Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 748

Kathleen's smile turned a bit strained. "Is that so? My brother-in-law is really a stand-up guy for the Gibson family..."

Just as everyone was enjoying their meal, the doorbell rang.

Corley put down his fork and knife. "I'll get it," he said, heading to the front door.

A few seconds later, they heard his voice, tinged with surprise-

"Dad, what are you doing here?!"

Madge's hand, poised to grab another piece of roast beef, paused mid-air.

Norris looked a bit bewildered as he tried to piece together the family connections: Corley's dad meant Kathleen's husband, which made him Madge's brother-in-law. Neely and Geneva exchanged glances, both seeing the worry and confusion mirrored in each other's eyes.

Why had Teague shown up so suddenly?

They hadn't told him that Madge had been found...

Could Corley have let it slip?

That was certainly possible.

Kathleen, however, upon hearing Teague's voice, froze for a moment before a sardonic smile tugged at her lips.

quicker

the hallway, into the dining room. The man wore a sharp suit with a light gray overcoat on

pour outside, and in his hurry, part of his

was as if

thought about for decades, the one who'd become his lifelong

rising to loop her arm through his. "You got here faster than I

but he did gently pull his arm

it felt brittle, like thin ice over a

you used to follow him everywhere, calling him brother. Besides our parents, he's been the one searching

was Kathleen who had

it was to show off,

was a hint of some hidden resentment, or maybe

just

had turned the once-vibrant Madge into an everyday

as soon as she heard the news, Kathleen informed

course, Teague wanted to come, too, and couldn't wait

was the woman who

have been on his way back from Frostford to Lumina

managed to get

knew right away that he had driven through the night from

that eager to see