Romeo knew his presence was not well-suited for the moment.
"I'll head in first then?"
Rosemary nodded, turning towards the villa.
Romeo watched her silhouette disappear into the house before pulling out his cell phone to reply to his brothers' messages.
Old Mrs. Griffith, on the sickbed, was emotionally stirred—several times opening her mouth to speak, only to be too overcome to utter a word. Her hand was trembling, as if trying to grasp onto something.
"Mom, I know what you're trying to say. Just take a moment to calm down, take it easy," Louisa, holding her mother's hand, urged anxiously. "Just relax."
"Yeah, Grandma, take it easy. Don't rush," Serena chimed in.
Old Mrs. Griffith looked around the room filled with her family: her daughter and son-in-law, her son, her grandchildren, and her most cherished granddaughter Serena, whom she had adored for eighteen years.
Tears welled up in her eyes and flowed down silently.
