Chapter 687

Standing before Norton’s tombstone, Mrs. Stapleton saw it, but still couldn’t believe

it.

“Norton’s just angry with me. He ran away from home. Why would he be here?”

“You must have made a mistake. How could he possibly…”

“I don’t believe it. This isn’t real. It can’t be!”

Mrs. Stapleton stared at the headstone, her face filled with terror. She backed away, step by step, until she stumbled and collapsed onto the ground.

“Theo, tell me! Tell me this is all a lie!”

She looked around in a panic. “I must be dreaming. You’re all in my dream! That’s right, I’m dreaming. My son isn’t dead. My son is alive and well. He just doesn’t want to see me. He’s still angry with me…”

Theodore didn’t try to comfort her. Instead, he knelt before the grave, his hand gently touching the photograph of Norton. After a long moment, he finally spoke.

“Six years ago, Norton was tricked into going to Yaym. By the time we found him, he was already gone.”

“No, no, I don’t believe you.”

“He didn’t suffer…”

“My son isn’t dead!”

“I brought him back afterward, but I never told you.”

“Norton, where are you? Where are you now! I was wrong, please, give me another chance. I’m so sorry!”

Mrs. Stapleton clasped her hands, praying helplessly, but there were no more chances left for her.

Penelope noticed the vacant look in Mrs. Stapleton’s eyes and walked over to try and calm her, but Mrs. Stapleton seized her by the wrist.

“Tell me! Tell me Theo is lying to me!”

Penelope sighed. “You said you didn’t have much time left, and your only wish was to find Norton.”

“But he can’t be here!”

“But he is.”

Mrs. Stapleton shoved Penelope away. “You… you’re all lying to me!”

She practically crawled to Norton’s headstone, staring at the photograph, scrutinizing it over and over before she suddenly started trying to claw it off.

“Why is my son’s picture on this thing? I won’t allow it!”

Theodore gently pulled her back. “Norton is gone. That’s a fact we can’t change, just like with Lorraine.”

“My daughter died, and I’ve accepted that. But Norton…..”

“You have to accept this, too.”

Mrs. Stapleton shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t accept it!”

She pushed Theodore away and went back to scraping at the photograph: “He just ran away from heme. He must be living welf

somewhere. He’ll come home,

Maybe I won’t be here to see it, but

he

will definitely come back.”

Theodore didn’t stop her this time, simply staying by her side in silence.

for

After trying to remove the photo a long time without success, Mrs Stapleton suddenly burst into tears Perhaps, in that moment, she was finally forced to accept the truth.

Not long after, she fainted.

Penelope helped Theodore get Mrs. Stapleton back to the hospital. Once she was

settled, Penelope could see how utterly exhausted he was.

“You should go home. I’ll stay here tonight.”

Theodore shook his head. “She needs me.”

“Then I’ll stay with you.”

Penelope remained at the hospital for the next few days. The rest of the Stapletons had learned of Mrs.

Stapleton’s condition, but she refused to let them visit.

She finally accepted the fact that Norton was dead. She was wracked with guilt and remorse, but her life was also coming to an end.

“When I die, have my ashes buried with Lorraine,” she instructed Theodore. Despite

all her guilt over Norton, Lorraine was still the child she loved most.

Half a month later, Mrs. Stapleton passed away.

The Stapletons handled the funeral arrangements. All Penelope had to do was be there for Theodore.