Chapter 164: A Shocking Revelation
“Mrs. Marigold, there’s a twist!” Joe rushed back to the Knight family mansion, his face flushed with urgency. Marigold’s heart skipped a beat when she saw him.
“What now?” Marigold asked, her patience thinning. “Stop beating around the bush. Just tell me.”
Joe took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. “I went to speak with Aminta Thorn, the doctor who assisted with Stellan Storm’s delivery. You won’t believe what she said.”
“Don’t make me guess, just say it!” Marigold snapped, her frustration growing.
Joe’s words hit Marigold like a bolt of lightning. “Aminta said Stellan didn’t die. Not only did she survive, but she also visited Aminta recently to inquire about her child.”
Stunned, Marigold’s mind seemed to short-circuit. “You’re saying… Stellan didn’t die?” She could hardly believe what she was hearing. “Aminta told me they were all dead!”
“Yes, everyone thought they were dead. The hospital had given up. No one expected Stellan to survive. But then, a relative of Stellan showed up, desperate for help. Aminta did what she could, and miraculously, Stellan pulled through.”
“Stellan didn’t die…” Marigold’s voice wavered, her body feeling weak. She slumped into a chair, feeling the ground shift beneath her. Joe quickly moved to steady her.
“What about the children? Are my grandchildren still alive?” Marigold’s voice was shaky with hope.
Joe nodded. “They were saved too.”
Marigold’s face lit up with joy, her eyes glistening with tears. “My grandchildren are still alive! That’s wonderful, absolutely wonderful.” The burden of guilt that had weighed on her for so many years—believing her grandchildren had died—began to lift. Now, she could breathe again.
“Mrs. Marigold, what should we do next?” Joe asked.
Marigold’s heart was already racing with excitement. “We need to find them, and fast!” she exclaimed. “My poor grandchildren have suffered so much. Once we find them, we’ll make it right. They deserve everything.”
Joe nodded, ready to act. “I’ll send someone to search for them right away.”
Just as Joe was about to leave, Marigold suddenly called out, “Wait a moment.”
Joe turned, confused. “What is it, Mrs. Marigold?”
“You mentioned that Stellan Storm inquired about Caspian through Aminta?” Marigold’s voice was sharp now.
“Yes, Aminta couldn’t keep it to herself. She told Stellan you had taken Caspian away from the hospital.”
“So, Stellan is now in Arizona looking for Caspian?” Marigold mused, piecing things together.
“Probably.”
“No, something’s wrong,” Marigold’s expression darkened. She stared at Joe, her voice now filled with fear. “If Stellan didn’t die, why did it take her six years to come back and search for Caspian? Could she have been planning revenge all this time? Trying to take Caspian and get back at me?”
Joe was silent, not wanting to speculate further.
“I made a huge mistake back then. Stellan must hold a grudge against me. After everything I put her through, I wouldn’t blame her for wanting revenge.”
The thought of Stellan’s possible wrath made Marigold’s mind spin. She imagined the woman’s furious face, her eyes burning with hatred.
“That’s true,” Joe said carefully. “You wronged Stellan. Anyone in her position would want justice.”
Marigold’s anxiety deepened. “Over these six years, she must have been planning this—waiting for the right moment to come back and strike. Not only to get revenge on me, but to take Caspian from me. It all makes sense now.”
“Mrs. Marigold, try not to scare yourself. It might not be as you think,” Joe said gently, though his tone lacked confidence.
Marigold couldn’t shake the growing sense of dread. “I nearly killed Stellan. She must hate me. She has every right to.” She paused, taking a deep breath to calm herself. “Joe, send someone to find Stellan. But don’t alert her right away. We need to track her down and learn where my grandchildren are. Once we have them, I’ll bring them home. And once they’re here, Stellan won’t be able to do anything.”
Joe nodded firmly. “Understood. I’ll go right away.”
As Joe left, Marigold couldn’t quiet the turmoil inside her. The regret over the DNA test gnawed at her. What was I thinking? she thought bitterly. I should never have gone down this path.
She exhaled deeply, knowing she couldn’t undo the past. It was too late for regrets.
The Day Continues
Marigold glanced at the clock, realizing it was almost time for Caspian’s class to end. Although Harry couldn’t attend school due to his injury, they had hired a private tutor to keep up with his lessons.
After the lesson wrapped up, Harry stretched, feeling the strain of the one-on-one instruction. “Class is over,” Marigold said as she helped Harry lie down on the sofa. She was concerned about his comfort. “Caspian, does it hurt to sit through the lesson with your fractured bones? If it does, next time, we can do the lessons lying down.”
“I’m fine, Grandma. My butt can handle it,” Harry replied with a tired smile, his tone flat.
“But I’m worried about you,” Marigold persisted. “Your health is more important than anything. You can’t take risks when you’re growing up.”
Harry felt suffocated by her overindulgence, but he kept his thoughts to himself. “Alright, Grandma, you can go now. I need to study.”
Marigold’s gaze softened as she watched him. In the past, she had struggled to connect with Caspian, but now that she knew he was her biological grandson, her affection for him had grown. She couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of attachment to him.
“How do I treat you now, Caspian?” Marigold asked, her voice taking on a softer, almost pleading tone.
“Good,” Harry replied, his expression unreadable. “Almost like you want to swallow me whole. You’re always keeping me close.”
Marigold’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. “I truly regret how I treated you before,” she said, moving closer. “Now, you are my everything. I can’t lose you.”
Her words were laced with desperation, and her gaze softened as she leaned in. “Even though I made mistakes before, I’ve changed. I am better than your mother, who ran away after you were born. She’s a bad woman. If she ever comes back and tries to take you away, don’t go with her. She’ll only corrupt you.”
Harry’s patience began to wear thin as Marigold continued her praise and disparaging remarks about Galatea. His face hardened, his earlier mood slipping into irritation.