The Captain I Married by Chance novel Chapter 401

"Granduncle Arthur?" Nora pursed her lips, thinking the title sounded like something straight out of a billionaire soap opera. She had only ever heard old-money honorifics like that on television.

"Exactly," Valerie recalled. "My journalistic instincts immediately kicked in. I just knew there had to be some juicy backstory between this Arthur guy and the Peyton family. But since neither you nor Nathan were around, I didn't want to overstay my welcome. I got out of there as fast as I could."

Nora offered a soft hum of acknowledgment, not pressing the matter.

Valerie had originally wanted to ask if Nora knew who this mysterious granduncle was, but seeing Nora's indifferent reaction, she realized she wouldn't get any answers out of her anyway.

As the two women walked back to the car, they saw Nathan rolling down the driver's side window. His expression remained cool and unreadable, but the sheer weight of his intense gaze as it locked onto Nora was undeniably magnetic.

"What are you two whispering about?" he asked.

Before Nora could respond, Valerie chimed in, "We were just talking about your Granduncle Arthur."

Nathan furrowed his brow, shooting Valerie a perplexed look.

Valerie pulled Nora into the car, and the moment they were settled, she repeated the story of her encounter at the estate. Then, leaning forward with undeniable curiosity, she asked, "So, Officer Peyton, is this Arthur guy actually your great-uncle?"

Nathan raised an eyebrow. Clearly, he hadn't expected his family to be entertaining unexpected guests today. He took a moment to process the information before answering. "His father and my grandfather were cousins."

"So that makes him your granduncle?"

"Yes."

"He's lived abroad for years," Nathan elaborated smoothly. "He used to visit more often when I was a kid, but those trips eventually tapered off. I don't have many distinct memories of him."

When they arrived at the hospital, Nathan went to park the car while Nora and Valerie headed straight for the wards. Harold Peyton had personally arranged Grace's transfer to this new facility.

Nora had assumed that, given Mr. Peyton's immense wealth, her mother would be upgraded to a luxurious VIP suite. If he were being particularly extravagant, maybe he'd rented out an entire floor. But as it turned out, her imagination had been severely limited by her own modest upbringing.

Harold hadn't just gotten a room. He had secured an entire private, detached recovery villa right on the hospital grounds for her mother!

Nora stood frozen in shock as the nurse led them up the paved walkway. Staring at the beautiful two-story estate that looked more like a luxury vacation rental than a medical facility, she felt completely disoriented.

"My mother is... in here?" she asked, her voice breathless.

The nurse beamed warmly. "She certainly is."