The next morning, Celia rose early and left the house to settle her affairs.
Her death had been abrupt, and it wasn’t until last night, after hours of searching online, that she realized how many loose ends needed tying up.
But now that Lucas had someone he wanted to build a new family with, as his adopted daughter, she felt like nothing more than a burden. She didn’t want to leave him with the trouble of dealing with her aftermath.
At the registry office, when she explained that she wanted to terminate her own records, the clerk was incredulous and confirmed with her repeatedly.
“Miss, a record can only be terminated when someone passes away. Are you sure about this?”
Celia forced a wry smile and nodded. “I’ll be gone from this world in six days.”
Hearing this, the clerk assumed she had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. They gave her a look of pity, then glanced at her file and shook their head regretfully.
She was only eighteen.
The clerk didn’t press further and proceeded with her request.
After canceling her records, Celia arranged for a memorial portrait, purchased a casket, and even picked out a funeral outfit for herself. At each stop, she encountered curious or pitying looks, but she paid them no mind.
Her only thought was to ensure everything was arranged perfectly, so Lucas wouldn’t have to trouble himself with any of it later.
By the time she returned home, it was already evening. As she stepped through the door, she spotted Yvonne in the kitchen, wearing an apron and busying herself with dinner preparations.
Yvonne greeted her warmly as she walked in. “Celia, you’re back! I cooked tonight and was waiting for you to eat together.”
Noticing the bags in Celia’s hand, Yvonne’s curiosity piqued. “What did you buy?”
Celia shook her head without answering and headed upstairs to put her things away. Once everything was stored, she came back down and joined Yvonne in the kitchen.
“Let me help you.”
The two worked together in the kitchen for a while, chatting pleasantly. When Lucas returned, the villa was peaceful. There were no arguments or tense silences, only a surprisingly harmonious atmosphere.
