Chapter 180

She’d been to so many places, seen the world in all its chaos and color, but in the end, she chose to settle somewhere quiet, almost untouched.

“Not really old friends, but your parents had their own house in Cabinda. That’s actually where they met,” Pandora said.

She paused, then added, “Your parents disappeared in Cabinda p>

The words hit Claire like a rock dropped into still water, sending shockwaves through her mind.

“Wait… So my parents are missing? Not… dead?” Claire stared at Pandora, trying to process it.

She’d never really asked about her biological parents. Somewhere along the way, she just accepted they were gone.

Now, hearing that they might only be missing, Claire felt like her whole world was tilting.

“No,” Pandora said, her gaze steady. “Do you know why I’ve kept such a low profile in James Village p>

“Why?” Claire felt a strange suspicion spark in her mind. “Were you hiding from someone? Like… enemies p>

If the James family had enemies strong enough to make her parents vanish, those people must have been seriously dangerous.

Pandora’s lips pressed together. “I’ve stayed out of sight so I wouldn’t bring trouble to your parents p>

When she talked about Claire’s parents, her pride was almost impossible to hide.

Claire felt her curiosity growing. What kind of trouble could be so big that her grandmother would hide herself away?

“In the beginning, your parents were working on some very dangerous research. Later, your father sent me a letter. He told me to cut off all contact with them, to act like he and your mother had died by accident p>

The word “accident” made Claire’s heart thump. People who had to fake their own deaths? That sounded like something only the highest-level government agents would do.

“I hid most of the James family’s business, kept to myself, and handed everything else over to people who had no obvious connection to your parents,” Pandora went

on.

“To outsiders, we said your parents died in an accident, that their bodies were never found p>

She played the role of the grieving, devastated mother so well that, at first, people were suspicious. But over time, they stopped asking questions.

“I realized there was a group watching the James family. I couldn’t tell if they were protecting us or just waiting for your parents to come back.

To fool those people, Pandora hardly left the house. She acted cold and withdrawn,

barely even taking care of her only granddaughter.

“Eventually, those people believed that the Agassi couple really was gone p>

“I used to be sure your parents were alive. But after those people finally left us alone, I started to doubt it p>

“Maybe… maybe your parents really are gone p>

Claire rubbed her forehead, trying to make sense of it all. At first, Pandora had believed her parents were must in hiding, still working for the country. maybe wrapped up in some Secret project.

But after all these years, with Claire growing up and no word from her parents,

Pandora couldn’t help but wonder if they were truly gone.

“I didn’t tell you before because I didn’t want you to go searching for them,” Pandora said quietly.

“Whether they’re alive or not, it’s not something you need to worry about p>

“You should focus on your own life. If one day they come back, it’s okay if you feel angry. Or if you want to forgive them, that’s fine too p>

“They might have been loyal to their country, done what they thought was right, but they still didn’t take sare of their daughter or their mother p>

“So I won’t ask you to do anything for them p>

“You just need to live your life, that’s all p>

There was a strength and openness in Pandora that Claire couldn’t help but admire.

Claire nodded, feeling the weight of it all. “Okay. I understand p>

She asked a few more questions about her parents, wanting to know anything she could.

“Your dad was so smart,” Pandora said, a soft smile appearing. “Even as a kid, he learned everything he could, and he was good at it all p>

Whenever Pandora mentioned her youngest son, her pride was unmistakable.