Turning Of the Tide by Diana Sander

The chirping of insects, the calls of birds, the lush greenery of trees, artificially planted orchids, roses, marigolds... all competed for attention, blooming and vying in their beauty.

At a glance, it felt as if one had wandered into a beautiful garden. But upon closer inspection, one could see cold, black tombstones standing in rows, solemn and stark.

And those attractive blooming flowers only added a different atmosphere to the icy, dignified, and heavy graveyard.

Today was the day the Blackwell family visited their family's graves.

The Blackwell couple didn't dress in flamboyant colors, sticking to the proper black and white hues.

Hackett wore a black t-shirt and gray pants, while Sherri wore a white shirt and black casual trousers. They squatted in front of the tombstone, joining Hackett's mother in offering something to the deceased.

Nathan stood to the side and briefly glanced at Jasper, who shared a similar aura as Trevon. Jasper remained silent. He stood respectfully to the side, yet his gaze was unwaveringly fixed on the tombstone, reflecting sincere emotions.

Standing at 5.9 feet, Jasper's height made him particularly conspicuous, especially with his strikingly handsface. No one could resist the urge to take a second look at him. His refined demeanor made it pleasing to stare, as even in simple attire, his innate dignity couldn't be concealed.

Jasper sensed the intense scrutiny but didn't turn. He kept his gaze fixed on the tombstone, standing composed and calm.

From Nathan's perspective, Jasper was a head and a half taller than Ruby and half a head taller than Liam. In this gathering, Jasper was the tallest, surpassing his son by a few inches. Nathan could not help but ask, "Jasper, any particular reason your dad couldn't make it this year?" Trevon felt in debt to Henry, and he'd cevery year without fail. However, this year's absence was due to someone voluntarily offering to take his place.

But the Blackwell family was unaware of it, so it was natural for them to inquire. It wasn't meant as an obligation for Trevon to cand visit the grave.

Jasper remained outwardly unaffected and replied casually, "Oh, Olivia's back." Everyone knew that Trevon doted on his daughter. It was no exaggeration to say that almost everyone in Athana knew about this. Therefore, when Jasper mentioned those words, everyone present believed him without a doubt.

A gentle breeze swept by, causing the white skirt of Ruby to flutter and unintentionally tangle with Jasper's black sweatpants. Spring attire isn't particularly thick, and she could feel her legs brushing against the fabric of his pants.

However, Jasper didn't move as if nothing had happened. Instead, Ruby felt a pang of embarrassment and tugged at her skirt, placing her hands on it to prevent it from fluttering.

Upon hearing Jasper's reason, Joy and Nathan simply smiled without saying much.

Sherri was thoroughly convinced. She remained squatting on the ground. She lifted her gaze, which could easily trace the outline of her future son-in-law's angular jawline. His strikingly handsfeatures were undeniably pleasing to the eye.

Sherri's thoughts drifted a bit as she imagined the potential for beauty if Ruby and Jasper were to have children in the future, thinking that their genes and looks would be off the charts. She coughed lightly, pulling herself back to reality. "Ahem, ahem, your dad's indulgence toward Sophia and Olivia is undeniable. Especially when Sophia was younger, she was so mischievous, but Trevon never scolded her once. His indulgence knows no bounds." Nathan chimed in, saying, "They say daughters are a father's precious treasure. Looks like there's truth to that saying." Sherri continued, "Jasper, my straightforwardness might cacross as strong. Hope you don't mind. I'm just someone who speaks my mind." Jasper stood tall, a rare smile gracing his lips as he politely replied, "You speak the truth, and | don't mind." His smiling demeanor made Sherri find him even more handsome, inwardly commenting on his striking appearance while maintaining a calm exterior. She praised, "Oh, Jasper, your words are always delightful to hear, more pleasing than your dad's." Standing beside Jasper in a white short-sleeved shirt, Liam reached out to put his arm around Jasper's shoulder.

Due to the height difference, it seemed a bit strained, almost like a stretching exercise. After a few seconds, Liam let go and leaned in, playfully bumping into Jasper. "Jasper, seems like your reputation's better than your father's." Jasper didn't respond to this comment. Ruby glanced at her carefree brother and reminded him to stand properly.

Everyone else wore long sleeves except for Liam, who wore short sleeves. When the breeze passed by, Liam was the only one who instinctively shivered a bit.

Hackett was equally convinced but with a differing opinion. He glanced at Jasper, who was a bit taller than him and started to tease, "Your dad's pulling a fast one here. No, scratch that. He's burning the bridge after crossing it. Back when he needed my grandpa, he draggedout of bed on Christmas to cto the grave. Now, his daughter's back, and he decided not to show up. Seriously, his character's questionable." Jasper remained composed, refusing to engage in conversation no matter what Hackett said. He felt responsible today since his dad couldn't come, but he couldn't voice it.

Ruby glanced at her father, signaling him to mind his words. Sensing his daughter's message, Hackett toned down his teasing.

Abandoning the teasing, Hackett squatted next to Sherri, playfully taunting Trevon. "Grandpa, you've blessed Trevon so much. You've been his support for years. Every year, he needs your presence multiple times. You've been helping him for so many years, all for nothing." Trevon's pursuit of his wife using Henry's story had beca familiar anecdote within the Blackwell family.

Hackett had recounted it numerous times, making it a well-known tale. Following the pattern of learning from the past, everyone in the Blackwell family, from the couple to Ruby and Liam, could recite it effortlessly. It was almost as smooth as reciting poetry.

Even the household staff of the Blackwell family knew precisely how Trevon had initially approached Henry for help.

Joy tapped Hackett on the shoulder and gave her son a reproachful look, a warning laden with authority. "You're an elder. How can you act like this? Jasper, he's just joking. Don't listen to his nonsense. He's used to teasing your dad without any restraints on his words. When there are children around, he should be mindful of his image as an elder." Joy finished speaking and then shot another glare at Hackett.

