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Novel Catalog
Chapter 96
“Are you Serenity?” the old lady asked, her eyes widening as recognition seemed to dawn. Serenity looked up, wiping away the moisture from her eyes quickly, trying to compose herself. The old lady’s face softened with warmth as she continued, “You haven’t changed a bit, girl. I remember you from when you were little. You’re all grown up now!”
Serenity hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether she should engage with someone from the past. The memories of her childhood here weren’t all pleasant, especially not with her grandparents. But something in the old lady’s tone made her feel a little less wary.
“Yes, I am,” Serenity finally replied, her voice soft but steady. “It’s been a long time.”
The woman smiled, her wrinkles deepening as she beamed. “I heard about what’s been going on, dear. It’s terrible what they’ve done to you and your sister. You two were always so kind to everyone, and to think they’d treat you like that…” Her voice trailed off, clearly distressed.
Serenity gave her a polite but tight smile. “Thank you. It’s… been hard.”
The old lady nodded knowingly, glancing over at Zachary standing behind Serenity. “And you, young man,” she said, looking him up and down, “you must be her husband. You’re a good one to stand by her side through all this mess.”
Zachary nodded, offering a reassuring smile, though his expression was serious. “I’m here to support her.”
The old lady’s eyes flickered with sympathy as she scanned Serenity again. “You two have my support, too. You’ve got people here who know the truth. Your grandparents… they’re not what they seem.” She looked at Serenity pointedly, as if waiting for her to respond.
Serenity was quiet for a moment, letting the old lady’s words sink in. It was rare to find someone who remembered the past as she did, someone who could see through the falsehoods spun by her grandparents.
“Thank you,” Serenity said softly, her voice cracking slightly as the flood of emotions threatened to overwhelm her again. She had to stay strong for the sake of the truth.
“Take care of yourself, girl,” the woman said, giving her a comforting pat on the arm. “And don’t let them make you feel small. The truth always finds its way out in the end.”
With that, the old lady continued on her way, leaving Serenity and Zachary standing in the yard, a quiet sense of determination settling over them.
Zachary stepped closer to Serenity, his presence grounding her. “You okay?” he asked, his voice gentle but firm.
Serenity nodded, wiping away a stray tear. “Yeah. I’ll be fine. Let’s take those photos and get back. I don’t want to stay here too long.”
Zachary gave her a nod of agreement. He could tell this place brought up too many painful memories, and he wasn’t about to let her linger in the past any longer than necessary.
With a deep breath, Serenity started walking toward the house, camera in hand, ready to gather the evidence she needed to turn the tide against her relatives.
