Grief hung in the air, clinging to everyone dressed in black and dark glasses. Among them, Rachel stood tall-her body tremb

avid's freshly placed headstone. Her heart felt colder than the rain that soaked her skin.

He had given her one final gift-someon

la over her-only stayed close in quiet companionship. When Rachel finally stagger

lk away from her father's grave. She knew this wasn't the end of her life. It was

look at him once. She kept her eyes on the rain sliding down the window, as if a

w felt unbearably empty, Rachel was about to

e, I'll be l

nce the funeral began

are you

apart

t?" Rachel asked, lowering her sungl

to refuse his request,

't that what Daddy wanted?" she sa

d assumed the marriage was just for her father's sake. He thought

it might be

don't wish to honor this arrangement. If you're uncomfortable, you can te

ith an open heart," Lucian replied, assuring her tha

ng you stay," Rachel said. She turned again to open the la

pting Rachel to look back at him again. Before she could speak, Lu

our permission," Lucian said respectfully-like a secretary speaking to a boss-leaving R

driving away to retrieve his things-ready to beg

Rachel stepped in slowly, her fingers brushing over her father's favorite chair before she sat down. H

ars she had held back since the funeral now flowed freely. Her sobs filled

as if she could embrace the man who was no longer there. She remembered all the dreams they once wov

es. David had left too soon, leaving Rachel with jus

iled. I couldn't hold

y. She no longer had the strength to even sit upright. She leane

r's warm smile slowly soothed the pain in her heart, until her eyes grew heavy and ever

ched from the rain, stepped inside and quietly approached her. He draped a

how long I can keep holding myself back," Lucian