Chapter 5

Lena POV

When I got home, I spread the recovered memorial albums on the table.

Shaun followed me in. His first words weren't to ask if I'd been frightened, but rather, "Stop going to the old cemetery section alone from now on. Don't give Veronica and the family the wrong idea."

I pushed the memorial album toward him.

"Do you remember the day we buried our child? The first letter. You personally placed it in the box at the grave."

Shaun looked at those crumpled pages, his expression pausing for a moment.

I continued, "How can you let Veronica throw these things away now?"

Shaun avoided my gaze. "She didn't know about your past habits. I'll have someone find everything that can be recovered."

"What about the relocation application? The mother's inscription? The three-person burial registration? Which of those did she not know about?"

Shaun grew impatient, his voice turning cold. "Moving the deceased child into the Shaw family plot has always been on the family's agenda. The inscription and registration are for convenience in future memorial services."

I looked at him. "Convenient enough to remove me from being called mother?"

Shaun tugged at his collar. "No one can change the fact that you gave birth to him. But headstones are for outsiders to see. The Shaw family needs to move forward too."

He spoke smoothly.

As if all my years of memorial services, fee payments, and handwritten letters were just me unable to let go.

"Veronica will spend her life with me from now on." Shaun said. "You can't demand that everyone stay stuck in the past."

I looked down and closed the memorial album page by page.

Veronica's video call came through at that moment.

Shaun saw the incoming call and frowned, not answering.

I said, "Answer it."

On screen, Veronica's eyes were rimmed with red. Behind her were memorial flower baskets and place cards for the relocation service.

"Shaun, I know Lena's unhappy." Her voice was so soft it sounded tearful. "If she really can't accept it, I can keep a lower profile tomorrow. But all the family elders know I'll be participating. If I suddenly don't go, what will they think?"

Shaun's previously tense face quickly softened.

Veronica continued, "I'm the one who'll spend life with you from now on. If I can't even participate in matters concerning the child, how will the Shaw family view me?"

After a moment of silence, Shaun said, "Proceed as originally planned."

I stood right there watching him say it.

After the video ended, I asked nothing more.

I divided the items on the table into two portions.

One contained cemetery documents, headstone drafts, burial plot registration, bank statements, Veronica's old social media screenshots, and the service roster.

The other held ID documents, train tickets, bank cards, and property documents.

That evening, Shaun stayed in the study confirming the guest list. While he wasn't in the bedroom, I put the last few clothes, regular medications, and documents in my suitcase.

The train ticket was for two days later.

Just in time to avoid the Shaw family dinner the day before the relocation service.

The next day, I went to the cemetery management office to request a suspension of the relocation.

After checking the system, the staff member said quietly, "Ms. Hayes, the Shaw family has already paid all fees and sent out service notifications. You can only submit an objection now. You can't stop it on the spot."

I said, "Give me a receipt."

The receipt had just been handed to me when Shaun arrived.

His expression was stormy. "Why are you still causing trouble at the cemetery?"

"I'm only submitting an objection."

Shaun took the receipt and tore it up on the spot.

"Proceed as planned," he told the staff member.

Paper scraps fell to the ground.

I bent down and picked them up one by one.

Seeing my action, Shaun's tone softened. "After the relocation ends, I'll go with you to the new cemetery section. I'll also have Veronica stay out of matters concerning the child."

I put the scraps in my bag.

"Once her name is carved on the stone, what's the point of staying out of it then?"

Shaun didn't answer.

His phone lit up again.

Veronica was asking if the service flower arrangements needed changing.

Shaun looked down to check.

I smiled slightly and turned to leave the management office.

After leaving the cemetery, I messaged my old friend.

Could the place to stay three days from now be moved up?