Chapter 830
Carey even began to pray, hoping that she really was Carey. And hoping that she truly had a daughter like Caitlin.
Perhaps this was the unbreakable bond of blood.
A mother and daughter share a connection that transcends memory. Even with
her amnesia, even with a mind wiped clean, Carey was willing to place her unconditional trust in her child.
Caitlin held Carey’s hand as they walked, pulling out her phone with her free hand and typing a quick message to Celia: ‘Emergency. Come now p>
Just three words.
Celia was chatting with friends, laughing at something that had been said.
*Buzz buzz p>
Her phone vibrated. Seeing Caitlin’s message, she knew immediately that something was wrong. She stood up at once. “My apologies, Miss Vance, something has come up. I must be going p>
“Of course, Miss Palmer. Please, don’t let us keep you,” Rosemary said with a smile.
Celia wasn’t the main event tonight, so her presence hardly mattered. All Rosemary had to do now was wait for Will to ask her for the opening dance.
After excusing herself, Celia left without another word.
Meanwhile, Caitlin had led Carey to the upper section of the castle. It seemed Carey’s absence had already been noticed; security personnel were swarming the
area.
Thanks to her earlier study of the castle map, Caitlin knew the layout well enough. She guided Carey into an abandoned, empty room.
“Mom, come here. We need to switch clothes p>
“Okay.” Carey nodded and quickly complied, helping Caitlin change.
About five or six minutes later, the two emerged from the room. Caitlin was now wearing Carey’s dress, while Carey was dressed in the clothes of The Shadow, complete with a half-mask. The transformation was startling. She looked nothing like the gentle, subdued woman she usually was. No one would ever recognize her.
“Mom, stay with me. Don’t be afraid,” Caitlin said, taking Carey’s arm.
Carey looked at her daughter’s profile and nodded.
They made their way through the castle. Just as they were about to reach the main gate and freedom, a voice called out from behind them.
“Stop right there p>
Caitlin turned, her expression calm.
Carey, however, was terrified. Her face went white, and her legs began to shake.
This was the first time she had ever defied Dowager Vance, the first time she had ever tried to escape Vance Castle. She couldn’t imagine the storm of fury she would face if she were caught.
Dowager Vance would kill her.
Sensing Carey’s terror, Caitlin gave her a faint smile and squeezed her hand. “It’s okay, Mom. I’m here p>
“Who are you two?” a security guard asked, approaching them with narrowed, suspicious eyes.
“We are guests of Miss Vance, of course p>
The guard frowned. “I don’t recall Miss Vance inviting anyone from Eldermere to the party tonight p>
While there were no surveillance
cameras inside the castle itself, the
main gate and several side
entrances were monitored. Every guest’s entry was logged by a facial recognition system. But since Caitlin had entered wearing a mask, the system had failed to identify her.
The guard’s gaze shifted to Carey. He squinted. “Take off the mask p>
At that moment, Carey felt like she couldn’t breathe. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her palms were slick with sweat. She was so, so scared.
Just as the guard’s hand reached for the mask on Carey’s face, a sharp voice cut through the air.
“Have you gone blind? How dare you stop my honored guests p>
Celia stormed over, flanked by two of her personal bodyguards. Seeing her, the guard froze, his face draining of color. “M-Miss Palmer,” he stammered, “I-I didn’t realize they were with you p>
Who in Valerium didn’t know of Celia’s fearsome reputation?
Caitlin discreetly put away the small weapon she had readied in her hand.
Celia shot the guard a look of utter disgust. “So the Vances are second-rate, and they can’t even get their guard dogs right?” She then turned to Caitlin. “Catie, Luna, did he frighten you p>
Not knowing Carey’s real name,
Celia had invented one on the spot. Though she wasn’t sure what Caitlin was up to, she knew the most important thing was to get both of them out of there. From the beginning, Celia had known Caitlin had a critical mission at Vance Castle tonight.
“We’re fine,” Caitlin replied with a slight shake of her head.
“Good,” Celia said, linking her arm with Caitlin’s. “Let’s go home then.” “Okay p>
And just like that, the three of them walked out of Vance Castle, arm in arm, in plain sight. It wasn’t until they were safely inside the Palmer family’s private car that Carey finally let out a breath she didn’t realize shed been holding the slumped back against the seat, completely drained, her back drenched in cold sweat.
Carey looked out the window, her eyes red and raw.
She had escaped. Had she really, finally escaped?
Twenty years. For twenty years, she had lived like a puppet, stripped of all dignity.
Celia sat across from them, still trying to process everything. She looked at Caitlin, her face a mask of confusion. “Freya, who is she p>