I Slept with My Boss and Ran Away

Selene instinctively glanced at Terrence standing in front of Meredith’s tombstone. Her heart sank. Could it be…?

Terrence had been very quiet these days, spending his time performing rites for Meredith and accompanying her on her final journey. He no longer shed tears, nor did he smile; he was like an empty shell.

People lined up to place flowers in front of Meredith’s grave, pausing for a few seconds of silence before moving on. One by one, they paid their respects until the funeral ended at ten in the morning.

Terrence finally spoke, addressing Grandma Sterling, “Grandma, let everyone go back. I’ll stay here with Meredith a little longer.”

His voice was hoarse from long periods of silence, sounding almost unrecognizable. Grandma Sterling’s eyes moistened as she nodded and asked Julian to escort the relatives and friends away.

Gradually, everyone left, leaving only Azure, Selene, Harvey, and a few others behind.

Little Lucky held Terrence’s hand and suddenly said, “Daddy, I love you.”

Terrence looked down at his daughter and smiled faintly. “Rowan, Daddy and Mommy have always loved you very much.”

He hoped his daughter would remember their love for her.

Little Lucky nodded. “Daddy, goodbye.”

She waved her hand, and Terrence waved back as if saying a final farewell.

Terrence then turned to Puffy and said, “Puffy, take your sister home. You’re the older brother now; take good care of her. I’ve spoken with your master; you don’t need to return to the mountain. From now on, you’re my son, Everett Sterling.”

Azure felt uneasy hearing this. It seemed like Terrence was making arrangements for Little Lucky’s future as if he were preparing for something final.

Puffy nodded solemnly. “I will protect Rowan.”

A promise made for a lifetime.

Puffy took Little Lucky’s hand and followed Grandma Sterling out of the cemetery.

Terrence watched his daughter’s figure gradually fade into the distance, feeling both reluctant and at ease.

Once his daughter was far enough away, Terrence told Azure, “You should go back too.”

“Terrence…” Azure hesitated. “Don’t do anything foolish. Meredith wouldn’t want you to.”

Terrence remained silent, not responding to Azure as he bent down to tidy Meredith’s grave, picking up fallen leaves.

Harvey wanted to say something but was pulled away by Selene.

Meredith had been laid to rest; Terrence’s wish was fulfilled. If he had made any decisions or wanted to do something, no one could stop him now.

As they left the cemetery, Selene said, “The grave next to Meredith’s is empty. I think it’s meant for Terrence.”

“What?” Harvey was shocked. “Is he really planning to follow Meredith?”

“Nothing would surprise me anymore,” Selene replied. “Do you think Grandma Sterling doesn’t see it? Everyone knows that what’s left of Terrence is just an empty shell.”

Even Audrey in Blue Ridge knew about Meredith’s burial.

Standing by her hospital window, Audrey suddenly felt an overwhelming sadness and began to cry without knowing why.

Spencer saw her as he passed by but didn’t enter the room. A strange light flickered in his eyes before he walked away.

At the entrance of the emergency exit, Audrey’s attending physician stood in the dim light as Spencer approached him. “I want to discharge my daughter and leave this place.”

The doctor smiled eerily. “That’s your decision; you can handle the discharge procedures anytime.”

“Thanks,” Spencer said curtly before walking away.

Who Meredith was or who Audrey was didn’t matter to him anymore. What mattered was that she was his daughter, and he wouldn’t let her suffer any pain.

Night fell.

Terrence stayed from dawn until dusk beside Meredith’s grave. He lay down in the adjacent grave pit and looked at Meredith’s tombstone. “Meredith, it’s dark now; it’s time to rest.”

Sleeping beside Meredith’s grave brought him peace.

Terrence fell asleep and dreamed that Meredith came to him.

“Meredith, you’re here,” he said in his dream as she emerged from the mist. He smiled and walked towards her.

Meredith took his hand and smiled brightly.

Terrence embraced her; she felt warm against his dying body.

This was the person he had longed for day and night-his wife.

In their year apart, he had felt like he died countless times but still couldn’t see her again.

Perhaps he shouldn’t blame anyone else; this year had shown him how much he loved Meredith.

He remembered their first meeting, getting married, having a child-they had experienced so much but too briefly.

He was once a proud man and competitive by nature but forgot that after meeting Meredith, he needed to pave a future for his wife and child. All this was his fault-his retribution paid with Meredith’s life and his suffering.

Looking at Meredith through tear-blurred eyes or thick mist revealed both pain and relief in her gaze.

“I’m sorry. I love you,” he said with endless longing and love condensed into two unrelated sentences. Meredith shook her head with tears in her eyes and gently touched Terrence’s face.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

She looked at her beloved husband whose body and spirit had endured unimaginable pain; it was time for him to rest.

She couldn’t speak but held his face close for a kiss as if telling him everything was over now.

Resting against her palm brought true forgiveness; they could continue forward together now-whether through hell or heaven didn’t matter as long as they were together on this journey ahead.

…

After that day Terrence disappeared too-when Sterling family returned next day looking for him-they found an empty grave pit where he had lain beside Meredith’s tombstone.

Rumors spread outside claiming Terrence found Meredith again-they were living secluded lives somewhere.

Fishermen claimed seeing them sailing together on ocean waves while others believed Terrence followed his beloved wife into eternity.

Their love story continued influencing people over time-inspiring belief in love amid materialistic society.

Years later media interviewed grown-up Little Lucky who stood on terrace gazing at starry sky saying “Everett I miss my parents.”

Everett adopted by Sterling family gently draped coat over her shoulders gazing skyward together replying “Then let’s visit them tomorrow.”

She agreed smiling back at him “Okay.”

He added “Rowan I don’t want be just your brother anymore-I want protect you forever.”

Rowan turned smiling “Okay!”

The End