He Lost Me to His Best Friend novel Chapter 734

"I understand. Thank you for telling me all of this, Elara."

Scarlett took a deep breath and solemnly tucked the photo away. Her voice was soft but firm. "I'll find a way to uncover the truth and figure out exactly what happened."

Elara nodded decisively. "Good. I'll help you look into it. Lately, I've been dreaming about Reuben. In my dreams, he just looks at me with such sadness, like he has some unfinished business."

"So, my second uncle's name was Reuben?" Scarlett asked.

Elara nodded. "Yes. Your grandfather was Mortimer Langley. Your oldest uncle was Richard Langley, and your second uncle was Reuben Langley."

***

The conversation with Elara lingered in Scarlett's mind for days before she could finally process it.

She had initially wanted to ask her mother about it. But seeing Jacqueline looking exhausted lately while keeping Dawn company, Scarlett worried that bringing up the past might trigger her emotionally, so she suppressed her questions for now.

Early that morning, Scarlett dragged her large suitcases to the door. After pressing a reluctant kiss to Dawn's cheek, she headed out to travel to Country A for the award ceremony.

She had packed two massive suitcases. One held her everyday essentials and clothes, while the other was entirely stuffed with homemade local delicacies her mother had prepared for her brother.

She wanted to make sure her brother got to taste the foods he loved as a child.

For an entire week, Jacqueline had been working tirelessly, baking an assortment of pastries and cooking his favorite dishes. She carefully vacuum-sealed everything and meticulously packed them into the suitcase.

Over the years, her mother had always seemed strong on the outside but enveloped in a dark cloud of sorrow.

When her father left with her brother, he had taken all the light from her mother's eyes.

Scarlett used to wonder why Jacqueline could never move on. It wasn't until she learned the truth about her grandfather's family that she finally understood just how many devastating blows her mother had endured.

Once she returned from the award ceremony, Scarlett promised herself she would sit down and get the full story from her mother.

With a swirl of complex emotions, Scarlett stepped out of the courtyard.

Stellan helped her load the two heavy suitcases into the trunk.

Scarlett waved goodbye to Jacqueline and Dawn, and then she and Stellan headed to the airport.

She had assumed Julian wouldn't show up for this trip.

But to her surprise, just as she stepped out of the car and was about to help Stellan with the luggage, a pale, strong hand beat her to the handle of the suitcase.

Scarlett looked up and met those clear, warm eyes.