Elizabeth sighed, "Poor Hans, with his head-in-the-clouds parents, his future's practically ruined!"
Simone chuckled, "No worries, Mom. We still have Carmella and Sabina, right?"
"Mmm," Elizabeth nodded slightly and fell silent.
The television suddenly erupted with noise, announcing that KING had landed. The crowd surged forward, some even wielding baseball bats, faces flushed with fury as if ready for a brawl.
Simone fidgeted with the hem of her dress, imagining Estelle getting mobbed, beaten down, and then dismissed from the scene. That would settle everything!
Ever since they learned of Estelle's existence, there had been this unspoken tension between them.
She had invested twenty years into Carmella, only to find out she wasn't her biological daughter, which left her deeply disappointed.
Before meeting Estelle, she was anxious that the girl might reclaim Carmella and take her back to the barren hills, a place her pampered daughter could never endure.
Yet, she held some hope for Estelle, curious about what her own daughter would be like.
However, upon setting eyes on Estelle, she felt her hopes deflated.
She still remembered that afternoon in a C City diner, an ordinary old man with a girl in a baseball cap at his side, introducing her and Bennett to Estelle – their daughter.
The girl merely glanced at them before looking down, her demeanor icy, lacking any excitement or warmth of recognition.
Bennett called out "Estelle," and she just hummed in acknowledgment.
At first, she thought Estelle's shy demeanor was just because she was from a small place but even back home, Estelle was just as closed off and quiet, a stark contrast to Carmella's bubbly and outgoing nature.
Carmella tenderly offered her dresses and jewelry, but Estelle showed little emotion, leaving Carmella feeling awkward.
Seeing the daughter she had doted on acting so meek and reassuring her that it was okay, her heart ached.
When Estelle returned to J City for school, she came last in the first exam.
The principal called them in for a talking-to, bluntly tossing the report card on the table and demanding Estelle transfer out to avoid dragging down the school's performance.
At the airport.
Estelle and Jonathan's group hadn't even emerged when chaos erupted outside.
Even a celebrity's homecoming didn't incite such frenzy.
But instead of cheers, Estelle was met with jeers and calls for her to leave.
Suddenly, from the VIP passage, a group escorted two old men towards the lounge area. A sharp-eyed reporter recognized them, whispering, "Old Mr. Jarvis from C City!"
"And Old Mr. Quintin, too. What are they doing at the airport?"
Looking beyond, the entourage included familiar faces—the Lamont family patriarch and his wife, the CEO of the James family, Charlie, the newlyweds from the Sampson family, Carson.
The once noisy airport fell into a hush. People all sensed that something momentous was about to unfold.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
This was classic updates. Thank you so much...
May we please have updates. Thank you...
I sincerely hope that Gonzalez finds the taped meeting of Hannah and Trevor to throw them under the bus....
How will Gonzalez get back at Hannah, Yvonne and Trevor for the setup and fall from grace....
Adrian needs to safe face and not do this. It will embarrass he and Norah and his family. Thank you for the updates....
This a HOT MESS for them both....
WOW! I didn't see that coming at all for Norah nor Gonzalez, the plot thickens. Thank you for the updates....
Xavier wants to get caught kissing Norah at this point. When will he ask her to call him Xavier and not Gonzalez. Maybe that would bring back her memories. Thank you for the updates....
So, Norah drew out the big guns with her call to Jonathan for a favor. Thank you for the updates....
Waiting patiently for your updates please....