Chapter 14 The day Rosalind left the hospital , the snow had just cleared , leaving the trees along Harley Street crystalline with frost under a pristine blue sky . Randolph drove to collect her himself . The couple sat in silence , the atmosphere heavy with unspoken words . Young Thalia sat in the back , drawing pictures on the foggy window , her heart light with joy . Mum was finally coming home . She drew their family of three on the window , her face bright with happiness . Seeing the drawing , Rosalinds eyes filled with tears . She turned away quickly , composing herself before managing a smile . Your birthdays coming up , darling . What would you like ? Still drawing . Thalia answered brightly , Id love a Beagle figurine , Mum . A Beagle ? Rosalinds voice was gentle . Like … a real dog? No , no , Thalia shook her head . Its a ceramic one . Victoria says theres this lovely pottery studio in Marylebone where we can paint our own . She and James went last week and made the sweetest figures . Rosalind smiled softly . Then thats what well do , darling . On Thalias twelfth birthday , snow fell over London . Mother and daughter walked hand in hand into the studio , where theyd pre ordered an unpainted Beagle figure . The owner brought out their piece , and they began painting together . It was their first collaborative art project . The result delighted Thalia her Beagle looked even lovelier than the sample . They left for the patisserie nearby . Walking through the falling snow , Rosalind carrying a cake box in one hand and holding Thalias hand with the other , she suddenly stopped . She turned to look at her daughter , love and longing in her eyes . Thalia , darling , I love you . So very , very much . Her voice was soft , almost lost in the winter wind . 13.3 % Chapter 14 Thalias nose was pink from the cold . Her mother often expressed her love , so she noticed nothing unusual . I love you too , Mum ! Rosalinds eyes welled up again . Her precious girl was only twelve . How would she manage without her mother ? She turned away quickly , continuing their walk before Thalia could see her tears . They crossed through the busy streets to the car park where Randolph waited . From a distance . Thalia saw her father smoking , grief etched on his face . Shed rarely seen him look so desolate , but when he spotted them , the expression vanished instantly . Thalia thought shed imagined it . Randolph stubbed out his cigarette , voice rough as he said , Welcome back . Rosalind responded with a soft mm . That evening , Randolph cooked dinner himself . Their little family gathered around the table in apparent harmony as Thalia , wearing a paper crown , made her birthday wish and blew out her candles . The crisis came during dessert . As Rosalind lifted a forkful of cake , she suddenly began coughing up blood . Thalia froze in horror , her own cake falling to the floor , staining her new shoes . Randolph gathered Rosalind in his arms , voice breaking , Darling , dont do this . Were going to hospital right now . Their housekeeper frantically called 999 while Thalia stood paralyzed , mind blank . How had this happened ? Everything had been fine moments ago . Why was Mum suddenly so ill ? Hadnt the doctors said she could come home ? Wasnt she better ? 13.5 % Chayer 14 The ambulance arrived quickly As paramedics loaded Rosalind , Thalia saw her mother looking back tearfully , trying to speak , Too weak to form words , she mouthed something Thalia could just make out . Im sorry Thalia burst into tears , running out into the snowstorm . Mum , please dont go … The ambulance had to leave immediately , not waiting for Thalia . She chased it until it disappeared from view . That night , Rosalind passed away , Randolph stayed with her through the night , weeping uncontrollably , Thalia didnt know this at the time . Shed fallen in the snow , and their housekeeper had carried her home . That night . Thalia burned with fever , crying out for her mother until morning . When she woke , they told her her mother was gone . Thalia couldnt bear to see her mothers body at the hospital . She couldnt face the reality of that cold shell . She told herself that as long as she didnt see it , her mother was still alive , just away on a trip . In her heart , that warm , bright woman who lit up rooms with her smile lived on forever . After Rosalinds death , Thalia spent days clutching the ceramic Beagle , refusing food and crying silently when she wasnt sleeping . Randolph seemed to age a decade overnight . The light left his eyes , his hair grayed rapidly , and he had no energy left to care for his daughter . He was later diagnosed with clinical depression . ་ ་ 13.706 Chapter 14 Thalia had believed he would never remarry hed loved her mother to deeply , how could he ever love another ? But two years later , he married her mothers best friend . Thalia had reacted violently , moving into her boarding school dorm immediately . Even during holidays , shed shut herself in her room , refusing to speak to them . Her relationship with Randolph had just begun to heal during university when he announced her arranged marriage to the Blackwoods , shattering their fragile peace . Randolph must have been truly angry hed always indulged Thalia before , but he refused to budge on the marriage , even freezing her accounts to force her compliance . For Thalia , the arranged marriage was just the final straw . Shed run away primarily because of the remarriage . Hed betrayed her mother . Thalia believed Randolph wanted the arranged marriage to get rid of her , that the Winters manor no longer had room for her . So shed left in anger , staying away for three years . Shed kept the Beagle figurine with her always . It was her spiritual anchor , her mothers final gift , her most precious possession . Now it lay shattered . And her heart with it . When shed cried herself out , she began thinking of solutions . A master restorer might be able to save it . She posted a photo of the pieces on Instagram. [ Urgently seeking master ceramic restorer . ] Her London connections were extensive relatives in high places , friends from wealthy families . Finding a restorer shouldnt be difficult . 13.9 % Chapter 14 Within minutes , Asher called . She thought hed recommend someone , answering quickly , His voice was urgent with worry . Lia , are you hurt ? Thalia paused , then realized she hadnt cleaned the blood from the ceramic shards . No , not my blood . What happened ? How did Rosalinds Beagle break ? Thalia fell silent . She didnt know where to begin . More surprising was that Asher had recognized her mothers gift from just the fragments , His voice turned decisive . Im heading to the airport . Wait for me . 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