bBeatrice /bwaved bthem /bboff/b. b“/bbYou /ball should bgo /bbback/b. Don’t stand around here. Marcus and Molly will take care of meb, /bI’m fine, really?

Beatrice wanted them to bgo /band enjoy their time together, not wasting it here. She didn’t want to be the reason they missed bout /bbon /btheir bown /bfatrakt

moments.

After they bleft/bb, /bMolly followed them out and quietly informed them, “Beatrice’s liver isn’t in great shape. She may need treatment soon.

Sebastian sighed deeply. He knew Beatrice had been upset by Freya for a long time, and maybe all that stress had caused damage to her liver over time

“Then we should arrange the treatment as soon as possible. Even minor health issues shouldn’t be dyed,” Caitlin said with a serious tone,

“Yes, I’ve already spoken with the doctor. We’ll start tomorrow. You two should head back now.”

Caitlin saw them off, and Xavi was waiting outside with the RV. After helping Sebastian into the car, Xavi was about to get in himself when Caitlin bstopped /bhim. She didn’t join them.

Sebastian noticed and asked, “Why aren’t youing with us?b” /b

“I’m not going back just yet. You head home first. I’m going to the airport,” Caitlin exined, closing the door behind her as the driver started the engine.

As the RV drove off, Sebastian frowned deeply. He could tell Caitlin was staying behind to meet Simon.

A few minutes into the ride, Sebastian ordered, “Stop the car! Quickly!”

“What’s wrongb, /bMr. Vanderbilt?”

“Xavib, /bfollow her. See what she’s up to,i” /iSebastian instructed, his voiceced with a certain tension.

Xavi understood that by “heri,” /iSebastian meant Caitlin. He quickly got out of the car, just as a white sedan pulled out of the hospital, and Caitlin was in the passenger seat.

“Mr. Vanderbilt, Caitlin’s in a white car and leaving with Simon!” Xavi reported.

“Follow them!” Sebastian barked, and Xavi immediately signaled the driver to tail the white car.

They tracked the car until it reached the airport. The sky had already begun to darken. Xavi reported, “Mr. Vanderbiltb, /bthe car is parked outside the airport. I saw Caitlin and Simon walking toward the airport exit.”

They had reallye to the airport?

Sebastian thought to himself. Maybe they would head to a hotel afterward. “Keep waiting!” he ordered.

Caitlin and Simon were now at the airport exit. Simon held a handmade sign, and the two chatted while waiting. About half an hourterb, /bCaitlin took off her sunsses and looked toward the exit.

People were almost done exiting, but she didn’t see Wendy. As she continued to scan the crowdb, /ba familiar voice called out, “Simon!”

Both Caitlin and Simon turned, and they saw a chubby girlb, /brolling a pink suitcase toward them,ughing happily.

Simon knew his sister was a little on the heavier side, but after not seeing her for a while, she seemed to have gained even more weight.

Caitlin was stunned. She couldn’t recognize the girl at all. The Wendy she remembered was slim and svelte, but now… Was this really herb? /bbHad /bbshe /bgained so much weight in just a few yearsb? /b

“Simon! You didn’t even acknowledge me! You didn’t see me waving? How rude!” Wendy said, yfully punching Simon in the shoulder. bThen /bbshe /bnoticed Caitlin standing beside him and asked, “Hey, is this beauty my future sister–inw?b” /b

b1/3 /b

Uhr Simon bdidn’t /bhave a chance bto /bexin before Caitlin bspoke /bbup/bb. /b

“bWendy/b, bdon’t /bbyou /bbrecognize /bmeb?/bb” /bCaitlin asked.

“bYou /bare?” Wendy bstared /bat bher/bb, /bba /bconfused look on her face.

bSimon /bughed. “You don’t even recognize your best friend, Caitlin?”

b“/bCaitlin? Caitlin? Is that you?” Wendy’s eyes widened in shock. She jumped bup /bso quickly that the floor almost shook. When she saw Caitlin Clearly, bska /bbwas /bbeside herself with excitement.

“bOh /bbmy /bGod! Is this really you? How did you get so beautiful? I thought you were dead!” Wendy cried, grabbing Caitlin’s hand and looking bat /bbher /bin awe Finally, she pulled Caitlin into a tight hug. “I can’t believe it! You’re alive! I thought you were gone… I thought you’d died in that fire…

Wendy sobbed as she spoke. Five years ago, when the fire broke out, she had assumed Caitlin had perished in the mes. She had mourned for so blong/bb, /bnever expecting to see her again, let alone find her looking so beautiful.

Caitlin’s eyes welled up with tears as well. She hugged Wendy tightly. “I’m alive, Wendy. I’m so happy to see you again…”

The two women clung to each other, crying and taughing with joy. Simon, standing off bto /bthe side, was deeply moved by the reunion.

When they hadposed themselves a little, Simon finally spoke, “Okay, let’s head back now. We’ll catch up properlyter.”

“Yeah,” Caitlin agreed.

The three of them left the airport. Simon drove while Caitlin and Wendy bsat /bin the backseat, talking non–stop. The years apart had left them with so much to share.

As they chatted, Wendy exined, “The main reason I gained so much weight is because of youb, /bCaitlin.”

“Me? How’s that possible?” Caitlin asked, puzzled.

