?Chapter 1312:


    Without wasting another second, Christina walked out the door. She believed it was always better to show up early than to bete when invited to a meal.


    Meanwhile, at the Vaughn family’s home, Florrie sat in a chair by the fish pond in the courtyard. She held fish food in her hand but just stared into space, her expression nk.


    Her eyes looked empty and distant. Her thoughts had drifted back to her missing granddaughter, and sadness weighed heavily on her heart.


    Ever since her granddaughter disappeared, Florrie had felt a heavy weight pressing on her chest that never went away. The difort was constant.


    Not knowing whether her granddaughter was safe ate away at her. Just thinking about the worst possible oue made her chest tighten and her heart ache so much she could barely breathe.


    “Grandma,” Ophelia called out from behind her. But Florrie didn’t respond.


    Ophelia knew Florrie was lost in thoughts about the missing granddaughter again. Florrie was so deep in her own world that she hadn’t even noticed Ophelia walking up.


    Despite all of Ophelia’s efforts to find her cousin—Florrie’s missing granddaughter—there was still no news about where her cousin was. It made Ophelia wonder if her cousin was even still alive.


    Ophelia let out a quiet sigh and pushed away those dark thoughts. She walked closer with a smile on her face. “Grandma,” she said softly, gently taking Florrie’s hand in hers. Florrie blinked and came back to reality. She gave an embarrassed smile.


    She tossed some fish food into the pond and asked with a smile, “What is it, dear?”


    “Let’s go to Morfort Restaurant for a meal,” Ophelia suggested, her smile bright and cheerful. “I don’t feel like eating homecooked food today.”


    Florrie smiled warmly, a hint of amusement in her voice. “Are you saying the food here at home doesn’t taste as good as restaurant food?”


    “Well, you see right through me, Grandma.” Ophelia hugged Florrie’s arm affectionately and said in a yful voice, “It’s good to treat ourselves once in a while, don’t you think? Besides, the food at Morfort Restaurant isn’t junk food or anything like that. They have lots of healthy food that’s really good for you. I want to order some to help boost your health, Grandma.”


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    Florrie chuckled softly and tapped Ophelia’s nose with affection. “You little foodie.”


    “Thene with me, Grandma,” Ophelia pleaded sweetly, tugging gently at Florrie’s arm. “Take this poor little foodie to Morfort Restaurant.”


    “I’m a bit tired, sweetheart. I don’t really feel like going out,” Florrie said, her tone soft and weary. “Maybe Merlin can take you instead.”


    “No way! I only want you toe with me, Grandma,” Ophelia whined yfully, still shaking Florrie’s arm with determination. “Merlin’s always so serious and scary-looking,” Opheliained, scrunching her nose as she started ranting about her older brother, Merlin Vaughn. “I don’t want to eat with him. He’s so terrifying sometimes, I bet he’ll never find a wife. He doesn’t even have a girlfriend, probably because of that scary face of his! Anyway, Grandma, once I’m done with work, let’s go to Lionesspaw, okay? I really want to see Uncle Hurley, Aunt Beth, and the Jones boys. I haven’t seen them in ages, and I miss them so much.”


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