Free Web NovelChapter 377: Chapter 374: Reunion
She had dreamed of this moment for a long time.
Yet ever since she met Silly, all her hope had turned to despair.
Her days before the Imperial Palace had been like a prisoner’s in a labor camp, but entering the Imperial Palace felt like a life sentence.
Tears blurred her vision as she gazed at the man she loved, who was now right in front of her. Chloe Marshall tried desperately to control her emotions, but it was as if she had finally found a safe harbor.
The emotions she had suppressed for so long erupted in an instant.
"Boss Ellsworth."
"You idiot." He strode forward and pulled her into a tight embrace. Like a child, Ethan Ellsworth wept with heart-wrenching sobs.
Everyone present was moved by the sight. Dorothy hugged both of their legs and started to cry along with them.
Ethan Ellsworth let go of Chloe Marshall and looked down at Dorothy.
"Daddy." Her eyes were red and swollen from crying.
Ethan Ellsworth crouched down. "Daddy’s here."
Afterward, Quentin Grant gave the brother-and-sister servants a large sum of money and arranged for them to be sent abroad.
They couldn’t follow them back to Fravia.
"There’s no time to lose. We can talk on the plane. We can’t stay in Harrowin for this long."
They had only just reunited, and now they had to part again. Though Nora Ainsworth was reluctant to see them go, she said, "You all head back first. My two boys and I will stay here for now."
Chloe Marshall was a bit stunned. "Nora, why aren’t you going back?"
"My career is here. I want to grow and establish myself here, step by step. I’m not going back for the time being. A person needs dignity, just like a tree needs bark. I’m firm on this."
"Nora, Young Master Grant has so much money, you don’t need to earn any at all. Wouldn’t it be great to just stay by his side with the children?"
"No. At least, I don’t want that right now."
"Nora, you must take good care of yourself here, then. I’ll be waiting for you in Alveria."
Nora Ainsworth nodded.
Chloe Marshall waved at her with tears in her eyes, and Ethan Ellsworth put an arm around her shoulder as they went downstairs from the apartment building.
Quentin Grant kissed her on the forehead, then kissed his two sons, and followed them out.
The once-lively room suddenly became quiet.
"Mommy, when are we going back?" Dylan Grant asked.
Nora Ainsworth glanced at him. "You want to go back just because Dorothy left?"
Dylan Grant turned away. "I was just asking."
"No matter when we go back, you’ll be able to see her. Don’t worry, son."
Dylan Grant broke into a grin and nodded with a smile.
On the way back, the plane changed its route to avoid being tracked by Harrowin’s capture teams.
Although it was a bit of a detour, they finally arrived safely in Alveria.
The round trip took over ten hours, and they were a bit weary from the flight.
As February began, the weather turned unusual, and it started to snow in Alveria.
They took a car directly back to the Ellsworth family home.
Mrs. Ellsworth, Mr. Ellsworth, and Zoe Ellsworth hadn’t slept, waiting in the living room.
Hearing shouts from the courtyard, the three of them rushed to see what was happening.
When they saw Chloe Marshall, you can imagine how Mrs. Ellsworth felt.
"Chloe!"
"Mom!"
Mrs. Ellsworth grabbed her hand. "Child, it’s good that you’re home. It’s so good that you’re back!"
Mr. Ellsworth was also filled with emotion. "Hurry inside, it’s freezing out here."
The group went inside together. Not long after they entered, Herman Hawthorne arrived.
"What are you doing here?"
Herman Hawthorne smiled. "Am I not allowed?"
Zoe Ellsworth shut her mouth and said nothing.
Mrs. Ellsworth’s eyes couldn’t help but moisten. She held Chloe Marshall’s hand tightly. "Quick, tell Mom, how did you get through all this time?"
Chloe Marshall nodded and recounted everything without leaving out a single detail, from being abducted by several large men in an upscale residential complex to her escape that night.
