Chapter 467
The woman looked to be just over fifty.
She had a round face, large eyes, and fair skin. A dark mole sat beneath her right eye, and her makeup was heavy-almost theatrical. Despite being draped in designer labels and clutching a purse worth more than three thousand dollars, she somehow gave off an air of cheapness, like someone who’d come into money overnight but whose taste hadn’t caught up yet.
But what struck Caitlin most was how much the woman resembled Marcia-the Marcia from that old photograph.
A living, breathing Marcia.
Yes.
It was Marcia.
Even though the photo was somewhat blurry, the features were unmistakable.
Caitlin was shocked, but she didn’t let it show. Her expression remained composed and indifferent as she handed the woman her belongings, as if nothing unusual had happened.
The woman took them with a smile. “Thank you, dear.”
“You’re welcome.”
She didn’t linger, just turned and walked away.
Caitlin watched her go, her eyes clouded with thought.
Among the things the woman had dropped was a plane ticket.
At first, Caitlin hadn’t paid any attention to the information on it. But after seeing
the woman’s face, she glanced at it again.
The name on the ticket was Karla Nelson.
Destination: Valerium.
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Could Karla actually be Marcia, who disappeared all those years ago? Was her disappearance connected to what happened to Caitlin’s parents?
Caitlin wanted nothing more than to run after Karla and demand answers, to spill all the questions churning in her heart. But she knew she couldn’t risk alarming her-not yet.
She needed to be patient.
She had to pretend she didn’t suspect a thing.
Only then could she hope to uncover the truth.
Taking a deep breath, Caitlin pulled out her phone and typed one word into her notes app.
Karla.
Ten minutes later.
Caitlin boarded her flight.
The flight would take two hours.
Wanting to surprise her grandfather, Caitlin hadn’t told him she was coming. After landing, the first thing she did was call Keira to let her know she’d arrived safely.
Then she hailed a cab back to Willow Manor.
Although Fortune was now the owner of the property management company, he hadn’t changed his ways. In his free time, he still donned his old green vest and picked up litter around the neighborhood.
Apart from a few longtime employees, almost no one knew who he really was.
As soon as Caitlin stepped onto the grounds, she spotted Fortune by the roadside, picking up trash.
“Grandpa!”
She called out with a bright smile.
Fortune thought he was hearing things.
He must be imagining it—his granddaughter was far away in the capital. They’d
agreed she’d only come home during holidays or breaks.
It couldn’t be her. It was just wishful thinking.
But then Caitlin called out again, and this time, Fortune’s expression changed. He looked up.
And when he saw her, his eyes turned red at the corners.
Disbelief and joy flooded his face.
“Catie!”
Was he dreaming? Was his granddaughter really standing in front of him?
No one could possibly understand the rush of emotion Fortune felt in that moment.
He was happy-happier than if he’d won the lottery.
“Grandpa!” Caitlin ran over and threw her arms around him.
“Catie!” Fortune hugged her tightly. “How are you home?”
“I wanted to see you,” Caitlin said, smiling up at him. “Or… do you not want me here?”
“Of course do! I’m thrilled you’re
back.” Fortune wiped at his eyes and
took her suitcase from her “Come
on, let’s go home. I make you your favorite pasta from scratch.”
“Perfect,” Caitlin nodded. “I’ve been craving your homemade pasta for weeks.”
They chatted and laughed all the way home.
As soon as they stepped inside, Fortune shed his green vest, washed up, and
headed for the kitchen to make Caitlin’s favorite dish.
Caitlin followed him in, keeping him company as he cooked.
Even though they video-chatted almost every day, now that they were together in person, they couldn’t stop talking.
An hour later, Fortune set two steaming bowls of fresh pasta on the table.
Caitlin’s stomach rumbled-she couldn’t wait and took a big bite.
“Well?” Fortune asked eagerly. “How is it? Did Grandpa’s cooking get any better?”
“It’s delicious—absolutely the best,” Caitlin grinned. “Grandpa, your pasta is
world-class.”
She said it every time, but Fortune never got tired of hearing it. The compliment lit up his entire face.
He peeled a hard-boiled egg and dropped it into her bowl. “Eat up, Catie. There’s plenty more in the pot if you want seconds.”
“Thanks, Grandpa.”
Fortune wiped his hands and sat down. “Oh, by the way, Catie, white you were away, March stopped by to check in on me pretty often. She’s a good friend make sure to stay close to her.”
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Caitlin was surprised, and a warm feeling blossomed in her chest. “She never
mentioned that to me.”
She and Celeste Hayes messaged every day-they talked about everything. But
Celeste had never said a word about visiting Fortune.
After dinner, Caitlin joined Fortune for a walk in the park.
The weather in Silverhaven was about ten degrees warmer than in the capital, and together, under the gentle evening sun, they strolled and talked, their laughter weaving through the quiet streets.