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.

arrived quicker than

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

to pour outside, and in his

eyes locked onto Madge. It was as if the rest of the world faded away, leaving

for decades, the

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

respond or shift his gaze, but he did gently pull his arm free

smile grew even brighter, though it felt brittle, like thin ice over a deep

brother. Besides our parents, he's been the one searching high and low for you all these years. He's been quite the brother-in-law, hasn't

Kathleen who

to

there was a hint of some hidden resentment,

just

see how life had turned

heard the news, Kathleen

wanted to come, too,

the woman who had occupied his thoughts for

way back from Frostford to Lumina City, but

had managed to get here

right away that he had driven through the night

he that eager to see