Early the next morning, when Tristan had just got up, his cell phone vibrated.

He got it and frowned when he saw the number. He pressed the button and walked to the door, buttoning his shirt at the same time. But he stopped halfway.

Kate had been awake when the phone vibrated on their nightstand. She opened her eyes and saw Tristan standing still in the middle of the room. He looked stiff. “What is it?”

After keeping quiet for a few seconds, he turned back to her mechanically and looked at her. “My mom is gone.”

Gone? Where?

He repeated, “My mom passed away last night. Cerebral infarction.”

He...