knew that Elaine had misunderstood, he could not explain it right then and could only offer a vague explanation.
Although Elaine was old, she was not senile.
She refused to let Evan off the hook and asked a series of questions about his “girlfriend.”
At his parents‘ grave, Aiden could not bring himself to tell a lie.
“Grandma, it’s too early to discuss that sort of thing. I’ll explain all the details when I get home.”
Elaine nodded happily. “Okay.”
Afterward, she turned her attention to Evan, who was keeping his head down like a shy quail.
“Evan, you should catch up as well, you know? Ceci and I have already arranged a blind date for you. When you’re feeling better, we will invite the young lady to our home so that you can meet her.”
Evan lamented inwardly but conceded, “Sure, Grandma.”
After paying their respects to George and Amelia, the group returned to the Shaw residence.
As they left the cemetery, Aiden suggested to Evan, “You and Ceci can take the same car, and I’ll have a chat with Grandma.”
When they arrived, the two brothers and Elaine had shared a car.
However, at present, they split up to provide Wolf Killer the opportunity to target Evan.
Evan nodded in agreement. “Okay.”
He occupied the front passenger seat, while Cecilia and Christopher settled in the back.
As they departed from the cemetery, they approached the prearranged ambush point that Charlie had meticulously set up.
Although several people knew Charlie’s specific ambush plan, they were still a little nervous.
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