Chapter 866
Celeste and Celia were both wonderful young women.
Celeste accepted the gift with both hands and bowed formally. “Thank you, Stuart and Carey, for this incredible honor p>
“You’re welcome p>
That evening, the large family booked out an entire section of a hotel for a reunion banquet. Celia was invited as well.
Receiving a personal gift from Carey and Stuart, Celia was overjoyed. She smiled, “Freya, this gift means so much to me. Thank you!” She then gave Caitlin a warm hug. She felt the genuine warmth of the Richards and Gonzales families and was truly happy to see them reunited.
Another guest was invited that evening: Tina.
Tina walked up to Caitlin with a glass of wine, her expression full of remorse. “I’m sorry, Miss Kensington. I lied to you at the beginning p>
“It’s alright,” Caitlin said, clinking her glass against Tina’s. “You had signed a non- disclosure agreement with the Vances. I understand. Tina, I’m the one who should be thanking you. During that dark and hopeless time for my mother at the Vance estate, you were her only light. You were the one who led her out of the darkness p>
If Tina had been like everyone else at Vance Castle and ignored Carey’s plight, Carey would never have given her the peach tart. If Caitlin hadn’t tasted that tart, she never would have discovered her mother’s secret presence in the Vance household.
“No, no,” Tina shook her head. “Miss Kensington, I didn’t really do much. I just did what anyone should have done. Just like how you saved my niece without a second thought p>
At that moment, Carey and Stuart joined them.
“Tina p>
Carey spoke softly. Tina looked up, her face filled with awe. “Mrs. Gonzales, you look absolutely beautiful tonight p>
Carey was wearing a stunning red gown, her makeup subtle and elegant, and her face glowed with a smile Tina had never seen before. She was truly beautiful, like someone reborn.
“Thank you,” Carey said. “By the way, I’d like to introduce you to my husband, Stuart p>
Stuart extended his hand to Tina. “Miss Tina, thank you for saving my wife. Please, you are always welcome to visit us in Eldermere p>
Tina shook his hand politely. “Of course. I’ve heard Eldermere is a beautiful country and I’ve always wanted to see it. I’ll definitely visit if I get the chance p>
Meanwhile, Celeste was standing next to Xavier Richards. “Brother Xavier, I’m so jealous of your big family. A reunion dinner like this is so lively! My family is just four people. Holidays are always so quiet p>
Nearby, Norris Richards overheard and raised an eyebrow. “Little sister March, if you’re so envious, why don’t you marry into our Richards family? You and Freya are best friends anyway. It would be perfect p>
“Okay!” Celeste nodded enthusiastically, turning to Norris. “Brother Norris, since you don’t have a girlfriend, how about I marry you p>
Sincerity was a powerful weapon, but Norris hadn’t expected Celeste to be this direct.
He was speechless. Usually so eloquent, he couldn’t form a single word.
But Celeste pressed on, stepping closer and batting her big, beautiful eyes. “Do you dare marry me? You’re handsome enough, so I don’t think I’d be getting a bad deal p>
As Celeste’s face drew nearer, Norris stumbled backward and fell, landing with a soft thud on the thick carpet, which thankfully saved his tailbone.
Seeing Norris so flustered, Celeste burst out laughing, bending over with glee. “Hahaha, Brother Nors, look at you. Am I really that scary?” Marrying me would be the luckiest thing to ever happen to you p>
Norris was still mute, his throat tight, his heart pounding erratically. A thin sheen of
sweat covered his forehead. Why was he so nervous?
“Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you. I’m going to find Catie and Celia p>
After Celeste left, Xavier crossed his arms, thoroughly enjoying the show. “Norrish Norris, I never thought I’d see the day His cousin was usually so commanding, but Celeste had turned him into a flustered mess.
Norris took a deep breath, trying to steady himself as he got up from the floor. He pointed a finger at Xavier. “You’d better not breathe a word of this to anyone p>
The reunion banquet was a joyous affair. Everyone ate, drank, and celebrated. Afterward, the Richards and Gonzales families gathered for a group photo, their first in over twenty years.
For the next three days, the entire family accompanied Carey, exploring the city and sightseeing. Stuart also helped her get all her official documents reissued.
It was now the fourth day of Diana and Rosemary Vance’s imprisonment in the dark room.
The solitary confinement cell was a terrifying place. Neither the dowager nor her daughter knew how they had survived. They couldn’t distinguish day from night.
On the first day, Rosemary had fainted twice from fear. She had hoped to wake up back in the comfort of Vance Castle, living her life as a lady of leisure. Butreach time, she woke up to the same suffocating darkness.
She was too scared to sleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, she could feel the phantom sensation of rats and cockroaches crawling all over her. The torment was unbearable.
Click!
Just then, the door to the dark room was pushed open from the outside. A sliver of light pierced the darkness.
Diana, disheveled and wild-eyed, scrambled to her feet, her eyes gleaming. “The door’s open! It’s open! Someone’s here to rescue us! Rosemary, Rosemary, we can get out p>