Chapter 20

As Elly and Gloria pulled up to the Mansion, Elly's grandpa was waiting by the entrance, his hands clasped behind his back, a familiar, warm smile on his face.

"How was it?" he asked, his eyes flicking from Gloria to Elly, a glint of curiosity in his gaze.

"It was good," Elly replied, giving him a soft smile. "I'm glad I went. Nanay Conching was happy to see me."

Her grandpa nodded, his smile deepening. "She always liked you best, you know. You were her little apprentice."

Elly chuckled softly, feeling a flood of memories. "I'll always be grateful for everything she taught me."

They lingered in the doorway for a moment, the warmth of family surrounding them, before her grandma's voice called from inside.

"Elly, sweetie, would you stay for lunch?" Her voice was gentle, a soft invitation.

Elly turned to face her grandmother, her heart softening at the thought of spending more time here. "Of course," she said, her smile growing as she stepped inside. "I'd love to."

The lunch was filled with laughter and reminiscing, the kind that comes with years of shared stories and inside jokes. Elly felt a sense of comfort she hadn't realized she'd been missing, surrounded by the sounds of her grandparents' voices, easy and familiar.

As the meal came to a close, Elly stood up to help clear the table. But when she glanced outside, she was taken aback. Her security team was loading baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables into her car trunk, their hands full of vibrant produce.

She raised an eyebrow and turned to her grandparents, who were both laughing softly, their eyes twinkling.

"You didn't have to do this," Elly said, still watching the baskets being packed. "I didn't come here for... all this."

Her grandpa leaned back in his chair, wiping a tear of laughter from his eye. "Well, someone has to make sure you eat your vegetables," he teased, his voice full of mock seriousness. "And you know, your mom's not getting any younger—she could use some of these to stay strong. She says she's fine, but we know better."

Her grandma nodded with a knowing smile, then added, "Tell her we sent this with love. And don't forget to hug her for us. It's been too long since we last saw her."

Elly chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "I will," she said, shaking her head fondly. "She'll be glad to see these."

Her grandpa's eyes twinkled mischievously. "And tell her she's still got the best cooking hands in the family. We're just trying to keep up with her."

Elly laughed as she hugged her grandparents. "I'll make sure she knows. Thank you, really."

As Elly approached her car, Albert stepped forward, blocking her path with a slight grin.

"Elly, I'm the one driving today," he said, his tone playful but firm.

Elly chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Dad's order, huh?" she teased, already knowing the answer. Albert gave a nod, his lips curling into a faint smile.

As the car made its way toward Elly's parents' house, she raised an eyebrow at Albert. "Albert, why are we heading toward there? Didn't I tell you to take me to my apartment and just drop off the produce for Mom?"

Albert hesitated for a moment before replying, his voice steady but apologetic. "Sorry, Elly. Something came up. Your dad ordered me to drive you straight here."

Elly frowned, a sense of unease settling in her stomach. As they pulled up in front of the house, her eyes immediately caught sight of police cars parked outside. Panic spiked within her. She rushed out of the car, her heart pounding, and hurried inside.

In the living room, her brother Marcus, her mom, and dad were seated, the atmosphere heavy with tension. A police officer and an agent were standing near the coffee table, which was cluttered with files and papers. Her father motioned her forward, his expression serious. "We have some updates on your kidnapping and your brother's case."

Elly's stomach churned. She stepped closer, her eyes darting between the agent and her father. The agent nodded to her and then held up a photo, his voice calm but urgent.

"This person could be a suspect, or at the very least, will help shed some light on your case," the agent said, his finger pointing to a blurry photo of a man.

Elly's breath caught in her throat as she stared at the image. Her eyes widened in shock.