Ophelia Gets Thrown Out (Ophelia) novel Chapter 59

**Paths Lead To Purpose — Kevin Masters**
**Chapter 59**

Tristan’s expression was one of utter disbelief, his gaze darting toward his granddaughter, who stood before him with an air of quiet confidence. “Ophelia? You know Zachary?” he asked, his voice laced with incredulity, one eyebrow arching high in surprise.

Inside, his mind raced with confusion. *This doesn’t add up. She’s just come back into our lives. How could she possibly have met Alaric, let alone his grandfather? What could she possibly know about Zachary’s condition?* A knot of anxiety formed in Ophelia’s stomach as she sensed her grandfather’s skepticism. *I knew it. This man is just looking to stir up trouble.*

Taking a deep, steadying breath to quell the unease building within her, Ophelia spoke with calm assurance. “It was merely a chance encounter, Grandfather. I was visiting someone else at the hospital when I happened to cross paths with Mr. Caldwell and his grandfather.”

She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts before continuing. “We exchanged a few words, and that’s how I learned about his recovery.”

“I see,” Tristan replied slowly, his head nodding, though a flicker of doubt still lingered in his eyes. The doubt was palpable; even a mere coincidence couldn’t fully explain the familiarity he sensed between them. Choosing to let the matter rest, he let the conversation drift into silence.

A wave of relief washed over Ophelia when Tristan opted not to pry further. Her eyes shot a sharp, warning glare at Alaric, silently urging him to cease his provocations.

Alaric, however, seemed to relish the moment. A faint, knowing smile crept onto his lips as he leaned into the tension. “Yes, our initial meeting was indeed coincidental, but Ms. Rowle was kind enough to visit my grandfather afterward. He’s grown quite fond of her,” he added, his tone dripping with casual nonchalance.

Technically, his statement held a kernel of truth. Since awakening, Zachary had expressed a heartfelt desire to thank the physician who had played a pivotal role in his recovery. Yet, the implications of Alaric’s words sent a ripple of speculation through the guests gathered around them.

“Ms. Ophelia Rowle went to visit Mr. Zachary Caldwell?” one of them murmured, eyes widening in interest.

“Well, the Rowles and the Caldwells have been friends for ages. It’s only polite for her to pay a visit,” another chimed in.

“True, but didn’t I hear something about an engagement with Ms. Zoe Rowle? Could Ophelia be…” The whispers swirled around her like a storm, prompting Ophelia to massage her temple, desperately trying to stave off the impending headache that was brewing. Her fist clenched at her side as she fought the urge to stride over and wipe that smug expression off Alaric’s face.

*He’s doing this on purpose. There’s no other explanation for his deliberate vagueness in front of everyone,* she thought, frustration simmering beneath her composed exterior.

“Mr. Caldwell,” she said, her voice icy and detached, a stark contrast to the chaos swirling around them. “If you feel the need to elaborate, perhaps you could do so with a bit more precision. Ambiguity only breeds… unnecessary speculation.”

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