Upon seeing that Earl Poulos had passed peacefully, the butler trembled violently before collapsing to his knees, overwhelmed with grief. “No, why didn’t you wait for me? Why did you leave… all on your own?” he cried out.

The butler, who had just returned with the family doctor, crawled toward Earl Poulos, weeping bitterly.

“You rescued me after my parents abandoned me and gave me a home. How could you abandon me too now?”

Katelyn’s eyes began to fill with tears once more, but she composed herself and gently comforted the butler. “Earl Poulos passed away peacefully.”

The butler, overcome with sorrow, turned to Austen, who was still kneeling beside him. “Sir, did you reunite with him?”

The butler, who had always been a constant presence by Earl Poulos’ side, had noticed the recognition in Earl Poulos’ eyes earlier, but for various reasons, had chosen not to mention it.

Austen remained silent, his soul seemingly drained. He knelt there, lifeless, as though every ounce of energy had left him.

His empty eyes mirrored the deep remorse and guilt that now defined his existence—consequences of his earlier hesitation.

The grief of losing someone is not a fleeting agony but a lingering pain.

Each memory or trigger connected to them pulls one back into the depths of loss, forcing one to endure the pain again and again.

Life’s natural cycles include birth, aging, illness, and death.

Everyone must face these realities and learn from them. The lesson left by the departed often takes a lifetime to fully grasp and come to terms with. In such deep sorrow, comforting words often feel inadequate.

Vincent softly touched Katelyn’s shoulder, his voice soothing as if speaking to a child.

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“Earl Poulos wouldn’t want to see you all so heartbroken. Remember, true departure isn’t death—it’s being forgotten.”

Katelyn, acknowledging his words, nodded firmly. “I will always remember Earl Poulos. He was the last gentleman of his era.”

When Katelyn and the others made their way back to the hotel, it was nearly midnight.

The butler, having anticipated this day, was prepared to handle all of Earl Poulos’ affairs after his death.

Katelyn, seated on the couch with a heavy heart, replayed Earl Poulos’ final moments in her mind. Her only small consolation was that he had not suffered much in his last moments.

Taking a deep breath, she suddenly recalled the document Earl Poulos had repeatedly emphasized before his passing.

She had kept it safe and unopened until now.

With trembling hands, Katelyn opened the envelope and was stunned by what she found. It was a will, and her name was listed.

As Katelyn read the will, her disbelief grew. Earl Poulos had divided all his assets between her and Austen. Half was hers, including the ancient castle, which overwhelmed her momentarily.

“Why was Earl Poulos so generous to me?” she wondered, knowing he had wanted her by his side in his final moments, not Austen.

Compelled by uncertainty, Katelyn approached Vincent’s door, knocked, and was soon let inside by Vincent, who noticed her distress.

“It’s so late. Why are you still up? You’ve cried so much today, you’re bound to have a headache tomorrow,” he commented.

Katelyn handed him the will, explaining, “I just opened it. Earl Poulos left this for me.”

Curious, Jaxen joined them, and both men were surprised as they read the document.

Jaxen, in disbelief, asked, “He left such a large estate to you. Were you related to Earl Poulos in some way?” The logical explanation for Earl Poulos’ favoritism baffled them.

However, Katelyn shook her head slowly, clarifying, “No, we aren’t related by blood. In fact, we met for the first time just two weeks ago.”

Right after her clarification, the butler’s call came through.

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