Jasper nodded at Joy. "It's okay. These are just memories from my dad's younger days." After that, Ruby chuckled, covering her mouth with one hand. Jasper always managed to present amusing things with a straight face.

Hackett thought, "How cthis kid never gets mad? His emotions are way too stable.

Liam lightly bumped Jasper again and whispered in his ear, "Jasper, you don't happen to be unaware of your father borrowing from my great-grandpa's name, do you? If so, I'll write a short essay about it for you later." Suddenly, Jasper becvery curious about the specifics of this event. At home, his father always kept his mistakes tightly under wraps. He replied casually, "Okay." Liam assured with a mischievous tone. "Okay, | promise to detail it meticulously, more thoroughly than an 800- word essay." Liam's shoulder was tapped by Ruby. She delivered her warning in gentle tones, and it carried an underlying sense of intimidation. "That's enough. Pay your respects to great-grandpa and great-grandma. You always fool around and do not take things seriously. If you fail a course or don't complete the credits this semester, you'll be grounded just like Harper." Liam, who had been playful moments ago, instantly had a terrified expression as he shivered. The breeze was a bit chilly today. In this household, his sister had the final say about his grades. It was his sister who decided if he could pass the test or not. "Ruby, I'm sorry, don't be so serious. I'll go pay respects now. I'll even kneel straight away." Ruby wasn't amused by her brother's words. She simply stared at him. Liam stood before Henry's tombstone, clasping his hands together in earnest prayer.

Meanwhile, Jasper stood out of sight from everyone and smiled. He harbored a different thought in his mind.

Sherri's words added another layer of impact for her son. "Your sister is right. If you can't even graduate from college, just go work at a construction site. Worker wages are pretty high nowadays. If you go, we'll save on hiring an extra hand." Liam was left speechless upon hearing that. They did not have to criticize him so hard.

The Blackwell family was unified in their approach to education, aiming for excellence. They had a tacit agreement on this front. As long as they could nurture their grandsons and sons into excellence, they were a united front. The entire family held the sstandards as Ruby, to the point that Liam was genuinely afraid of his sister's threats.

An hour later, at the foot of the mountain, the group split up. Hackett and Nathan were headed to the company, and Joy, Sherri, and Liam were going home. Ruby was off to her studio.

There were a total of three cars, including Jasper's white Lamborghini sports car that could only accommodate two people.

Hackett glanced at the conspicuous car nearby and said to his daughter, "Ruby, get in the car. I'll drop you off at the stufirst, then I'll go to the company with your grandpa..." "No need for the trouble. Jasper is heading back to the Wilson's residence, and it passes by Ruby's studio, right? Just let Jasper give her a ride. It won't be any trouble for Jasper." Sherri interrupted Hackett.

Hackett was stunned and speechless.

Jasper, being quite the gentleman, sought the opinion of Ruby. His face showed no particular expression, making it unclear whether he was happy or not. "Yeah, it's on the way. | can do it. If Mr. Hackett is giving her a ride, I'll head off first." After that, Jasper glanced at Hackett. From the depths of this kid's eyes, Hackett couldn't discern an ounce of falsehood. Instead, they seemed earnest, leaving him feeling perplexed, unable to fathom the boy's true thoughts. Hackett began to doubt whether he had read too much into it.

Growing up, both Jasper and Ruby were often hailed as the perfect match. They'd heard countless remarks from everyone. Many people urged Natalie and Sherri to directly arrange their marriage. Sherri was eager to do so, but Natalie insisted on respecting the children's wishes, avoiding imposing anything forcibly.

Even though Natalie also held great affection for Ruby, having watched her grow up, she had no intention of meddling in her son's emotional affairs. She believed it was better if her son and goddaughter pleased each other. If not, they could always maintain a brother-sister relationship. To her, they were all family.

At this moment, Hackett noticed there was not a trace of concern for his daughter on Jasper's face. Not to mention now, even in regular times, Hackett hadn't noticed any indication. This troubleskid was usually very quiet, never initiating contact with Ruby and only reaching out to Liam when needed.

Hackett thought, 'Should | remove this troubleskid from the potential son-in-law lineup?* With that thought, Hackett's worries diminished slightly. He glanced at his daughter, awaiting her decision. Ruby smiled gently and said, "Dad, just go directly to the company with Grandpa." As she spoke, Ruby glanced at her wristwatch with a blue strap. "It's a little past 9 o'clock now, and it's usually congested around this time. If | get dropped off at the stufirst and then go to the company, it might be noon by the tI arrive. I'll just ride with Jasper. It's more convenient and on the way." Before Hackett could respond, Joy urged, "Alright, let Jasper give her a ride. Let's not complicate simple matters, as Ruby said. Let's go, there's traffic coming behind." Amid Joy's incessant urging, Hackett reluctantly took the driver's seat. Nathan had already settled in the passenger seat, waiting. As the car remained still, Nathan asked, "Are we going or not?" The car started, and Hackett's vehicle led the way, followed by Sherri's car. Liam intended to ride with Jasper, but as he attempted to step in, Sherri firmly pulled him back. "Get in the car. Jasper, please take it slow." Jasper nodded. "Sure thing, Sherri." Through the wind, Sherri's scolding of Liam could still be heard. "Are you planning to crawl into the trunk? Have you seen what a sports car looks like?" The next moment, Sherri's praise carried through the breeze to the ears of the two young ones. "Jasper is really good, polite, and handsome." Ruby was accustomed to her mother's praises of Jasper. At home, she would compliment him at least three times a day.

The two watched as the two cars departed, neither making a move to get into any of the cars, just standing still.