Chapter 702

When Caitlin woke, she found herself lying in a hospital bed, surrounded by the soft hum of machines and the faint scent of disinfectant.
Sebastian, who had been keeping watch beside her, immediately leaned forward and took her hand. “Caitlin? You’re awake?”
“Sebastian…” Her voice was weak and airy, every word costing effort.
“You’re safe now,” he whispered, holding her hand tightly and pressing it against his cheek. His gaze was full of emotion, relief, and a deep fear that hadn’t yet faded.
He couldn’t imagine what life would be like without her. The very thought terrified him.
As her mind cleared, Caitlin remembered the suffocating darkness of the secret room–the moment she realized there was no air left, when despair had nearly swallowed her whole. She had been so afraid. Not of dying, but of leaving behind Sebastian and their children.
Now, seeing his face again, she felt tears spill down her cheeks. “Hubby…”
Sebastian bent and pulled her gently into his arms. They held each other tightly, trembling from the shock of reunion. Get full chapters from Findthought I’d never see you again,” she whispered.
“You will always see me,” he murmured against her hair. “I won’t ever let something like that happen.”
After a while, he loosened his embrace just enough to look at her tear–streaked face. His thumb brushed her cheeks, wiping away the dampness, and he kissed her softly.
When the kiss broke, Caitlin’s thoughts turned to Zinnia. “Wait–Zinnia! How is she?”
“She’s fine,” Sebastian said quickly. “She’s right next to you, just resting.”
Caitlin turned her head toward the other side of the room, where a curtain separated the beds. She couldn’t see through it, but then a familiar voice spoke up.
“Caitlin, I’m fine,” Zinnia said. “You don’t have to worry.”
Sebastian drew the curtain aside so the two women could see each other. Relief filled Caitlin’s eyes when she saw Zinnia awake and alert.
Then she suddenly remembered the ledgers. “Sebastian, what about the documents? The records?”
“They’re safe,” he assured her. “I’ve locked them away. Nothing’s missing. You focus on recovering first. Once you’re strong enough, we’ll deal with everything else.”
Caitlin nodded, then sighed. “I can’t believe I let Nicoletta escape. It was my fault. I should have been more
careful.”
“What exactly happened?” he asked. “How did she get away?”
“She escaped through a hidden door while we were checking the ledgers,” Caitlin explained.
Zinnia added, “We didn’t know there was another passage, and she had a weapon hidden on her. It all happened too fast.”
Sebastian listened quietly, his expression grim. “That matches what I suspected. At least you’re both safe. Don’t worry– I’ve already sent people after her.”
For now, both women needed rest more than anything. The investigation could wait.
They hadn’t told Xavi about Zinnia’s hospitalization, but Tyler eventually let it slip. As soon as Xavi heard that Zinnia and Caitlin had nearly died, he panicked, ready to board a plane immediately.
He called Zinnia’s phone. “Are you okay?”
“I told you, I’m fine,” she said gently.
“I’m coming there,” Xavi insisted. “I can’t just sit around. I’ve been worried sick.”
“Don’t,” she said, trying not to smile. “We’ll be back soon. Just stay home and wait for me, okay?”
It took her a while to calm him down, but eventually he agreed–grudgingly. Still, the thought of waiting helplessly made him restless. He hated that he couldn’t be there for her right away.
By the second day in the hospital, both Caitlin and Zinnia were recovering well, and doctors said they could be discharged within another day.
That morning, while the two women were chatting quietly, footsteps echoed down the corridor. A moment later, the door opened, and someone walked in holding an enormous bouquet of flowers.
Zinnia’s eyes lit up. “Wow, it’s Mr. Vanderbilt!”
She immediately assumed it was Sebastian–after all, he was the type to surprise Caitlin with flowers at any opportunity.
Caitlin laughed softly. “Not necessarily.”
When the bouquet lowered, revealing a familiar, smiling face, Zinnia gasped.
“Xavi?!”
He grinned sheepishly. “I couldn’t wait any longer. I asked Mr. Vanderbilt for permission and caught the next flight.”
He stepped forward, handing her the flowers, then turned to Caitlin. “Sorry, ma’am. I didn’t bring you one.”
Caitlin chuckled. “That’s fine. If you gave me flowers, your Mr. Vanderbilt might break your legs.”
She looked at the young couple, amused. Xavi had changed so much since falling for Zinnia–steadier, more
mature, and surprisingly dependable. And Zinnia, once all ice and sharp edges, had softened.
Two people who couldn’t have been more different, somehow finding their way to each other. Fate was strange like that.
Zinnia’s eyes brimmed with tears as she accepted the flowers. “Why are you crying?” Xavi asked. “ It’s just flowers, not onions. ”
“I’m happy, you idiot.” She gave his arm a playful punch, laughing through her tears.
Some people talk about love endlessly but never act. Others show it with one simple gesture–a flight across the world, a hand holding flowers. That was the difference between love and convenience.
Zinnia knew she’d found the right man.
Caitlin smiled, shaking her head at their sweetness. When Sebastian arrived a little later, he, too, was holding a bouquet–bigger and brighter than Xavi’s.
“Mr. Vanderbilt!” Xavi greeted quickly, standing straight.
Sebastian waved him off. “Relax. You two keep talking. We’ll pretend we’re not here.”
He turned to Caitlin, handed her the flowers, and leaned down to kiss her.
Xavi blinked, then smacked his forehead. How had he forgotten to do that? Next time, he wouldn’t miss his
cue.
When the curtain between the beds was pulled closed, he immediately took the opportunity to pull Zinnia into his arms and kiss her too.
By now, everything in D country was finally settling. Once Caitlin and Zinnia were discharged and the Jonathan Family’s assets officially divided, they could return home.
Meanwhile, in A country, Magnus received the DNA test results he had ordered.
He didn’t open the envelope right away. Instead, he carried it back to the royal palace and went straight to his father’s private study.
Closing the door behind him, he held out the sealed envelope. “Father, the report is ready. You should be the one to read it.”
Leif VI accepted it with both hands, his expression grave. “So it’s finally here. ”
The anticipation had been agonizing. Days had felt like years, and now the moment of truth was heavy enough to crush him.
The document was thin, barely a few pages–but in his hands, it felt impossibly weighty.
Magnus urged softly, “Father, open it. Let’s see what it says.”