Chapter 180 She Is Your Biological Mother
"Cindy, you're back!"
Mrs. Ginger appeared in the doorway, surprise written all over her face.
Quinley had been gone nearly two months. The courtyard was spotless,all Mrs. Ginger's doing.
"Mrs. Ginger."
Quinley stepped forward, sweet voice.
Mrs. Ginger's eyes immediately welled up. She pulled Quinley close.
"You've gotten thinner."
She treated Quinley like her own daughter, heart full of concern.
Zachary stood to the side, brow furrowed.
Because he'd heard Quinley call her Mrs. Ginger. She was a Ginger.
Around forty-something. Same age range as Elise Ginger.
He studied Mrs. Ginger more closely.
"I haven't lost weight. You have, though. Thank you for looking after everything while I was gone."
Seeing Mrs. Ginger again made Quinley feel like she'd truly come home. When she'd been at her lowest, she'd landed in this small city. Meeting Mrs. Ginger had given her everything she'd hoped family could be.
"It's nothing. I don't have much to do anyway. I just came by to clean, water the irises in the garden, feed the cats and dogs. They need to be looked after."
Mrs. Ginger wore her usual kind smile, chatting casually with Quinley. Then her gaze shifted to Zachary.
This was their first meeting.
He stood tall, distinguished, radiating an air of nobility and cool authority.
"And who's this?"
"I'm Zachary."
He extended his hand.
But Mrs. Ginger only eyed him warily, completely ignoring his outstretched hand.
"So you're Zachary."
She muttered it under her breath.
The light in her eyes dimmed.
"It's getting late. You should rest. I'm heading home."
Mrs. Ginger practically fled toward the door.
Quinley didn't try to stop her.
Zachary watched Mrs. Ginger escape and felt suspicion stirring.
"It's raining. She could've waited for it to stop."
Quinley opened the living room window and pointed to a small building nearby. "Mrs. Gingerlives close by, just a few steps away . We have a connection. When I was in the hospital before, she took care of me the whole time."
"Hospital?"
Zachary's voice sharpened. His eyes narrowed with curiosity.
Quinley immediately went quiet.
"Want some water? I'll get you some."
She changed the subject.
But when she came back with the water, Zachary wouldn't let it go.
"You were hospitalized here? What happened? Were you sick? Injured?"
Quinley didn't want to answer. She didn't want to tell Zachary they'd once had a child—a child lost in an accident.
"Just a bad cold. Nothing serious. I'm fine now, see?"
She forced a casual laugh.
She was good at lying. Every lie sounded real.
So Zachary didn't suspect anything.
---
The rain intensified. Zachary didn't go back to the hotel—he stayed at the courtyard.
There was only one bed. Quinley lay down fully clothed.
Zachary had lay on the couch, but in the middle of the night, he complained about being cold and wormed his way into the bed.
Rain tapped against the window—perfect sleeping weather.
As Quinley drifted off, she heard Zachary ask, "That Mrs. Ginger you mentioned, what's her full name?"
"Jane. Jane Ginger."
Quinley mumbled.
Lakeside City wasn't huge, but there were plenty of Gingers around. Even though Quinley knew her birth mother's last name was Ginger, she'd never connected it to Mrs. Ginger.
She quickly fell into deep sleep.
This quiet town gave her an immense sense of peace.
While she slept, Zachary lay awake.
He texted Lucas. [Look into a woman named Jane Ginger. Find out if she went to Rosewood City twenty-five years ago. Also check if she changed her name.]
[On it.]
Lucas got to work immediately.
---
The next morning, the rain had stopped. The air was crisp and fresh.
Still no word from Zachary's investigators.
Early on, Mrs. Ginger brought over breakfast.
The moment she walked in, she ran into Zachary.
"Good morning."
He greeted her first.
Mrs. Ginger gave a slight nod and set the food on the table.
"Quinley is a good woman. If you truly care about her, treat her well. Don't hurt her. She can't take any more pain."
She spoke like a mother giving a warning.
Zachary's expression darkened slightly, but he nodded firmly. "I promise I'll protect her with my life."
Mrs. Ginger didn't linger. She left quickly.
After breakfast, Zachary got a message from Lucas. One glance and his eyes darkened further.
"I'd like to take Mrs. Ginger to dinner. To thank her for everything she's done for you."
Zachary made the suggestion.
Quinley readily agreed. "I'll let her know."
But Mrs. Ginger kept refusing.
"That's not necessary. Too much trouble. I appreciate the thought."
"Quinley's mentioned you so many times. Please, you have to come."
Zachary wasn't good with words. He rarely put effort into dinner invitations, but this time was different.
Quinley assumed he just wanted to show gratitude.
Unable to resist their insistence, Mrs. Ginger finally agreed.
Lucas had already reserved the best restaurant in Lakeside City. When they arrived, the private room was filled with an extravagant spread.
Mrs. Ginger balked at the sight.
"Quinley, this is too wasteful. How much did all this cost?"
She'd lived frugally her whole life. This kind of excess made her uncomfortable.
Quinley thought Zachary had gone a bit overboard too. But she understood—it was his way of showing appreciation.
She leaned close to Mrs. Ginger and whispered, "He's loaded. Might as well spend it."
She gave Mrs. Ginger a playful wink.
Throughout dinner, Zachary was even more attentive than Quinley.
Mrs. Ginger's attitude was starkly two-faced,warm and affectionate toward Quinley, cold and distant toward Zachary.
On the way back, Zachary pulled Quinley aside.
"Let's buy Mrs. Ginger a gift."
"Okay."
Quinley was puzzled but agreed.
They bought a pair of gold bracelets. When it came time to pay, Zachary insisted on covering it.
"Why are you being so good to me?"
Quinley asked.
Zachary pulled her into his arms. "I have good news. Want to hear it now?"
Quinley realized immediately. She shoved him back. "You found them, didn't you? My birth parents."
The moment they'd returned to Lakeside City, finding them had consumed her thoughts.
Zachary nodded. "Yes. I found them."
Time stopped. Hope, fear, and disbelief all flickered across Quinley's face.
"I'll take you to see them tomorrow morning."
He ruffled her hair affectionately.
Her eyes reddened, lashes lowering. She looked like she might cry.
"I want to see them now."
She'd waited twenty-five years. She couldn't wait another second.
"You're sure? Right now?"
"Yes."
She nodded firmly.
Whether she acknowledged them or not didn't matter. She just needed to see them.
Everyone had roots to trace. Why shouldn't she?
"Alright. I'll take you."
Zachary took her hand and led her through the streets of Lakeside City.
But she never expected him to stop in front of Mrs. Ginger's courtyard.
"We can give her the gift tomorrow. Let's go see my mother first."
Quinley was anxious.
Zachary didn't move. He just looked at her, deep and searching.
He was trying to figure out how to tell her.
Quinley was sharp. She quickly read the truth in his eyes.
"That's why you've been acting so strange. Mrs. Ginger is my mother? That's impossible. How could she be my mother? My mother's name is Elise. Her name is Jane."
"Twenty-five years ago, Elise left Rosewood City. When she came back to Lakeside City, she changed her name. Lucas checked—her name now is Jane. The woman who's been taking care of you, Mrs. Ginger, is your birth mother."