CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN - Echoes of the Past

Cassius smiled at the memory. "And Dad would always give a long, rambling toast that no one could follow." "But it always ended with how proud he was of us," Clarissa added softly. "Both of us." The weight of those words hung in the air, a reminder of what they had lost—not just their parents, but their relationship with each other. As they prepared to leave, Clarissa turned to face Cassius and Mara. "Thank you," she said, her voice sincere. "For coming today. I know it wasn't easy, but..." "It was good," Cassius finished for her. "To remember. To be here again." Mara smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope for the siblings' relationship. "Maybe we could do this again sometime?" she suggested. "Perhaps even start a new tradition?" Both Cassius and Clarissa nodded, the idea of creating new memories in their childhood home clearly appealing to them. As they drove away from the mansion, Mara could see that the visit had affected both siblings deeply. Cassius was quieter than usual, lost