Chapter 1906
Carola’s call went through after only a moment.
“Hello, Carola.”
The number she had dialed belonged to Galen.
“Dad, could you send someone to deliver a message to the jail? Make sure Holley is… well taken care of in there,” Carola said. The words were forced out through clenched teeth.
Without a beat of hesitation, Galen answered, “Of course. I understand. Leave it to me.”
When the line went dead, Carola’s fury still raged in her chest, impossible to extinguish. Hatred burned in her so fiercely that it refused to be calmed.
In the afternoon, Carola reached out to Belinda, inviting her to a meal. By her calculations, Belinda should have woken up by then.
Belinda hesitated only for a moment before accepting. By the time she arrived at the restaurant, Carola was already there, waiting for her.
“Belinda.” Carola rose and walked forward, instinctively reaching for her hand.
Belinda smiled, though a hint of unease flickered in her expression.
“Let’s sit down,” Carola suggested, gently leading her toward the table.
With quiet concern, she asked, “Working night shifts must take a toll. Did you manage to rest?”
Belinda replied softly, “It’s just part of the job—I’m used to it. And I’ve had enough sleep.”
“That’s good,” Carola said with a small nod.
Her gaze lingered on Belinda, and her eyes grew misty with emotion. This was her child—her very own flesh and blood. Looking closely now, she saw it so clearly: the eyes and brows that mirrored Elwood’s, and the shape of the face, the lips, that so unmistakably resembled her own.
How had she failed to notice it all this time? How could she have been so blind?
Belinda, however, grew increasingly uneasy under Carola’s intense gaze. She shifted, touched her neck, and gave a soft cough. “Carola, could you maybe not look at me like that?”
Snapping back to the moment, Carola nodded quickly. “Of course. I won’t do that again.”
After a pause, her voice softened. “Belinda, tell me—have you truly been well all these years?”
Belinda nodded gently. “I have. When I was little, both Holley and Kenia treated me kindly. If I faced any grievances, it was only when I first came back to the Wright family. But after you punished those bullies, the servants kept their distance from me and never crossed the line again. And later… I met Lucas, which was the greatest blessing of all.”
At the mention of Lucas, her whole demeanor lit up. Her words rang with the sincerity of someone speaking straight from the heart.
“That’s wonderful. Thank goodness you have Lucas,” Carola murmured, deeply relieved.
Looking back, she realized Belinda had gotten to know Lucas partly because of her. She couldn’t help but feel that she, in some way, had played a role in bringing them together. The thought brought a smile to her lips.
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.
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