“Giselle borrowed the money using Mrs. Jones’ ID, but the one who ordered the attack was their boss, Logan Knight. He’s the local thug in Glintshire, dealing in loan sharking and other shady activities,” a bodyguard reported.
“Alright. Release them, but keep an eye on them,” Hera said, nodding.
She figured that Giselle wouldn’t have the power to command a thug like Logan unless she had already reunited with the Killian family.
“Understood,” the bodyguard replied, then asked, “Ms. Youngworth, when are you planning to return? I’ll get the car ready.”
Hera knew this was Bernard’s idea.
“Prepare the car. We’ll leave once we’ve finished packing.”
“Yes.”
Just then, a faint noise came from inside the house.
Hera immediately followed the sound to Catherine’s room. She found Catherine frantically searching through drawers and cupboards.
The mattress was flipped, and a small hidden compartment under the wooden bed frame was open but empty.
“What’s wrong?” Hera asked.
“The things I kept in the hidden compartment are gone!” Catherine exclaimed.
“What things?”
“Some jewelry that Daphne gave me, old documents, and some photos,” Catherine replied.
This hidden compartment was so discreet that even the loan sharks didn’t find it. Catherine had never told Hera about it-only she knew about its existence. However, she had opened it once when Giselle pestered her about her parents.
Catherine’s face fell at the thought of Giselle. She figured it had to be Giselle, as a thief wouldn’t take documents and photos.
Hera had already guessed the culprit but was more concerned about the contents.
“What kind of documents?”
Catherine tried to recall.
“I’m not sure. There are some design drafts and an unfinished necklace. It was something Daphne left behind when she brought you back.” Daphne was a jewelry designer, so it could have been her unfinished work.
Hera said, “We’ll ask her for it next time.”
With the valuables gone, there
wasn’t much left for Catherine to pack. She quickly packed a few sets of clothes. When they stepped outside, the bodyguard had the car ready.
Everly and Wayne were waiting in the yard.
Seeing them emerge, Everly asked reluctantly, “Mrs. Jones, Hera, are you leaving?”
“Yes. Hera’s opening a medical clinic at Jedburgh, so I’m going to help out,” Catherine said while holding Everly’s hand.
She was also reluctant to leave them.
Everly and Wayne had lost their parents at a young age, and they had become orphans in the village. Catherine had taken care of them, and they had long considered her their grandmother.
Everly looked at Wayne, her lips trembling.
Wayne was heartbroken, too. Out of everyone in the village, the Pierce siblings had the deepest bond with Catherine. Her departure left them with no one else to care for.
Moreover, Everly was only 18 and struggled with her studies. If she didn’t leave the mountains, her future would likely involve early marriage and childbirth.
Wayne didn’t want himself and Everly to be stuck in the mountains for life, so he mustered the courage to ask Hera, “Hera, could you take us with you?
“Everly has knowledge about herbal
medicine and can help you, and I can be your driver. Just give usza place to stay for a while, and we’ll live
off our own abilities later.”
Worried that Hera wouldn’t agree, Everly quickly added, “We can eat less, share a room, and do more work…”
Hera had also been considering this. Once the clinic opened, she would need help, and she thought the Pierce siblings could be very useful.
She had been worried they would not want to leave their hometown, but their decision resolved her concern.
“Alright,” Hera agreed.
The Pierce siblings beamed with joy. Fearing that she might change her mind, they rushed home to fetch their packed belongings.