Year Five The Perfect Goodbye Plan novel Chapter 276

She sat alone in the car, her hands locked in a white-knuckled grip around the steering wheel, her body trembling ever so slightly.

Wilhelmina, in her memory, had always been so kind to her.

Back then, before Silvia had been officially recognized and brought back into the Ashford family, she’d often visit the Ashford estate with her adoptive mother. Those visits were rough—Silvia was an outsider, and the others made sure she felt it.

But every time, Wilhelmina would appear by her side, her presence gentle and reassuring, always ready to help.

And when the truth finally came out—that Silvia was her long-lost granddaughter—Wilhelmina had embraced her and sobbed, unable to hold back her emotions.

Through her tears, Wilhelmina had rambled on, saying that she’d always felt a strange sense of familiarity whenever she saw Silvia, which was why she’d been so willing to help. Now it made sense—Silvia was her own flesh and blood.

When Silvia had first returned to the Ashford family, everyone felt like strangers. Everyone, that is, except for Wilhelmina, who stayed by her side, comforting her, never leaving her alone. It was Wilhelmina’s patient companionship that slowly chipped away at the walls Silvia had built around her heart.

Thinking of all this, Silvia raised her hand and gently brushed away her tears.

No matter how wonderful her grandmother had been, Silvia was determined to get to the bottom of what happened all those years ago.

Bzzz. Bzzz.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She glanced at the screen—it was the female detective calling. Silvia answered immediately.

“Miss Ashford, sorry to trouble you, but could you come down to the station? We need your signature on some paperwork for the case.”

Silvia’s mind raced. More paperwork? Did this mean Gray had recanted his confession?

A flicker of hope sparked inside her, and she pressed the gas pedal a little harder as she drove to the police station.

When Silvia walked in, she immediately noticed the detective’s hesitant expression.

“Didn’t he leave any kind of note? Anything at all?” Silvia pressed.

“Nothing.” The detective shook her head again. She knew how much this meant to Silvia and tried to offer some comfort. “Miss Ashford, maybe things really were the way Gray said. The case will have to end here.”

The primary suspect was dead, and the only oddity had been that he somehow managed to get his hands on expensive flour despite being broke.

Maybe things really were as he claimed—perhaps he’d picked it up off the street or stolen it from somewhere.

Seeing the detective’s defeated expression, Silvia let out a short, bitter laugh.

She trusted her instincts. She was certain that woman was involved in this, no matter what anyone said.

It was just a shame. Silvia had hoped she might be able to reach Gray, to get the truth out of him. She never imagined he’d end things this way.

“Miss Ashford, would you sign here, please? We need to close this case.”