Chapter 2

Tamara’s mother’s funeral lasted seven days.

For all seven of those days,Callum stayed away,keeping Seraphina company instead.

When Tamara finally finished everything and returned home,she found Callum helping Seraphina move.

The moment he saw her,the first thing out of his mouth was,“Why are you back?”

Tamara gave a quiet,bitter laugh.

So that was how it was now?

She had only gone away to bury her mother,and even coming home had become something she needed permission to do.

Callum seemed to realize how harsh his words had sounded.He quickly tried to explain.

“Tamara,that’s not what I meant.It’s only been five days since Mom passed.I thought you’d still be busy with the funeral for a few more days.”

Something inside Tamara sank a little deeper.

“Callum,”she said quietly,“today is the seventh day.”

Callum was not a forgetful man.He remembered the smallest things about Seraphina.

Once,she had casually mentioned that she was allergic to peanuts.After that,he replaced every peanut-containing item in their home.

When he found out she was allergic to dog hair,he even gave away the dog they had raised together for seven years.

His memory was better than anyone’s.

He simply never cared enough to remember the things that mattered to Tamara,or to her family.

Callum’s expression flickered with embarrassment,and he quickly offered an explanation.

“I’m sorry,Tamara.I’ve been incredibly busy these past few days.I just didn’t have the time to deal with everything surrounding Mom’s funeral.”

“But she’s gone now.We still have to keep moving forward.”

“And with Mom gone,Seraphina shouldn’t have to live alone at the old home.We’re all family,after all.I’ve already had her move in with us.”

“The room upstairs has been empty,so I let Seraphina move in for now.You don’t mind,do you?”

Tamara looked up at Callum,unable to hide the faint disbelief in her eyes.

He had already moved Seraphina into the room,yet here he was,putting on a show of asking for her permission.

Even if she said she minded,would he actually ask Seraphina to leave?

But the funeral had drained Tamara of the last of her strength.She had no energy left to argue over something that had already been decided.

“What are you going to do with everything that’s in there?”

That room held years of memories she and Callum had shared.Every gift they had given each other since they were young was still inside.

Callum frowned.

Seeing his reaction,Tamara made the decision for him.

“If everything in there is only going to get in the way,then throw it all out.”

Callum stared at her in disbelief.

“Throw it all away?Those things are our memories.How can you just throw them away?”

“Tamara,I know you’re angry about Seraphina and me.But life is long.It’s hard to spend an entire lifetime loving only one person.Even if it weren’t Seraphina,there would be someone else eventually.If that’s the case,why can’t you just accept her?”

Tamara opened her mouth to respond,but before she could say a word,Callum’s phone rang.

His expression changed the moment he saw the caller.

When he answered,his voice softened into a tenderness Tamara hadn’t heard from him in a long time.

“Did you hurt your ankle?Where are you?Send me your location.Don’t move.I’ll be there right away.”

The moment the call ended,Callum didn’t even bother to say goodbye.He simply grabbed his coat and walked out.

Back then,Callum’s phone was always on silent,twenty-four hours a day.Getting him to answer a call had always felt like a matter of luck.

Tamara had argued with him about it more times than she could remember.She had even asked him repeatedly to set her number as a priority contact,so her calls would always get through.

He refused every time.

But just now,Tamara had heard it clearly.Seraphina’s number had been given that very priority ringtone.

So it wasn’t that Callum couldn’t do it.He simply hadn’t wanted to do it for her.

A bitter ache settled in Tamara’s chest.

A maid approached her hesitantly.“Mrs.Blackwood,what should we do with all these gifts from the room?”

Tamara glanced coldly at the memories that had once meant everything to her.“Throw them all away.”

The maid frowned,reminding her carefully,“But didn’t Mr.Blackwood just say not to throw anything out?”

Tamara let out a cold laugh.“I don’t even want him anymore.Why would I care what he says?”