Chapter 567


    Hearing Valerie call her "Mom," Chloe was ovee with joy and tears. She embraced Valerie tightly, sobbing with heartfelt emotion. "Sarah, you''re finally back. I''ve missed you so much. I was so upset every day that I couldn''t eat or sleep. They said I was ill, but I knew it wasn''t true. I was missing you too much!"


    Chloe cried uncontrobly. After her husband died and Sarah went missing, shepletely broke down, suffering severe emotional trauma. This torment had left her in such a state. However, her obsession over the years made her hold on to the hope that Sarah would eventually return.


    As Chloe held Valerie tightly, she let out all the grievances and sadness she had umted over the years. Valerie, embracing her, gently patted her back and said, "Mom, I missed you so much, too. Let''s go sit down, okay?" Valerie gently wiped away Chloe''s tears as she spoke. Olivia looked at Valerie with deep gratitude and said, "Valerie, thank you. She''s just been missing Sarah so much."


    Matthew said, "There''s no need to thank Mrs. Anderson. It''s New Year, so let''s not cry. Let''s focus on setting things up instead!" Matthew noticed that the Anderson home was stark andcked any New Year''s atmosphere, unlike his home, which had been prepared early with plenty of holiday lights. The Anderson home was indeed too quiet and lonely.


    Valerie noticed the festive paper nearby and suggested, "Let''s make some window decorations together."


    Matthew asked with curiosity, "You know how to make window decorations?"


    "Although I''m not skilled at it, I can manage simple patterns. There are tutorials online. After I cut them, you can help me stick them up," Valerie said. Chloe took the festive paper and scissors and brought them over. "Sarah, when you were little, you always used to ask me to cut out window decorations for the New Year. I haven''t done it in many years, and my skills have gotten rusty. But it''s a good chance to do it again. I''ll teach you."


    Valerie felt on the verge of tears when she heard Chloe''s words. Seeing Chloe, she couldn''t shake the feeling of a deep familiarity, as if they had known each other before. Chloe seemed equally dependent on her, holding her hand tightly and insisting that she sit beside her, teaching her step- by-step how to cut out the window decorations.


    Olivia, observing the easy rapport between them, couldn''t help but feel that it was a stroke of fate. If Valerie and she had clicked right away, seeing her bond so well with Chloe made her realize their connection was genuinely profound.


    The Anderson household felt livelier with Valerie''s arrival. Olivia quickly called for Leon and the servants to bring the food, asking, "Have you two eaten yet?"


    Valerie quickly waved her hand and said, "Mrs. Anderson, we''ve already eaten. How about you?"


    "Today, we just had a casual meal for the New Year. Bring the seafood chowder over for Valerie and some coffee."


    Leon handled it, and Valerie smiled, saying, "Thank you, Mrs. Anderson, for being so considerate!"


    "You all came all this way to visit me on New Year. A bowl of seafood chowder is nothing special.


    "Matthew, don''t you need to ring in the New Year?"


    "Returning home will give us the perfect opportunity to ring in the New Year," Matthew replied sinctly. Valerie looked at Chloe, who was now quietly focused on cutting window decorations, her demeanor much calmer than when they first arrived.


    Valerie felt a deep sense of


    empathy. A mother''s heart must be devastated to lose her child, leading


    to such anguish. Now, seeing Chloe''s quiet demeanor, she wondered if she would resume her distress once they left. It seemed unbearably lonely for Olivia to be alone, and she couldn''t help but think that Owen''s absence during the New Year was incredibly disappointing.


    At that moment, someone informed Owen about the visit. While driving, he was infuriated to learn that Matthew and Valerie had gone to the Anderson family. He immediately began to curse and rant in the car.


    "They''re sticking their noses where they don''t belong! Why do they have to show up during the New Year? Now they know I''m not home, leaving mom all alone. They''re always trying to get in my way!"


    Owen''s wife frowned tightly, "Then don''t go. It''s so cold outside, and with the traffic during the New Year, what time will it be by the time you get back? Endure it; just let them talk."


    "Exactly, you''re already halfway there!" Maliah added, displeased. "It''s the middle of winter; why make such a fuss? It''s just New Year. She''s not alone there are plenty of servants at home."


    Owen disagreed, "That''s not


    eptable. have to go back


    because Valerie and Matthew are there. Otherwise, people might think


    I


    vend


    I have no rtionship with my mom. Everyone else is spending the New Year with their families, and can''t leave her alone at home!


    "Letting it get out would beThis content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    embarrassing. If they hadn''te, we could have left without a second thought, but I can''t stay away since they''re here and have seen


    everything. I''d be giving people something to talk about!" Owen vented his frustration and continued, "Damn it, it''s so annoying Why did they have toe now, of all times? Why couldn''t theye earlier orter?"


    His wife rolled her eyes and remarked, "They''re just like busybodies sticking their noses into everything. These two are hard to deal with!" "Who says otherwise? If it weren''t for us, we would have arrived long ago. Let''s head back!" He abruptly turned the steering wheel and drove back. When they arrived at the Anderson family, it was already veryte.


    Upon seeing the brightly lit house and the sounds ofughter inside, Valerie''sughter seemed especially grating to him.