Chapter 5 Her Real Home

At that moment, Stefan slowly lifted his gaze. His eyes settled on Katherine's delicate features, scrutinizing her with the predatory focus of a hawk assessing unfamiliar prey.

After a moment, his thin lips parted slightly. "Have we met before?"

Katherine instinctively lowered her lashes and answered in a soft, obedient voice, "No."

Stefan White-the newly appointed head of the White family-was infamous in elite circles for his mercurial temperament and ruthless decisiveness. Katherine knew better than to entangle herself with a man like him. Distance, she sensed, was her safest choice.

Hearing her calm reply, Stefan withdrew his oppressive gaze. The faint suspicion lingering in his eyes slowly faded.

A year ago, during an ambush overseas, he had narrowly escaped death. A mysterious woman with extraordinary marksmanship had appeared out of nowhere, saved him, and vanished without leaving a trace. Despite all his resources, he had never managed to find her.

That woman had concealed her face with a black scarf, revealing only a pair of eyes. Those eyes-cold, resolute, and fearless-had the same shape as Katherine's.

Yet the girl standing before him now looked far too gentle, too innocent. She couldn't possibly be the same person.

Callum, who had just arrived beside them, was utterly stunned.

He never imagined he would live to hear Stefan strike up a conversation with a girl. He even considered recording the moment and sending it to their private group chat-purely for historical preservation.

His little sister, it seemed, possessed an unexpected talent for charming even men like Stefan.

Clearing his throat, Callum stepped in. "This is Stefan White. The Smith and White families have been close for generations. The flight base where I bought these helicopters belongs to his family, and I'm generous enough to give him a ride."

"I gave you a twenty-percent discount," Stefan added coolly, his voice tinged with displeasure.

His gaze flicked toward Katherine once more.

She remained composed, her expression serene.

Callum waved it off carelessly. A discount-or the lack of one-meant nothing to him anyway.

He turned back to Katherine, his tone softening. "Mom and Dad were overjoyed when they learned you were alive. They've been waiting for you at home."

Katherine's heart skipped. She felt a strange flutter of anticipation.

The sky was beginning to pale with dawn.

Soon, a line of helicopters descended gracefully onto the vast grounds of a magnificent estate. Nearby, a Rolls-Royce Phantom belonging to the White family waited in silence.

Without a word, Stefan stepped into the car, his expression as indifferent as ever.

Callum glanced at Katherine and offered a reassuring smile. "Don't mind him. He's just got a terrible temper. Don't be afraid of him."

Katherine blinked slightly. She hadn't even said she was afraid.

Inside the moving car, Stefan stared at the shrinking figure in the rearview mirror. The suspicion he had suppressed began to surface again.

Not only did Katherine's eyes resemble that woman's... Even her silhouette looked strangely familiar.

Could two people in this world truly be so alike?

Levi Ward, Stefan's longtime assistant, noticed his unusual distraction.

He had rarely seen his employer lost in thought like this.

After a moment's hesitation, Levi asked carefully, "Sir, would you like to pay a visit to the Smith family?"

Stefan's cold eyes darkened.

He had no reasonable excuse.

After a brief silence, he ordered, "Reinvestigate the assassination attempt from last year. Collect every piece of footage related to that woman."

"Yes, sir." Levi was surprised, though he said nothing.

He knew Stefan had never given up searching for his savior-but he hadn't expected him to bring it up again now.

As the White family's car disappeared into the distance, Katherine followed Callum toward the main building.

A woman rushed toward them, her frame slender, her expression strained with urgency and sorrow. Before Katherine could fully take in her features, she was pulled into a tight embrace.

Juliette Smith, Katherine's biological mother, clung to her as if afraid she might disappear again. "My darling... I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."

For twenty years, regret had haunted Juliette relentlessly. She believed that if she hadn't fallen during pregnancy, Katherine wouldn't have been born prematurely. If she had been more vigilant... If she had protected her better... None of this would have happened.

Before Katherine could speak, Juliette's tears soaked her shoulder.

Katherine gently returned the embrace. "It's alright," she whispered. "I'm home now."

She met her mother's reddened eyes. Warmth spread through her chest, flowing into her limbs like a quiet tide. Juliette was thinner than she had imagined-fragile, almost translucent.

On the way home, Callum had told her everything. Juliette had blamed herself day and night for two decades.

She had punished herself with endless guilt, barely sleeping, barely eating. Her health had deteriorated year after year. It was all because she believed she had been the one to blame.

Now, hearing Katherine's gentle words, Juliette finally broke down. She sobbed uncontrollably in her daughter's arms. For the first time in twenty years, her heart felt lighter. For the first time, she felt that perhaps she could finally forgive herself.