bChapter /b652

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Wendy heard his words, but without looking back, she ran straight into the house.

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Benjamin stood there watching her retreating figure vanish. Thinking of what he had just done, he pped himself hard across the face–twice. Fear gripped him that Wendy might never forgive him.

Wendy closed the front door behind her. She had wanted to copse into tears, but the housekeeper intercepted her.

“Miss, Caitlin is here.”

“Caitlin? Where bis /bshe?”

“In the dining room.”

Wendy walked in to find Caitlin sitting with Reba, feeding her dinner. Caitlin paused when she saw Wendy. “You’re back. You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

“Thank you. You two eat first, I’m fine. I’m not hungry. I’ll just go upstairs for a while.”

Wendy forced a thin smile and hurried off.

Caitlin caught the redness in her eyes. She knew Benjamin must have been involved. Rising from her chair, she followed upstairs.

Wendy shut herself in her room, back pressed against the door, and finally broke down.

Minutester came a knock, and Caitlin’s voice. “Wendy.”

Wendy wiped her tears quickly, steadied her breathing, and opened the door. “Caitlin.”

Caitlin stepped inside, locking eyes with her. “I know what happened. Benjamin came, misunderstood you and Dennis, and ended up fighting him, didn’t he?”

Wendy nodded.

Caitlin took her hand gently. “Don’t be sad. You chose to end things, and I’ll stand by your choice. A clean break is better for both of you. If it hurts this much, that only means you haven’t fully let go yet.”

Wendy bit her lip, holding back tears.

They sat on the bed together, Caitlin continued softly, “Meeting someone who leaves such a deep mark on your heart… that’s rare. Benjamin is that someone for you.”

Wendy lowered her head, silent as tears dripped steadily down her face.

Caitlin passed her btissues/b. “If you can’t be with him now, that’s fine. Keep him in your heart bif /byou mustb, /bbor /bthrow yourself into other things. Don’t drown in grief. Love is not all of life–it’s only a part. Think about what kind of life you want for yourself.”

b17:55 /bSatb, /bbSep /bb20 /b

bChapter /bb652 /b

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She bdidn’t /bpush reconciliation. Forcing two people together when they weren’t ready would only hurt bmore/b. bBetter /bbto /blet fate y its hand. If there was real destiny between them, they would meet again.

b“/bI don’t know, Caitlin. I really don’t.” Wendy’s tears streamed fresh. “I’m lost. I don’t even know what bmy /bpurpose is. Why I’m alive. My goal. I picked bridal design just because I thought wedding gowns bwere /bbeautiful in a shop window. But once bI /bstudied, I learned gowns represent happiness. And me? I don’t beven /bknow what happiness meansb. /b

b“/bWhen I was overweight, I didn’t worry about much. I figured no one would ever love me, so I had no burden. But then I met Benjamin. He made me furious, he made meugh, he made me happy. With him, bI /bbwas /bbalive/b. But the happiness brought fear–fear of losing it, fear of not being enough. I never knew how to handle it.

“I think the problem between us isn’t anyone else. It’s me. The more beautiful something feels, the more I want to run from it. Maybe I believe I don’t deserve it. If I never have it, I’ll never lose it.”

The words spilled out until she was sobbing uncontrobly.

Caitlin pulled her into her arms like an older sister. “You’re just too sensitive, too pessimistic. Love isn’t like business–you can’t cut it clean. You have to listen to your heart. But I won’t force you. If separation feels right, then take time apart. Cool your heads.”

She knew Wendy’s past too well. Her childhood had carved deep scars. A violent father, no safe home, no model of love–how could she know how to trust a man?

They say happy people spend their lives healing from childhood with joy, but the unhappy spend their whole lives healing their childhood wounds. Wendy’s scars might take a lifetime.

Atst, after Caitlin’sfort, Wendy’s tears slowed. “I know. It’s not fair to Benjamin. But I can’t help it.”

“Don’t me yourself. There’s no right or wrong in feelings. He’s sincere, and you care too. You just can’t make it work right now. It’s a pity, but maybe this is a test. When you’ve sorted your heart, you can decide bagain/b.”

Caitlin dabbed her cheeks with tissues. “Enough crying. You’re leaving soon. Are you packed?”

b“/bAlmost.”

“I might not be able to see you off. I leave for D country tomorrow.”

Wendy nodded. “I know. You’re running yourself ragged for your brother. Don’t worry about me.”

b“/bJust take care of yourself and Reba. And don’t forget to check in with me often once you’re abroad. Call bif /bbanything /bes up.”

b“/bbI /bwillb./bb” /b

bAfterward/b, Caitlin left LL bVi /band drove to DanCa Estate.

She bgreeted /bbher /bimpostor “bmother/bb” /bthe same bway /bas always. “Momb, /bbwe /bbleave /bbfor /bbD /bbcountry /bbtomorrow/bb. /bbI’ll /bbe bcounting /bon byou /bbhere/bb.” /b

b17:55 /bbSat/bb, /bbSep /bb20 /b

“Don’t worry. I’ll look after Harrison and myself.”

“Alright. I’ll head upstairs to pack.”

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But once in her room, Caitlin immediately noticed things had been disturbed. Someone had searched through her belongings. No doubt the impostor had been looking for the codex. But she’d never be careless. enough to leave it here.

Leaving DanCa Estate, Caitlin returned to Vanderbilt Manor. Sebastian handed her a folder. “Here. The Jonathan family dossier. Everyone we could dig up is listed here.”

Caitlin flipped through, scanning the names and faces. “The Jonathan family has deep roots–ties in both the underworld and politics.”

She kept reading until one page made her eyes sh. “I’ve just thought of the perfect way to get close to them.”

“What way?” Sebastian asked.

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