Those words were enough. Callie thought.
The news of the eldest daughter of the Ellison family returning to the Ellison family quickly spread in the circle. It was said that when Ahmad confirmed that Charlotte was indeed Maevelyn, he was so happy that his illness seemed to vanish. He didn’t sleep a wink that night and even threatened to invite the whole city to a feast.
If it weren’t for Charlotte’s strong dissuasion, he might have actually done it.
The person who spread this news was none other than Marilyn. She seemed even happier than Ahmad and immediately put on a show of sisterly affection with Charlotte, tears streaming down her face. How much of it was genuine, no one knew.
Callie heard all this from Regan later.
Regan described it with animated expressions, unable to hide her disgust, “Honestly, you and Charlotte really do look alike. No wonder the old man mistook you for her at first.”
Callie’s hand paused as she poured tea, then she smiled faintly, “Now she’s the real deal. Comparatively, people say I look like her, not the other way around.”
Regan realized her mistake and quickly apologized, “Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.”
Callie didn’t mind, “It’s okay. How about you? How are things at the Ellison family?”
Regan gave a bitter smile, “Just the usual. I’m invisible. Now Isaac has to deal with both Marilyn and the ever-popular Charlotte, so he has no time to bother me.”
Feeling sorry for her, Callie couldn’t help but ask, “Can’t you leave?”
“I can endure it.”
After a moment, Regan said, “Isaac’s embezzlement from the Ellison family business is enough to land him in jail.”
Callie frowned, “What are you planning?”
“I’m not planning anything. I’m just saying people can be pushed to their limits. Just wait and see.”
Regan’s ambiguous words left Callie feeling uneasy.
“In a few days, the Ellison family is hosting a small banquet to welcome Charlotte. Nelson is invited. Are you coming?”
Callie instinctively recalled Marilyn’s birthday party and found it amusing, “Do you think they want me there?”
Regan was silent.
“I won’t go. It’s a happy occasion; no need to spoil it.” Callie was very self-aware.
Seeing this, Regan didn’t press further. After she left, Callie went to find Reuben.
He was sitting in an old armchair reading the newspaper, his finger pressed on the headline about Charlotte’s return home.
Wearing reading glasses, he read each word carefully, “Callie, come take a look.”
Callie approached.
“The girl in this photo looks quite like you,” Reuben pointed out, astonished.
Callie chuckled, “Doesn’t she?”
“Yes, at first glance I thought it was you and wondered when you went to be someone else’s daughter,” Reuben joked.
Callie gestured, “This girl is the same one from the photo last time. This is what she looks like grown up.”
“The photo last time…” Reuben tried to recall, “No, that photo was of you.”
Callie didn’t react. Since his discharge from the hospital, Reuben’s mind often wasn’t clear, and his memory was poor. Incoherent remarks were common; she didn’t pay much attention.
“I’m going to see what Nancy is making for lunch.”
“Callie, Callie! That photo was of you!” Reuben’s voice called after her.
Callie didn’t look back.
Two days later, Nelson indeed received an invitation from the Ellison family.
Callie was right beside him at the time, “I dislike people with no sense of boundaries. You’re married; why invite you?”
There was a hint of jealousy in her tone, which pleased the man greatly. “My connection with the Ellison family isn’t because of that.”