Back when Willow was a little girl, she looked forward to the New Year. Grace would let the baked goods cool off in the evening and stash them in the basement, where she kept the cabbages.

    Now, that ce was basically Grace’s treasure trove. She was traumatized by poverty. So, she would always buy some cabbages at dirt–cheap prices during winter if she could afford it.

    Every day, she would buy some meat and pair it with spaghetti. That would be a meal for her. She had always picked and cleaned the meat meticulously so that Willow would get the nutrition she needed.

    Grace spent wisely and saved up whenever she could, and that was how she raised Willow and sent thetter to school. She had never married anyone in her life, but she said that she didn’t have any regrets.

    After dinner, their maid went back home to spend time with her familly. Grace packed the baked goods away in a white cloth and tied it up before she moved them to the basement, where the cabbages were stored.

    Initially, none of the houses in the southern suburbs had basements. She was the one who hired someone to secretly dig one out for her.

    It wasn’t spacious. After she put away the cabbages and baked goods, there was only enough room for a single person.

    Grace turned around and continued her work meticulously. She even forbade Willow from moving the food and only allowed her to quietly watch from the ssidelines

    Willow loved watching Grace as thetter worked. She loved the baked goods, and the cabbages smelled wonderful as well.

    Grace smiled, her eyes narrowing. “You look like you’re about to wolf all of them down. I’ll make you a couple of pulled pork sandwiches tomorrow morning.”

    Willow grinned in response. She couldn’t hear anything, and she had no idea that a ferocious fire was roaring into the sky behind her. The mes were very close to where she stood, and they threatened to set her aze.

    Grace was startled and immediately grabbed a bup sack, intending to bring Willow with her and charge out of the fire.

    However, the mes were unusually intense.

    It quickly extended its fiery clutches toward them. The red, orange mes resembled the evening sun hanging high in the sky.

    Willow gripped Grace’s arm tightly. She recalled that there was a door at the side of the basement that led to the backyard. They

    would be safe if she could find it.

    She couldn’t hear anything at all, and she relied purely on her memories as she felt around and eventually found the doorknob, all while keeping Grace close to her.

    The doorknob was searing hot, and it almost scalded her hand. However, she needed to save herself and Grace. So, she threw caution to the wind and did everything she could to turn it.

    However, she just couldn’t open it. Someone had locked it from the outside.

    The mes spread so menacingly that it looked like it was about to consume them and burn them to a crisp.

    Tears welled up in Grace’s eyes. The fire was everywhere, and it was inching closer like a terrible beast trying to gobble Willow up. She couldn’t stand the thought of her precious granddaughter dying a fiery death.

    Willow was not even 30 years old, and she had an adorable baby in her belly. Grace was set to be a great–grandmother in another

    bsix /bmonths or so too.

    Grace was trembling when she took Willow’s hand and led her back to the basement without much trouble. God must have been looking out for them. Then, she hid her in the basement the same way she did when thetter was young.

    “Stay here with the cabbages, Willow. That way, you’ll grow as tall as they are soon.

    “After you finish these cabbages, you’ll have be older by another year.

    “Woah. Are you already going to primary school next year, Willow?

    “Willow, I’ve saved up this money for your tuition fee. Here’s 820 dors, and there’s some extra for you to buy some milk. I’ll give you another b120 /bdors each month for it. I’ll give you everything the other kids have too.

    “There’s an angel watching over you as you grow, Willow.”

    Willow went to the basement first. Extending her arm, she gripped Grace’s hand and intended to pull thetter inside as well. However, a thick cloud of smoke was rushing at them, threatening to overwhelm them.

    Grace looked at Willow onest time with her weary eyes. She decided that she wouldn’t go into the basement.

    The thick ck cloud was going to consume them at any given moment. There was simply no time. If she went into the basement as well, she would only end up costing Willow and Landon’s lives as well.

    Willow looked into Grace’s eyes, and she immediately understood what decision thetter had made. She shook her head violently and climbed up the basement. She would never let her grandma die. Never.

    “Willow!” Grace let out a piercing cry and mmed the basement door shut. Then, she threw herself onto it so no smoke could slip under and suffocate Willow.

    Grace hadn’t married anyone or had any children of her own in her entire life, but Willow was as good as her daughter.

    The thick cloud of smoke rushed at her ferociously, but she showed no signs of fear at all. Thenb, /bshe thought she saw a gilded white carriage manifesting out of the ck smoke, and her dad was sitting on top of it.

    He was here to wee her to the afterlife.

    “Willow. My dad’s here to pick me up.” She thought to herself. “I’m going to leave with him now. From here on out, you’ll have your own baby to look after, and I know that you’ll never feel lonely again.

    “You’re tough, Willow. You can survive and thrive anywhere life takes you. Don’t feel sad for me. I spent all my life with you, and that makes it worth living.”

    The edge of the me licked Grace’s flesh before it ruthlessly consumed her whole.

    Then, a faint, weak voice reverberated in the air.

    “The sky is bright, and the moon is so high. And precious Willow’s sleep drew nigh.”