Zoe Ellsworth never knew that her sister-in-law, who seemed so gentle and weak, was actually this strong.
"Sister-in-law, you’ve suffered so much, especially living in such harsh conditions while pregnant with Dorothy. I admire you."
Mrs. Ellsworth’s heart ached for her. "Oh, Chloe, Mom never thought you could be so strong. Thank goodness, thank goodness you’re finally back. It’s so good that you’re back."
After speaking, Mrs. Ellsworth looked at Mr. Ellsworth and Dorothy, who was on his lap.
"Hey, old man, give me my granddaughter!"
Mr. Ellsworth refused. "I just started holding her. Wait a minute."
Then, he asked her with a beaming smile, "Tell Grandpa, what’s your name?"
"Dorothy Bancroft."
Mr. Ellsworth corrected her. "Dorothy, your last name isn’t Bancroft. That’s a noble surname, not one for us to use. Your daddy’s last name is Ellsworth, so your last name is Ellsworth too. Dorothy Ellsworth."
"Grandpa, is your last name Ellsworth too?"
"That’s right. Dorothy has the same last name as Grandpa. Grandpa just heard your mommy say that Dorothy stabbed someone who was trying to hurt you with a fruit knife. Our Dorothy is so amazing. So... AHEM... give Grandpa a kiss."
Dorothy immediately did as he asked. Mrs. Ellsworth grew anxious, stood up, and moved to grab the child. "Old man, it’s my turn to hold her! I let you hold her for a bit and you just won’t stop! Let go!"
Mr. Ellsworth let go, looking a little embarrassed. "Alright, you hold her. I’ll hold her again after you."
Mrs. Ellsworth took Dorothy into her arms, her heart filled with joy. "Oh, my dear, Grandma missed your birth. From now on, how about you punish Grandma by letting me take care of you every day? Do you want to play with Grandma?"
"But I want to go to kindergarten."
"Then you’ll go! Whatever my granddaughter wants to do, she must have."
Ethan Ellsworth stood up. "Mom, let Dorothy sleep with you tonight. Chloe is exhausted. She looks pale, so let her go upstairs and rest."
Mrs. Ellsworth readily agreed and immediately arranged for the kitchen to prepare a late-night snack.
Holding Dorothy, Mrs. Ellsworth had never been as happy as she was today.
Zoe Ellsworth sidled up to them. "Dorothy, I’m your auntie. Your daddy’s sister. Quick, call me Auntie."
"Auntie." The tender voice made Zoe Ellsworth’s heart bloom with joy. "Come on, let Auntie hold you, okay?"
Mrs. Ellsworth dodged to the side. "Get away. If you want to hold a baby, go have one of your own."
Zoe Ellsworth pouted. "Mom! Am I really your biological daughter?"
"If you weren’t my biological daughter, would you still be standing here?"
Zoe Ellsworth then laughed. "Mom, are you really telling me to have one of my own? In that case, I’ll go find a man tonight. Don’t you dare take it back."
Hearing this, Mrs. Ellsworth raised her hand as if to hit her. "I’ll break your legs if you dare."
Zoe Ellsworth looked at Dorothy. "See how fierce Grandma is? Don’t sleep with her tonight. At night, Grandma will turn into the Big Bad Wolf and eat you."
Mrs. Ellsworth felt like taking a hammer and knocking her daughter dead for ruining the wonderful rapport she was building with her granddaughter. ’That little brat!’
But to her surprise, Dorothy blinked her eyes and said, "Grandma won’t eat me, because Grandma is Daddy’s mommy."
A smile tugged at the corners of Mrs. Ellsworth’s mouth. "A child’s thoughts are always so wonderfully pure. Sweetheart, sleep with Grandma tonight, and Grandma will tell you a story."
"Okay."
Zoe Ellsworth pretended to wipe away tears. "It’s over. My status has been completely replaced by Dorothy. How tragic."
