Chapter 515
Anyone who spent enough time in business would sense there was something off about all this. Queenie sensed it immediately.
“I really don’t know. They said the hospital made a mistake, but I had people look into it,” Pandora said. She didn’t finish her thought, but the look on her face made it clear there was more to the story.
“You didn’t do anything about it?” Queenie was genuinely shocked.
Her own child, switched at birth… Knowing Pandora, there was no way she’d let something like that slide without a fight.
Pandora just smiled. “No, I let it go. In the end, didn’t our family come out ahead p>
She chuckled. “Their daughter spent eighteen years with me, living in the countryside, while my Claire got eighteen years of the good life as a wealthy heiress p>
“And anyway, even if Claire didn’t receive much love in the James family, they made sure she never went without. She had good food, nice clothes, the best education p>
“Claire’s a wonderful young woman. I don’t see the need to hold a grudge p>
Queenie was skeptical. She was sure Pandora had her reasons. Pandora was not someone who simply let things go.
Raising her granddaughter herself would have made such a difference. There was so much she could have taught her, so many memories and lessons. Would being raised by strangers ever compare?
“So why did you stay in the countryside all these years? Don’t tell me you just gave up your whole family’s property p>
That thought struck Queenie as strange. Something wasn’t right.
Pandora’s expression stayed calm. “I just got used to the quiet out there and settled into life in the old house p>
Queenie got the message and didn’t ask any more. Pandora had always been mysterious. She was tough when she was young, and even more impressive now. Best not to get involved.
Claire hung around with Jennifer until the food was ready to go, then came back to the private dining room.
The two grandmothers were sipping tea, chatting in that slow, easy way older friends do.
Queenie smiled. “When I finally ended up in Pelago, the men there were unbelievably romantic. In just one month, three different men tried to woo me p>
Claire sat listening, totally caught up in the story. Queenie had had dozens of admirers over the years, but never seemed tempted by any of them.
“Queenie, was there ever a man you truly liked? Someone who really made your heart race?” Claire propped her chin on her hand, itching to hear something juicy. Queenie paused, her gaze turning dreamy. “Of course. There was, once p>
“Then… why did you always turn everyone down?” Claire couldn’t help but ask.
Queenie’s smile was bittersweet. “When you’ve met someone truly unforgettable when you’re young, everyone else just pales in comparison p>
Claire knew exactly who she meant. There was no need to ask.
Queenie’s husband, Lawrence. They’d been classmates, then got married and had
a child together, everything falling into place as if it was all meant to be.
But then Queenie’s family had to leave the country. She went back to her parents’ house, planning to meet Lawrence at the docks. When the time came, though, neither her husband nor her son turned up.
Her parents pushed her to leave without them, promising that once they’d settled in Eldoria, someone would help bring her husband and son over.
But when she got to Eldoria, the person who was supposed to help disappeared. She couldn’t reach her husband and son at all. She wanted to go back to look for them, but her mother fell sick, which delayed everything.
Her father found a doctor and took her mother abroad for surgery, and Queenie had
to go with them. By the time they were settled, everything back home had turned into chaos.
Foreign ties made you a target for interrogation during that period. They didn’t dare even try to contact old friends. Finding her husband and son became impossible.
Claire listened and felt her heart ache for Queenie. Fate could be unbelievably cruel. So many families were separated in those turbulent times, and reuniting with lost loved ones was nothing short of a miracle.