<b>Chapter </b><b>415 </b>


    Caitlin and James split up to search Timothy’s private study and bedroom for the Codex. After a few hours, they regrouped in one of the


    rooms.


    “How’d it go on your side?” James asked.


    “I found two copies,” Caitlin replied.


    “I found three.”


    They each pulled the books from their jackets andid them out in front of them. Caitlin stared at the five identical–looking books, frowning deeply.


    “Which one’s the real one?” James asked, ncing between the identical covers.


    Caitlin flipped through each volume meticulously. After a carefulparison, she let out a cold breath. “None of these are real. They’re all decoys–fakes made to fool thieves.”


    “Then where’s the real one?” James frowned.


    Caitlin shook her head. “Maybe the old man was telling the truth. Maybe the original really isn’t here at the Yuncey estate. It’s likely Eleanor took it with her when she left. Why only the first half remains now\… there must be a reason.”


    The truth was buried too deep, and neither of them could guess what had happened back then. But it was clear the search for the *Codex*


    within the estate had hit a dead end–for now.


    The next morning, Millie returned from the hospital and went straight to Timothy with an update.


    “I just came from the hospital. My mother–inw made it through emergency surgery, but the doctor said her brain’s damaged. She might end up in a vegetative state. What do we do now?”


    Timothy let out a weary sigh. “Let it be. Just arrange for someone to care for her.”


    “Okay, I understand,” Millie nodded, then hesitated before saying, “So much has happened at hometely… I want to go stay at my parents‘


    for a while.”


    “Go,” Timothy said simply, without a trace of sentiment. He could feel it in his bones–there was no holding this family together anymore. His grandson was in prison. What reason did Millie have to stay?


    As she dragged her suitcase toward the gate, she ran into Caitlin. Her eyes shed with resentment.


    “Caitlin, happy now? The Yuncey Family’s ruined, just like you wanted.”


    Caitlin didn’t answer her. Instead, she gazed toward the trees in the garden.


    “Millie, look at thatndscaping. Looks beautiful, doesn’t it? But if you peel it open, you’d find it’s crawling with rot on the inside.


    “The Yuncey Family is the same–on the surface, a picture of harmony, but in reality, it’s full of decay. This copse didn’t happen because of me. It happened because the rot was never dealt with.”


    “I don’t care about your metaphors. All I know is I lost my husband and my home because of you.”


    ????? <b>?? </b>


    2701


    Millie’s voice trembled with bitterness. Once, she was the proud wife of the Yuncey Family’s eldest grandson, but now, she had nothing.


    “You should be thanking me. At least now you can find a life for yourself. Staying married to a rapist like Dous–you’d never be truly happy.


    “You know exactly what kind of man he is.”


    Caitlin’s eyes dropped to the ck scarring on Millie’s face. “And think carefully. When your face got burnedst time, why did Greta smear y pellets all over your wounds?


    “Any normal person knows not to do that. And what did it leave you with? Scars you can’t get rid of.”


    Millie instinctively reached up to touch her face. The burns had indeed left dark marks that ruined her once wless skin.


    “You think Greta did that to help you? Let me tell you the truth–she was looking out for her son.


    “Dous is in prison. She was afraid you might leave him. So she used that opportunity to destroy your face. That way, you’d have no choice but to stay. It was never about you.”


    Millie stood frozen, stunned by the realization. The puzzle pieces clicked into ce. The way Greta had reassured her afterward–saying


    Dous wouldn’t care about the scars–suddenly felt disgusting.


    “Believe me or don’t, that’s your call. But here’s my advice: leave. Get out of this mess while you still can.”


    Caitlin gave her onest look before walking past.


    She never had a personal vendetta against Millie. Her battle had always been with the Yuncey power structure. Millie was just coteral.


    Caitlin would let her go.


    As she watched Caitlin’s retreating figure, Millie mulled over her words. She realized something–Caitlin wasn’t trying to ruin her.


    She was offering her an escape.


    And maybe it really was time to take it.


    The Yuncey Family was finished. It was time for her to go.


    **Later that morning.**


    Several ck sedans began arriving outside the private cemetery owned by the Yuncey Family in Departure City.


    Inside stood rows of tombstones. The two newest graves belonged to Rachel and Taylor–set apart from each other, with an empty plot between them, reserved for Timothy when his time came.


    Every surviving member of the Yuncey Family had been summoned, including Hayden. No one knew what this meeting was about or why it had to take ce at a cemetery.


    Soon, a car from the old estate pulled up. Timothy stepped out with Forrest by his side and slowly made his way toward the graves.


    “Grandpa!”


    “Dad-”


    “You’re here.”


    ORGE THG 42208


    The chidres si grandi hildren gossins him one by one is V, Rearing out his cane as he worked orient an alter metini


    At the graveyar


    Timothy stopped before a weathered hendeans Mevendra’s


    Reside her rested her husband Loyd, and her father yton


    He turned around to face the family.


    everyone here?”


    Only Cynthia isn’t,” Edgar replied. “She had a rpse. Couldn’t make it.”


    Timothy nodded solemnly. “And Caitlin?”


    Hayden checked his watch. “She texted–said she’ll be here in a few minutes.”


    No sooner had he spoken than several more vehicles pulled up at the cemetery gates.


    Caitlin appeared, nked by Sebastian, James, Zinnia, and a sizable entourage of people–some of whom wore the emblems of local government offices, others carrying professional cameras and press badges.


    “She’s here!”


    “Wait, is that City Hall staff?”


    “Why are there reporters here too? What’s going on?”


    The Yuncey Family murmured among themselves, confusion rising. Even Hayden looked puzzled. No one knew what Caitlin was nning, but it was clear something big was about to happen.


    Timothy’s expression darkened when he saw who Caitlin had brought.


    He had agreed to a quiet apology. But this? This was a public spectacle.


    “Caitlin,” he said through gritted teeth. “What is the meaning of all this?”