b55 /b

    55 vouchers

    After breakfast, Sebastian was about to head to DanCa Estate with Caitlin when they ran into Eliza and Raymond.

    “Caitlin, we were just about to visit DanCa Estate too,” Eliza said. “We want to see your mother and your brother. Shall we ride together?”

    As inws, it was only right to pay their respects now that Kelly was safely back.

    “Of course. Let’s all

    igo/ii./i”

    Outside, a car waited while a houseman loaded gifts into the trunk. Caitlin frowned. “No need to fuss with presents.”

    “How could I show up empty–handed? Let me handle it,” Eliza said with a smile.

    When they arrived at DanCa Estate, Kelly had already finished breakfast and was doing exercises in the garden. As Caitlin and the others stepped out of the car, Eliza nced over and said, “Your mother really knows how to take care of herself. You’d never guess she struggled with depression. Is she fully recovered

    now?b” /b

    Caitlin cast a look toward Kelly and nodded. “She’s fine now.”

    “Then let’s go say hello.”

    Caitlin called out as they approached, “Mom, everyone’s here to see you.”

    Kelly stopped, smiling as she walked over. “Eliza, Raymond, you came. Please,e inside.”

    They settled in the sitting room. Eliza took Kelly’s hand and chatted warmly. “We’ve been meaning to visit since we heard you were back. Caitlin said you weren’t feeling well yesterday. Better today?”

    “Much better. Nothing serious.”

    “How’s Harrison?b” /b

    “He hasn’t woken yet. He’s upstairs resting.”

    Seeing a driver bring in the gifts, Kelly said quickly, “You didn’t need to bring anything. I’m just happy to see you. We’re family.”

    “We are,” Eliza agreed. “And since we’re on the topic, I actually came to discuss Sebastian and Caitlin’s wedding. I wanted to host it before, but Caitlin said she’d wait for you to return. Now that you’re back, it’s time to put it on the calendar, right?”

    Kelly smiled. “Yes, yes. It’s time to do it properly.”

    “Mom, you all talk. Sebastian and I are going up to check on Harrison.”

    7:32 bThu/bb, /bSep 18 bW /b

    “Go ahead.”

    55

    55 vouchers

    Caitlin and Sebastian checked on James first. He was still stable. Then they went to the study. Caitlin pulled an old photo album from the shelves, set it on the desk, and the two of them began to sift through the pages.

    After a few minutes, Caitlin tapped a photo. “Here! Look.”

    Sebastian studied the woman in the old picture and saw it clearly–the small mole above her upper lip.

    Caitlin took out the photo of Quarta andpared them side by side. “They’re the same woman.”

    “If that’s certain, then Quarta’s motives deserve scrutiny,” Sebastian said. “She created Scentbane, got your brother poisoned, and constructed this entire setup. Could she be the mastermind ck Hawk called Do?a Dolores?”

    “It’s possible. Very possible.” Caitlin’s brows knit as she thought it through. “I still don’t know how she was connected to my mother and grandmother, but clearly they knew each other. She must know the codex inside and out. Everything she’s done may be to use it to aplish arger aim.

    “And if she really is Do?a Dolores–she had ck Hawk take my mother, yet didn’t harm her. Maybe she intended to use my mother, not destroy her. She even helped treat my mother’s illness. That suggests there was some lingering affection there.”

    Sebastian exhaled. “I’m starting to think she’s backed by something far bigger. Otherwise she couldn’t run a n that crosses so many borders–S Country, A Country, V Country, the US, and now D Country. It wouldn’t surprise me if she has ties there too.

    “At the very least, we know our trip to D Country is also part of her design. She’s meticulous, ying a massive game of chess. And we’re pieces on her board.”

    Caitlin felt the weight settle in her chest. It was as if she’d stepped into a framework someone else had built, every step scripted.

    How was she supposed to break out of it and see the whole picture?

    They left the study and ran into their parents on their way upstairs to see James. Caitlin went with them. James still hadn’t woken. The monitors showed stable readings. Seeing him like that naturally made Eliza think of her own daughter in the hospital. She squeezed Kelly’s hand and sighed. “Try not to worry too much. Give it time. Maybe Caitlin and the others will find a way to help him.”

    “We can only wait,” Kelly murmured. She looked at her daughter. “Caitlin, when do you leave?”

    “Tomorrow.”

    “Is everything ready?”

    “Almost. Don’t worry.”

    Remembering what she wanted to ask, Caitlin took out one of the old photos. “Mom, Sebastian and I were going through the album and found this. Do you remember who’s in the picture?”

    Kelly nced at it. “Your grandparents.”

    “And?”

    “That’s me. And this one is Cecilia.”

    b55 /b

    555 vouchers

    “Can you tell me about Cecilia?” Caitlin asked. “How did you meet her? Where did she go afterward?”

    “What do you want to know about her for?” Kelly asked, curious.

    “Nothing in particr. I just saw her and wondered.”

    “Oh. Your grandmother told me she was a descendant of the Yarbrough family, who were old friends of the Yunceys. She came to the US to find your grandmother—that’s how I met her. As for where she is now, I don’t know.”

    “I see.”

    Caitlin took the photo back and didn’t press further. She would analyze her mother’s answer in detailter. At least she’d confirmed something important.

    Cecilia’s original name was likely Cecilia, andter she became Quarta.

    Quarta and Cecilia were indeed the same person.

    But when Caitlin had investigated the Yunceys in Departure City, she’d found no records of any Yarbrough family in their history. No one in Departure City had ever mentioned a Yarbrough family at all. So where did this story of close family friendse from?

    C

    B

    JADI

    The shrill ring of her phone pulled Caitlin out of her thoughts. She nced at the screen and saw Federico’s

    name.

    “You all go ahead and chat. I need to take this call.”

    She answered. On the other end, Federico told her he had just arrived in the US and would be at the Vanderbilt estate soon.

    When the call ended, Caitlin turned back to the others. “Mom, please stay for lunch here with everyone. Sebastian and I need to head back. A friend of ours just arrived.”

    “All right, I’ll take care of things here,” Kelly promised.

    Caitlin also urged Eliza and Raymond, “You should stay and have lunch with my mother before you go. Sebastian and I will leave first.”

    “Of course, go handle your business.”

    Caitlin and Sebastian left DanCa Estate together.

    At Vanderbilt Manor, Federico and Magnus were already waiting in the sitting room, tea ced before them.

    The two men were mid–conversation. Ever since discovering that Esme was actually Federico’s friend Trinity in disguise, Magnus had been intrigued. From Federico he learned much about her–her real name was Caitlin, she was married, and she already had children.

    “A woman like that,” Magnus mused, “I can’t wait to see her with my own eyes.”

    Federico warned with a wry smile, “Just don’t let yourself get carried away. She already has a husband, and men lining up behind him. You’d be wasting your time.”

    Magnus only smiled faintly. He knew what he wanted.

    He had first gone to Federico’s assistant Esme, only to realize immediately that she was not the same woman he had met in Sanctis. The voice, the figure, even the presence–everything was different. His suspicions led him to press further, and eventually the truth hade out.

    Now, finally, he was here in the US, determined to meet Caitlin.

    Soon, the low rumble of an engine drifted in from the drive. A momentter, a couple stepped inside.

    “They’re here,” Federico said, looking toward the door.

    Magnus lifted his gaze just as the pair entered. First came a tall, striking man–Mr. Vanderbilt himself, famous throughout New York. And beside him… Magnus froze.

    The woman walking in had a tall, graceful figure and features so perfect they made his breath catch. He had been told she was beautiful, but the reality left him stunned.