Chapter 516 Burry Returns Home
Among the guests who arrived today, Aurelia recognized most faces, though the few strangers were names she'd heard Joe mention before.
Cathy drew Aurelia aside. "Aurelia, I'd like you to meet Eirik Vossgard, CEO of the Vossgard Group."
Aurelia managed polite pleasantries before Cathy whisked her away to another introduction. Within minutes, she'd been paraded before a parade of CEOs and presidents, their titles blurring together until her head spun.
When they finally found a quiet corner, Cathy leaned in conspiratorially. "So, darling, anyone catch your eye? Several seemed quite promising—you should give them serious consideration."
Aurelia's eye twitched. "Grandmother, this isn't a cattle auction."
Cathy laughed, undeterred. "When it comes to choosing my granddaughter's husband, I intend to be thorough. Speaking of which, where are Joe and the others? Have you tried calling?"
"The line was busy earlier. Let me try again."
Aurelia dialed Joe's number. This time it rang—he'd clearly landed and turned his phone back on—but no one answered. Nathaniel's phone went straight to voicemail as well.
"Still no answer, Grandmother. They're probably tied up with something. We should wait a bit longer."
Worry creased Cathy's features. "I just pray everything went smoothly and they managed to bring Burry home safely."
"Joe texted that everything was proceeding as planned," Aurelia reassured her. "If he said they'd be back today, they will be."
Cathy nodded reluctantly. "Very well. We should return to our guests."
Just then, a servant burst through the doors, breathless with excitement. "Mr. Semona has returned—he's here!"
Cathy shot to her feet. "Where is he?"
"Just through the front entrance, ma'am. He's crossing the courtyard now."
Cathy seized Aurelia's hand, and they hurried outside. The bewildered guests parted like the Red Sea, sensing the urgency in their hostess's manner.
In the courtyard, Joe stood cradling a frail young woman in his arms. Cathy's eyes filled with tears—they'd actually done it.
The girl in Joe's arms was Aurelia's mirror image, though illness had carved sharp angles into her delicate features and painted shadows beneath her eyes.
Joe remained motionless, his precious burden secure in his arms. "Grandmother, I've brought Burry home."
Burry summoned what little strength she had, taking in the girl who shared her face and the kind-eyed woman whose love radiated like warmth from a hearth. Twenty-seven years of believing herself abandoned, of thinking herself truly alone after her adoptive mother's death—and here, on the other side of the world, was a family she'd never dared dream existed.
Her voice broke with emotion. "Grandmother... Aurelia... I'm home."
Cathy wiped away tears. "Yes, darling, you're home. That's all that matters now. Let's get you inside."
Burry's condition was worse than they'd anticipated, and the grueling flight had drained what little reserves she had. There would be no celebrating tonight.
Joe carried her to the bedroom that had been prepared, where Burry retrieved a small bottle from her bag. "Grandmother, I'm sorry—I left in such haste that I couldn't find a proper gift. This perfume is something I created myself. Please accept it as a birthday present."
Cathy accepted the bottle with trembling hands. "Sweet child, your return is the greatest gift imaginable. What more could I possibly want? You and Aurelia are the unexpected blessings of my twilight years—two granddaughters appearing like miracles."
Burry's gaze found Aurelia, and something profound stirred within her at seeing her own reflection in another person. Blood called to blood, creating an instant intimacy despite this being only their second meeting since birth.
"Aurelia, I'm the older sister, aren't I?"
Aurelia's voice caught. "Burry, thank God you're finally here. When you're stronger, I'll take you to visit Mother's grave."
Burry nodded weakly. "With this body of mine, I suspect I'll be joining her soon enough."
"Don't speak such nonsense," Cathy said fiercely. "We have resources—we'll search the globe for a donor match if we have to."
"Rest first," Aurelia added gently. "Tomorrow we'll go to the hospital for compatibility testing. We're identical twins—surely we'll be a perfect match."
Cathy's voice rang with conviction. "Of course you will be! You shared the same womb—nature couldn't have made you more compatible. Now, you must be starving, child. Let me have something light prepared, and I'll call our family physician."
The servants brought delicate local specialties, and though Burry's appetite had been nonexistent for weeks, she managed more than usual—though still pitifully little.
Cathy had completely forgotten her party guests, absorbed entirely in fussing over her newfound granddaughter.
Aurelia pulled Joe aside. "Where's Nathaniel? Why isn't he answering his phone?"
Joe hesitated. "His phone probably died. He flew back to Imperick—we made a stop there to drop him off before continuing here."
Aurelia frowned. "But he promised to come to Grandmother's party. Did something happen over there?"
"Nothing dramatic," Joe said with studied casualness. "Business emergency. He asked me to tell you not to worry—he'll be back as soon as he can sort things out."
Though doubt gnawed at her, Aurelia didn't press further.
Later, when Burry had fallen into exhausted sleep, Cathy emerged from the bedroom. "Post someone outside her door—if she wakes needing water or assistance, I want someone there immediately."
Joe dispatched several servants to keep watch.
Aurelia retrieved an elegantly wrapped box from her room—Nathaniel's contingency gift. He'd mentioned preparing something for Cathy's birthday and asked Aurelia to present it on his behalf if circumstances prevented his attendance.
"Grandmother, this is from Nathaniel. He wishes you a very happy birthday and many years of health and happiness."
Cathy paused, surprised. "Why didn't Nathaniel come himself?"
"Business called him back to Imperick," Aurelia explained. "He prepared this in advance, just in case. Please, won't you accept it?"
Cathy took the exquisitely wrapped package, noting the care that had gone into its presentation. His role in Burry's rescue had softened her opinion considerably—she'd even found herself wondering why he hadn't come, when just days ago she would have preferred his absence entirely.
With curious fingers, Cathy began unwrapping the gift.
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