CHAPTER 285: THE FUNERAL OF FIRE 2

Juliet looked up at Caleb, her eyes pleading for him to stay calm. “Please, Caleb,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Don’t do anything. Just let it go. For Maya.” Caleb took a deep breath, his anger simmering just below the surface. He wanted nothing more than to defend Juliet, to tell Fido how wrong he was. But he knew this was neither the time nor the place. With a nod, he acknowledged Juliet’s plea, though it took all his strength to hold back his rage. Fido, still consumed by his grief, knelt beside Maya’s grave, sobbing uncontrollably. “Maya, why did you have to save her?” he cried out. “You should be here with me, not her.” The priest, sensing the tension, tried to steer the crowd’s focus back to the solemn occasion. “Let us continue to honor Maya’s memory with our thoughts and prayers,” he said gently, his voice attempting to calm the turbulent emotions. Caleb’s grip on Juliet’s hand tightened as he struggled to contain his anger. He leaned in close to her, his voice bar