𝐃𝐘𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐘 ── 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒚 𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒔. ✔︎

𝟬𝟭𝟴.

IT HAD BEEN TWO DAYS since Rachel had been moved from the intensive care unit to the private ward, and her condition had been steadily improving ever since the doctors discovered the precise drug that had been used to poison her and swiftly administered an antidote. Ramona and Theodore had flown right back to Singapore right after Rachel was stabilized, but not leaving without a farwell gift ─ a room full of flowers.

Every year, on the anniversary of their father's death, Shang Su Yi and her brother, Alfred, would visit the grave where their parents were buried. Su Yi's immediate family and a few close relatives would traditionally gather at Tyersall Park for breakfast before heading to the cemetery, but this year everyone met at Bukit Brown first. Ramona and Theodore came. They took a stroll through the oldest cemetery in Singapore.

Since the cemetery had stopped accepting burials in 1970, the forest had grown unchecked around it, making this final resting place of Singapore's founding fathers a lush, Edenic nature preserve for some of the rarest plants and wildlife on the island.

Ramona loved meandering and admiring the ornate graves that were unlike anywhere else in the world. The larger, more ostentatious Chinese-style tombs were built into the sides of gentle sloping mounds, and some were as big as palace gatehouses, boasting their own tiled courtyards where mourners could gather, while others were decorated with colorful Peranakan tiles and life-size statues depicting Sikh guards, Quanyin, or other Chinese deities. Ramona began reading the gravestones, and every now and then, she recognized the name of a pioneer Singaporean: Tan Kheam Hock, Ong Sam Leong, Lee Choo Neo, Tan Ean Kiam, Chew Boon Lay. They were all here.

At precisely ten o'clock, a small convoy of cars invaded the quiet of the cemetery. At the front was the 1990s-era Jaguar Vanden Plas ferrying Astrid's mother, Felicity Leong-Su Yi's eldest child-and her husband, Harry, followed by the small Kia Picanto driven by Astrid's brother Henry Leong Jr. Then came the vintage black-and-burgundy Daimler with Su Yi's younger daughter, Victoria, who rode with Rosemary T'sien, Lillian May Tan, and the Bishop of Singapore. A few minutes later, a black Mercedes 600 Pullman with tinted windows pulled up, and before the humongous limousine had come to a full stop, the middle doors flung open and two Gurkha guards jumped out.

Alfred Shang, a short, portly man in his late seventies with a careful comb-over of gray hair, emerged from the car, squinting in the bright morning light even with his rimless sunglasses on. He helped his older sister, Su Yi, out of the car, followed by her two lady's maids in elegant iridescent peacock-blue silk dresses. Su Yi was dressed in a cream-colored blouse, a thin saffron-colored cardigan, and light brown trousers. With her round tortoiseshell sunglasses, straw cloche hat, and brown suede gloves, she looked like she was ready for a day of gardening.

Su Yi caught sight of Bishop See Bei Sien and muttered angrily to Alfred, "Victoria invited that busybody bishop again when I specifically told her not to! Father is going to spin in his grave!"

Ramona caught sight of her favorite Uncle and came running in his direction. "Uncle Alfie!" she cheered, engulfing the man in a hug.

"Yùtù!" he beamed as they released from the hug, "How is business going?"

"Better than yours, Uncle Alfie," Ramona quipped as Alfred chuckled, "Uncle Alfie, this is my boyfriend, Theodore Ling, son of Jacqueline Ling," Ramona introduced as the two men firmly shook hands

Ramona then turned to her Ah Ma and gave her Ah Ma cheek kisses and a hug. "How was Shanghai?" Ah Ma asked, "I hear you had a wonderful time,"

"Oh yes, Ah Ma," Ramona nodded, "Shanghai is always so beautiful," Ramona smiled, not even daring to mention her estranged brother or sister-in-law. Su Yi nodded, beaming. If her grandson was going to be unreliable, at least she had her darling little granddaughter.