Chapter 312
Hearing Amanda’s words, Keira felt certain now-the person who hurt her son couldn’t possibly be her daughter.
If Amanda had truly been the one to harm Stuart, why would she place so much trust in Freya?
It wasn’t hard to tell from Amanda’s words: she trusted Freya every bit as much as Keira herself did.
Keira steadied herself, brushed away her lingering doubts, and said, “You’re right, Amanda. I know Freya can help Stuart. I believe in her p>
Amanda let out a scoff in her mind.
Trust Caitlin? Her mother was getting senile.
Did she really not see that Caitlin was already laying the groundwork, coming up with excuses for why she wouldn’t be able to save Stuart?
Otherwise, why would Caitlin go out of her way to mention in front of Keira that Stuart’s condition was worse than before?
Of course, Amanda couldn’t say any of this out loud.
If she did, Keira might decide to bring in a better doctor for Stuart-and that would ruin everything.
No, Stuart had to die under Caitlin’s care.
He was already so fragile, a shadow of himself—a coma patient teetering on the edge. With his condition declining, the end surely wasn’t far off now.
The thought flickered through Amanda’s eyes, and she wiped the tears from Keira’s face. “Come on, Mom, don’t cry. It’s almost Christmas. This year, we have Freya back-we should be celebrating, not mourning p>
Keira looked at her daughter, her heart a tangled mess. Was it really not Amanda? Or… was it?
Stuart, please_wake up soon. Wake up and tell me the truth. Clear your sister’s
name.
New Year’s Eve arrived sooner than anyone expected.
The Gonzales family home was livelier than ever, with four new faces around the table.
Besides Caitlin, Fortune, and Hannah, there was Tammie-a young man whose father had died early, whose mother had walked out, and whose grandparents had passed three years ago. As his great-aunt, Keira couldn’t let him spend the holidays alone.
Caitlin and the older folks were busy hanging garlands and wreaths, while Tammie helped Ann paste paper snowflakes onto the windows.
As she pressed a snowflake onto the glass, Ann glanced at him. “Tammie, I’ve noticed you hardly talk to Freya. Is it because she’s divorced? Do you have something against her p>
Tammie looked over at Caitlin, who was laughing with Hannah across the room. “I just can’t bring myself to open up to someone who’s been unfaithful, who’s abandoned her own family, who’s lost a child p>
Freya might be his blood relative, the only sister he had besides Ann, but Tammie couldn’t get past it.
Why did the world have people like that-mothers who didn’t love their own children, who were so selfish and cold?
If she never wanted a child, why have one at all? Why bring an innocent soul into this world, only to let them suffer?
Since learning the truth about Caitlin, Tammie had spent many sleepless nights, unable to understand why there were so many callous, heartless people in the world.
Ann hurried to stop him. “Tammie, please! Grandma told me not to mention Freya’s divorce to anyone. And Freya never said she’d lost a baby-you shouldn’t say things like that p>
Tammie gave a bitter smile. “Who’d ever admit they lost a baby p>
Seeing how much Tammie disliked Caitlin secretly delighted Ann. “Tammie, it’s
fine to say these things to me, but don’t ever mention them in front of Grandma, or
to Freya herself. Freya is Grandma’s favorite, you know p>
“I know,” Tammie replied curtly.
Meanwhile, at Silverhaven-
Gordon Sylvester was sitting in his study, going over paperwork, when the door burst open and Skyler Cumming ran in, breathless with excitement. “Uncle Gordon! It’s snowing! The first snow of the year p>
Gordon frowned, barely looking up. “It snows every winter. What’s so special about that p>
“The first snow is always special! Come on, Uncle, let’s take a picture! You have to take a photo and share it with the girl you like. You could send it to Caitlin p>
Gordon ignored him, coolly muttering, “Childish. And for the record, I don’t like anyone p>
Skyler rolled his eyes. “Fine, be that way. If you won’t, I will p>
At that, Gordon set his files aside for a moment.
Him? Send a picture to Caitlin?
Skyler went on, “I mean, I don’t have a crush on anyone yet, but I can always
send the picture to my best friend instead. Ha p>
Gordon quietly picked his paperwork back up.
Back in the city-
Once Caitlin finished helping hang the garlands, her phone buzzed with a WhatsApp notification.
She opened it and found a photo from Gordon: snow swirling down over the gardens at Silverhaven, everything blanketed in white.
[Catie, it’s snowing at Silverhaven. The first snow of the year p>