Chapter: 347


    Thinking about how long it had been since the ident, I let out a dry, bitterugh. “Is that even


    necessary anymore?”


    “If somethinges up, we’ll need a way to reach you, he replied, surprising me.


    I couldn’t imagine what coulde up after all these years, but I scribbled down my number and


    walked


    out.


    With the death report in hand, the only thing I still needed was the cremation documents. For that, I


    had to turn to Matthew. But since he was still unwell, I decided to reach out to Lindey instead.


    “Rea, what brings you here?” Lindey looked more surprised than pleased when she saw me.


    Irained–whether it was from running around


    “I need to talk to you. Let’s go inside,” I said, fer because of Yuna’s situation or just my period, I


    t sure, but I felt lightheaded.


    er arm


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    “Oh, okay. Well… let’s sit in the gazebo instead; it’s too stuffy inside,” Lindey suggested, linking her


    through mine as she led me toward the garden.


    I didn’t think much of it and followed. She called out to her housekeeper, “Isabel, bring some fruit


    and the rice pudding I just made over to the gazebo.”


    The housekeeper nodded, and Lindey turned back to me. “Rea, you don’t look so good. Are you


    feeling alright?”


    “Yeah, it’s just my period,” I said, using it as an excuse.


    “Maybe a little rice pudding will help. I’ll have Isabel bring some over, Lindey said, getting up. “Just


    sit tight for a second.”


    I hadn’te for small talk, so I stood up too. “Lindey, I actually have something important I need to


    handle today.”


    She looked a little taken aback. I pulled out the death report from my bag. “I need to finalize my


    parents‘ death registration, but I’m still missing the cremation documents.”


    “Death registration? Her eyes shed with surprise, then softened with sympathy. “Why now?”


    I looked down at the paper in my hand. “Their apartment is being demolished. I can’t sign off on


    anything without getting all the documents sorted.”


    Lindey didn’t say anything right away, but after a moment, she hugged me. “Maybe… maybe it’s for


    the best.”


    She held me a little longer before pulling back. “The documents are in Matthew’s desk drawer. I’ll go


    grab it for you.”


    “Wait here for me,” she said, brushing her hand over my head and gently nudging me back into my


    seat.


    I had wanted to go inside with her, grab the documents, and leave quickly, but the way she was


    handling things made it hard to push back.


    Right then, Isabel arrived with the fruit and rice pudding. Lindey gave her a quick instruction before


    leaving. “Rea’s not feeling well. Make her some chamomile tea.”


    Isabel nodded, setting the rice pudding down in front of me, then said she’d go prepare the tea. I


    tried to stop her. “That’s really not necessary, Isabel,”


    “No, it is. Madam will be upset if you don’t have it. She treats you like her own daughter.”


    I understood she was just trying to avoid trouble, so I let it go.


    A few minutester, she returned with the chamomile tea and left me alone again.


    The rice pudding was just as good as I remembered. Over the years, I’d had it plenty of times.


    But since leaving the Johnston family, I hadn’t had many chances to enjoy it. Life had been too


    chaotic.


    I finished the bowl, but Lindey still hadn’t returned. Was she having trouble finding the documents?


    I nced at the time. The offices were closing in just over an hour, and I still had a few more


    errands to run to finalize everything.


    Not wanting to wait any longer, I got up and headed toward the house. But just as I reached the


    door, I heard Lindey’s voice.


    You better behave and stay right here. If you cause any trouble, don’t think I won’t handle it.”


    Her tone was sharp, harsher than usual for Lindey.


    But who was she talking to?