Chapter 877
Standing on the plush red carpet, Carey looked at the scene before her, and tears welled in her eyes.
In truth, ever since escaping the Vance family, she had been living in a dreamlike state. A deep-seated fear lingered-the fear that this was all just another dream. The Vance estate was an impenetrable fortress; how had she ever managed to get out?
It wasn’t until the plane landed, until her feet touched the soil of Eldermere, that she finally allowed herself to believe it was real. She was truly home. She would never have to endure that inhuman existence again.
The head butler, holding a large bouquet of fresh flowers, walked out from the main entrance. His voice was filled with respectful warmth. “Madam, welcome home p>
Carey accepted the flowers, her eyes misty. “Thank you p>
She looked closely at the butler, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. “Are you… Scales p>
Twenty years had passed. The forty-year-old Scales she remembered was now a man in his sixties, his temples streaked with gray.
Recognized after all this time, Scales was pleasantly surprised. “I am Scales! Madam, you still remember me p>
After all, Carey had only lived at the Gonzales estate for two years.
Carey nodded. “I remember.” Not only did she remember him, but she also recalled that the butler for her own Richards family was also named Scales. Stuart used to joke that it was a sign they were meant to be.
As she stepped through the gates of Gonzales Manor, memories that had long
been faded and blurred began to sharpen, coming back into focus.
They walked through the grounds until they reached the courtyard of the wing she had shared with Stuart. The door to their rooms was closed.
Stuart came to her side. “Carey, why don’t you open it p>
She nodded and reached out, pushing the door open.
With a soft click, it swung inward.
She gasped. The bedroom was exactly as she had left it twenty years ago. The wedding portrait still hung on the wall, the baby crib stood in the corner, and even the half-finished baby romper she had been knitting was still lying inside it.
Seeing this familiar scene, Carey felt as if she had stepped back in time to those blissful years after her marriage to Stuart. It had been the happiest period of her life.
“It’s the same,” she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. “Nothing has changed p>
Stuart nodded. “That’s right. For twenty years, Mom never allowed anyone to touch a single thing in our rooms p>
When Stuart had first woken up, the sight of the untouched room had made him feel as though only a few days had passed, not two decades.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Carey, from now on, our family will be together, happy and safe. We’ll never be separated again p>
Keira’s eyes were red with tears. “Stuart is right. Carey, dear, from now on, our family will always be together p>
Hannah stood beside them, silently wiping her own tears.
Zachary stepped forward, a smile on his face. “Alright, alright, Mom, Carey, let’s not cry on such a happy day p>
Hannah nodded. “Yes, yes, you’re right. No more tears p>
The next day, it was time for Celeste to return home.
Caitlin drove her to the airport. Before they left, Keira wheeled out an enormous suitcase. “Celeste, this is something I prepared for your family. Please take it with you p>
Celeste stared at the massive case. “Grandma Keira, what’s in here p>
Keira smiled. “Oh, just some local delicacies from the Capital and a few little trinkets Celeste, thank yous, so much for accompanying Caitlin on this trip. You must accept these, or Grandma Keira will be very upset p>
She put on a playfully stern expression.
“Well, in that case, thank you, Grandma Keira,” Celeste said, linking her arm with Keira’s. “Grandma, if you ever have the time, you n
must
come with catie to visit Silverhaven.
Give me a chance to be a proper host.”.
“I’d love that,” Keira replied warmly.
Caitlin lifted the suitcase and placed it in the trunk of the car. It was packed to the brim and must have weighed a hundred pounds, but she handled it as if it were nothing.
Closing the trunk, Caitlin turned to Keira. “Grandma, we’re heading off now.” “Alright.” Keira waved. “Caitlin, drive safely p>
Caitlin had recently gotten her driver’s license and no longer needed a chauffeur.
“I will p>
Celeste settled into the passenger seat and rolled down the window. “Goodbye, Grandma Keira p>
“Goodbye, Celeste! Have a safe flight p>
“Thank you, Grandma p>
Celeste rolled up the window and turned to Caitlin, her eyes wide with astonishment. “Catie! You learned how to drive! When did this happen?” “Back in May,” Caitlin replied.
“Was it hard p>
“Not at all,” Caitlin said. “It’s an automatic. It practically drives itself p>
Celeste nodded decisively. “Okay! As soon as I get back, I’m signing up for
lessons. And when I pass, I’m going to buy a Cullinan, just like yours p>
Her parents had been nagging her to learn to drive ever since she graduated, but she’d always put it
off. Seeing her best friend behind the
wheel had ignited a new
determination in her.
The Gonzales estate wasn’t far from the airport, and they arrived in about half an
hour.
When Celeste got out to retrieve her suitcase, she was stunned. It was incredibly heavy! She had watched Caitlin load it into the trunk with one hand and had assumed it was light.
But it wasn’t. It was unbelievably heavy. She couldn’t lift it with one hand, or even two. She probably couldn’t lift it with both hands and both feet.
She was also intensely curious about what Keira had packed in there. It had to be well over a hundred pounds. She could manage something half that weight, but this was on another level.
“Catie!” Celeste turned to her friend. “How did you lift this thing with one hand p>