Chapter 16

Rainwater trickled down her cheeks, indistinguishable from tears. Her body trembled slightly, as if enduring immense pain. She knew she had wronged Mrs. Bailey and the Bailey Family, but she could no longer deceive herself. For three days and three nights, Aaliyah knelt before Mrs. Bailey’s grave, refusing food and water, motionless. The cemetery staff had tried to persuade her to leave, but she merely gave them a cold glance, her voice carrying an air of unwavering authority: “Get out.” The staff dared not persist, watching her from a distance, filled with confusion and concern. By the third day, the rain had finally stopped. Aaliyah slowly stood up, her knees numb from kneeling for so long, but she seemed oblivious to the pain. She looked at her mother's tombstone one last time and whispered, “Mom, I'm sorry. This lifetime, I might really let you down.” After saying that, she turned and left the cemetery, her figure lonely and resolute. Upon returning to the Bailey Family