Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed novel Chapter 744

Kathleen followed the directions and eventually found herself standing outside what she assumed was Madge's current residence. As she stood in front of the wrought-iron gate, she tilted her head back to take in the sight of the villa.

From the outside, the neighborhood seemed nothing special, but once inside, it was unexpectedly nice.

To think that even after ending up in such a small town, her sister could still find herself living in a villa.

A smirk crept across Kathleen’s lips.

Her younger sister had always had a knack for being lucky. Even as a kid, whenever they visited a church, the old priest would come out, clasp his hands together, and proclaim Aberdeen to have a blessed destiny. Meanwhile, Kathleen would stand beside her, feeling utterly invisible.

At any event where Aberdeen Rodriguez was present, Kathleen might as well have been a ghost.

As she walked through the garden to the front door, Kathleen pressed the doorbell with a slight smile.

The door was answered by Norris. He had been preparing breakfast, thinking of making pancakes after hearing that the elders liked them. Just as he finished mixing the batter, the doorbell rang.

He opened the door to find a woman he didn’t recognize, dressed in expensive clothes with an air of arrogance.

“Can I help you?” he asked.

Kathleen sized up the man before her. Tall enough, decent-looking, but his clothes screamed small-town. Just a plain, middle-aged man with no sense of style or charisma.

“You must be... Norris?” Kathleen ventured.

“Yes, that's me. Who are you looking for?”

Aberdeen married a man like this? Kathleen thought incredulously.

Norris could feel her scrutinizing gaze, the kind that made him feel both judged and uncomfortable. Before he could say anything else, Madge’s voice came from behind him.

“Sister?”

...

In the living room, Kathleen sat on the couch, holding a cup of hot water that Madge had handed her. Madge smiled, “I remember you don’t like coffee or tea. I hope that hasn’t changed.”

Before coming here, Kathleen had imagined many scenarios. She thought that after over twenty years of wandering, Aberdeen would be a shadow of her former self. Perhaps she’d be alone, frail, and bent with age. Or maybe she’d settled for someone ordinary, had a few kids, and become plump and weary. Without the luxury of wealth, her once lovely face would be marred by age spots and wrinkles.

Yet here was Aberdeen, looking just like the girl Kathleen remembered. Twenty years had passed without a trace of hardship on her face. Still so innocent, so naïve, even the way she looked at Kathleen hadn’t changed.

Could it mean she hadn’t remembered any of it?

According to the reports, Aberdeen had lost her memory and ended up in Pinehollow.

Geneva paused at the sight of Kathleen, her brow furrowing instantly.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

Kathleen quickly stood up, “Mom, Dad.”

Her father remained silent. Her mother moved to stand beside Madge, as if to shield her daughter.

“Mom?” Madge asked, puzzled.

Kathleen’s eyes darkened for a moment before she pasted on a smile. “I heard Madge was found and flew in from Lumina City. I didn’t expect you’d be staying here…”

Madge nodded, “Yes, we were just reminiscing about old times.”

“Really? What stories?” Geneva asked, a smile returning to her face.

Madge recounted, “We talked about visiting Grandma’s, fighting over candy…”

Geneva listened, warmth spreading through her heart, a smile touching her lips. But catching Kathleen’s lowered gaze, her unease returned.

For some reason, she couldn’t shake her wariness toward Kathleen. It was an instinct, and her instincts had never led her astray. But without any evidence, she had to keep her suspicions to herself for now.