Chapter 158 Elodie is Marcus's Lover
Tranquil County.
Juniper looked reluctantly at Catherine in front of her, hugging her waist and refusing to let go.
"Why do you have to leave right after arriving? Don't you like it here?"
Although Tranquil County was just a county town, the experimental base and a nearby school had boosted the local economy. The Windsor family had invested quite a bit here, and all the necessary facilities were well-developed.
"This place is great, I really like it. But there's something in Imperia City I need to go back and handle."
"What is it? Is it about the gallery and music store? Can't Charles, George, Richard, and Philip handle it? Catherine, don't be shy, I'll go talk to them!"
Catherine quickly grabbed Juniper's eager hand.
"Dominic asked me to come back."
Juniper knew that Dominic was Catherine's teacher and held a distinguished position in the oil painting world. If she selfishly kept Catherine from going back and Dominic got angry, it could hurt Catherine's future.
Catherine was an oil painting genius after all!
Juniper's spirits sank, her head drooping onto Catherine's shoulder.
"Okay, I just can't bear to see you go."
Catherine patted Juniper's shoulder comfortingly. After promising she'd come visit again next time, Juniper finally let her leave.
Watching Catherine's car disappear into the distance, the smile on Juniper's face gradually faded, replaced by endless loneliness.
After Catherine left, she returned to her small dorm room.
As soon as she entered, Juniper saw her desk covered with things!
Boxes of all sizes had sticky notes on them - pastries from Aurora, gifts from her brothers, things the elders had bought, and a family photo!
In the photo were all the Windsor family members, and she was there too, smiling brightly.
The family photo on her phone background didn't include her, but this one in her hand did!
Juniper's emotions were all mixed up. Before she could sort out her feelings, her phone rang.
An unfamiliar voice came through, honest and simple.
"Ms. Windsor, I'm the manager of the restaurant outside your lab. From now on, I'll be delivering your three meals a day. I already know what you like to eat, and I'll make sure to keep you healthy!"
Juniper asked in surprise, "How do you know what I like to eat?"
"Catherine told me! She said when you get busy with experiments, you definitely forget to eat. That won't do! Catherine and Aurora want to see videos of you eating every meal, so you have to work with me!"
Juniper put down the phone and turned over the family photo. On the back was a line of text in Charles's flowing handwriting, warm and strong.
[Juniper, you'll always be part of the Windsor family. We all love you.]
Juniper covered her face as tears rolled down her cheeks. Her shoulders shook, but her heart felt incredibly warm.
Meanwhile.
Oliver found a local hospital to settle in and got his wounds treated. His whole body was wrapped in bandages, making him look like a walking mummy.
Celeste, Declan, and Anouk weren't much better off, all lying in hospital beds complaining loudly.
Oliver looked at his phone. "Why hasn't anyone contacted me today? That's weird. Didn't Catherine see the trending topic I bought?"
Declan cursed, "Stop looking at that. I told you to find Brent. Where is he?"
After arriving at the hospital, they discovered that Brent, who had been lying with them, was nowhere to be found. They couldn't reach him by phone either and were getting anxious.
Brent was their precious grandson, and all Oliver could think about was Catherine, showing no respect for his elders!
Anouk's phone rang. After struggling for a while, she finally pressed the speaker button. A loud voice echoed through the small county hospital room.
"Are you Brent's family? I'm a police officer from Tranquil County Police Station. He was arrested last night for attempted burglary. According to the law, he should be detained. Please come in when you have time to understand the situation."
Anouk nearly fainted!
"Sir, how could my grandson commit burglary? He's such a good, sensible child."
"You'll know when you get here."
The call was quickly disconnected. Anouk froze for a moment, then burst into loud wailing.
"My grandson!"
Oliver covered his ears and hid under the blanket, looking at messages on his phone. A private message came in.
[I want to buy this bracelet. You name the price.]
Oliver suppressed his excitement and quickly replied.
[This bracelet is worth at least seven figures!]
[That's fine. Contact me after you get the bracelet.]
He hadn't expected to find a buyer so quickly. Oliver's heart was racing, but the bracelet was still with Catherine.
A flash of malice crossed his eyes as he muttered to himself, "People can have accidents. If something happened, the thing would be mine!"
Imperia City, The Windsor Mansion.
As soon as Catherine walked in, Philip gestured for her to be quiet.
"Keep it down, Grandpa just fell asleep."
"What's wrong with him? Is he not feeling well?"
Philip was about to take Catherine to his room to discuss family matters when Marcus came out wearing a coat.
"Catherine's back? How's Juniper? Why didn't you stay a few more days?"
"Juniper's doing well. She said the family shouldn't worry about her. Dominic asked me to come back, said there was something."
Marcus nodded. If Dominic called her back, it must be important business.
His gaze suddenly fell on the bracelet on Catherine's wrist!
"This bracelet, how did you get it?"
Marcus's eyes lit up. He held Catherine's wrist, looking at the familiar bracelet, tears streaming down his face in an instant!
Catherine asked in shock, "Grandpa, what's wrong?"
Hearing the commotion, the Windsor family members rushed out from inside, all stunned by Marcus's behavior!
"Dad, what's wrong?"
Aurora looked at the item on Catherine's wrist and frowned. "Catherine, how did you get this bracelet?"
Catherine asked in confusion, "The bracelet was left to me by my grandmother. What's wrong?"
Grandmother?
Was she talking about that deceased person from the Smith family?
Marcus suddenly realized something and looked sharply at Catherine, his voice trembling as he asked, "The grandmother you're talking about, is her name Elodie Smith?"
Catherine nodded, looking at Marcus, who was emotionally agitated and nearly breaking down. She helped him walk to the sofa and sit down.
"Yes. How do you know my grandmother's name?"
Marcus looked at Catherine in front of him, with sadness and an expectation he himself hadn't realized. "She passed away?"
"Yes, last year. She died from illness. Grandpa, did you know my grandmother?"
"Last year? It was only last year! Elodie, oh Elodie, you deceived me for so many years!"
Marcus's face was covered in tears, his emotions overwhelmed with grief.
"Catherine, do you have photos of your grandmother?"
"Yes, I do."
Catherine took out her phone and, under Marcus's expectant gaze, found all the photos she had taken of Elodie.
Marcus took the phone and, wearing his reading glasses, looked through them one by one. His expression gradually softened.
There were many pictures on the phone, all of Elodie's daily life. When he saw the later photos of her illness, Marcus cried again.
"Catherine, can you tell me how you two lived all these years?"
Catherine sat beside Marcus and told him some things.
"My grandmother loved me very much. If it weren't for her, I probably wouldn't have survived when I was young."
Marcus nodded, looking wistful. He seemed to have aged twenty years all at once.
"Elodie, have you never been willing to forgive me?"