Wendy chuckled. “Well, when you disappeared, I thought life was unpredictable. So, I figured I might as well enjoy myself and eat whatever I wantedb. /bAnd now, look at me.”

“I’m so sorry, Wendy…i” /iCaitlin said, feeling guilty. She had stayed abroad for so long and hadn’t reached out. She never realized how much her absence had worried her friend.

Wendyughed. “It’s fine! Actually, it’s just because I have a natural tendency to gain weight. I gain weight just by drinking cold water.”

Just as they were talking, Xavib, /bwho had been trailing them in the RV, called in.

“They picked up a chubby girl and left together. Do you want us to keep following them, Mr. Vanderbilt?”

“Do you even need to ask?” Sebastian growled, his face darkening as he thought about Caitlin and Simon together. His mind was a whirlwind bof /bjealousy and confusion.

Xavi quickly instructed the driver to follow them.

Meanwhile, Simon was treating his sister to dinner and also wanted to take Caitlin out to eat. bHe /btook them to a popr Chinese restaurant. bAs /bthey entered, the RV parked outside, keeping watch.

Inside, Xavi cautiously asked, “Mr. Vanderbilt, would you like to bgo /binside for dinner?”

“No,” Sebastian answered sharply. He wasn’t in the mood to eat. His mind was consumed with the image bof /bCaitlin and Simon btogether/bb. /bbThe /bbmore /bhe thought about bit/b, the more irritated he became.

Once inside, the group took their seats. Wendy said, “Bro, order the food. Caitlin and I are going to the bathroom.”

“What bSimon /bbdidn’t /bhave a bchance /bbto /bbexin /bbbefore /bCaillin bspoke /bbup/b.

Wendyb, /bbdon’t /bbyou /brecognize me?” Caitlin asked.

b“/bbYou /bbare/bb…/b?” Wendy stared at her, a confused look on her face.

Simon bughed/b. “bYou/b! don’t even recognize your best friend

“Caitlin? Caitlin? Is that you?” Wendy’s eyes widened in shock. She jumped up so quickly that the floor almost shook. When she saw Caitlin clearlyb, /bshe was beside herself with excitement.

“bOh /bmy God! Is this really you? How did you get so beautiful? I thought you were dead!” Wendy cried, grabbing Caitlin’s hand and looking at bher /bbin /bawe Finally, she pulled Caitlin into a tight hug. “I can’t believe it! You’re alive! I thought you were gone… I thought you’d died in that fire…”

Wendy sobbed as she spoke. Five years ago, when the fire broke out, she had assumed Caitlin had perished in the mes. She had mourned for so blong/b, never expecting to see her again, let alone find her looking so beautiful.

Caitlin’s eyes welled up with tears as well. She hugged Wendy tightly. “I’m alive, Wendy. I’m so happy to see you again…”

The two women clung to each otherb, /bcrying and taughing with joy. Simon, standing off to the side, was deeply moved by the reunion.

When they hadposed themselves a little, Simon finally spoke, b“/bOkay, let’s head back now. We’ll catch up properlyter

“Yeah,” Caitlin agreed.

The three of them left the airport. Simon drove while Caitlin and Wendy sat in the backseat, talking non–stop. The years apart had left them with so much

to share.

As they chatted, Wendy exined, “The main reason I gained so much weight is because bof /byou, Caitlin.”

“Me? How’s that possible?” Caitlin asked, puzzled.

Wendy chuckled. “Well, when you disappeared, I thought life was unpredictable. So, bI /bfigured I might as well enjoy myself and eat whatever I wanted. And now, look at me.”

“I’m so sorry, Wendy…” Caitlin said, feeling guilty. She had stayed abroad for so long and hadn’t reached out. She never realized how much her absence had Worried her friend.

Wendyughed. “It’s fine! Actually, it’s just because I have a natural tendency to gain weight. I gain weight just by drinking cold water.”

Just as they were talking, Xavib, /bwho had been trailing them in the RV, called in.

“They picked up a chubby girl and left together. Do you want us to keep following them, Mr. Vanderbilt?”

“Do you even need to ask?” Sebastian growled, his face darkening bas /bhe thought about Caitlin and Simon together. His mind was a whirlwind of jealousy

and confusion.

Xavi quickly instructed the driver to follow them.

Meanwhile, Simon was treating his sister to dinner and also wanted to take Caitlin out to eat. He took them to a popr Chinese restaurant. As they entered, the RV parked outside, keeping watch.

Inside, Xavi cautiously asked, “Mr. Vanderbilt, would you like to go inside for dinner?”

“bNo/bb,/b” Sebastian answered sharply. He wasn’t in the mood to eat. His mind was consumed with the image of Caitlin and Simon btogether/b. bThe /bbmore /bbhe /bthought about it, the more irritated he became.

Once inside, the group took their seats. Wendy said, “Bro, order the food. Caitlin and I are going bto /bthe bathroom.”

Wendy grabbed Callin’s barm /bband /bbthey /bbwalked /bbout /bbof /bbthe /bbroom/bb. /bbBut /bbas /bCaitlin casually nced baround/bb, /bthe bspotted /ban bunexpected /bquetia ins restaurant.

Seeing bthe /bbperson/bb, /bbCaitlin’s /bbeyes /bnarrowed. There was a sh of coldness in her gaze.

bWhat /bba /bbsmall /bworldb! /b

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