That was until Minnie Garrison’s disappearance. Everything changed. This shift was closely linked to the fact that the elderly couple had been living abroad for a long time.

Thinking of his aunt, who was still missing and whose fate remained uncertain, Sam couldn’t help but glance at the elderly pair. If she was never found, that regret would probably stay with them until their final days.

“Sam, I’m a little thirsty,” his grandmother suddenly said.

“Grandma, please wait a moment. I’ll go get some water,” Sam responded before turning to Miranda. “Are you busy right now?”

“Not really. Is there something I can help with?” Miranda asked.

“Could you keep my grandparents company for a bit while I go get the water?” Sam requested.

“Or I could go buy it,” Miranda offered; she had come down for water anyway.

Sam shook his head. “Grandma has a delicate constitution and only drinks a specific brand of alkaline water. They don’t have it nearby; I need to go to the imported goods supermarket across the street.”

“I see… Alright then, go ahead. I’ll stay here with your grandparents. Don’t worry,” Miranda assured him.

“Thank you,” Sam said before heading off.

Sam’s grandmother, Fiona Fleming, took Miranda’s hand and gently guided her to sit beside her. “Dear child, Sam said you two are friends. How did you meet?”

“Um… we met through a mutual friend,” Miranda answered.

Hansel could be loosely described as that “mutual friend.”

“Ah, I see… It’s rare for him to make friends with ladies. You’re the first one!” Fiona said with a smile.

Miranda thought to herself that it was only because Fiona hadn’t seen how often Sam used to change girlfriends as casually as changing clothes.

“It’s been so long since we came back, and everything’s changed so much…” Aren said with a touch of nostalgia.

Sensing the emotion in his voice, Miranda began talking about the recent changes in Elgerson over the past few years.

As she spoke about the city with ease and familiarity, Aren asked, “Are you from around here?”

Miranda shook her head. “I grew up in Lumberville. Do you know Lumberville? It’s in the southern hills, with distinct seasons, mountains, and water…”

Her vivid description slowly brought back Aren’s fading memories. “Lumberville, yes, I’ve been there in my younger days. If I get the chance, I’d like to visit again.”

As the head of the Garrison family, Aren still held an air of authority despite his age and the fact that he had handed over most of the business to professional managers.

Usually, younger folks would avoid even making eye contact with him, let alone chat comfortably. But Miranda seemed unbothered, treating the couple like any other elderly folks.

“Young lady, how old are you?” Fiona asked as she shifted her gaze to Miranda.

Miranda answered her questions one by one.

Fiona continued asking more, like who was in Miranda’s family and where she worked.

Miranda noticed there was no ill intent in Fiona’s questions. Even so, since they had only just met, she kept her answers brief and guarded, sharing only the basics.

Aren found it surprising that his wife was talking so much that day.

Fiona seemed to sense the caution in Miranda’s brief replies and offered a gentle smile. “I hope you don’t mind me asking so much…

“It’s just that your voice sounds very familiar, as if I’ve heard it somewhere before… That’s why I asked more questions.”

Miranda noticed that Fiona’s eyesight seemed poor; her gaze wasn’t focused when she looked at people, but she could likely still perceive shadows and shapes.

Her guess was correct–Fiona could only see a blurry outline of Miranda and could not distinguish her specific features.

Despite that, there was something about Miranda’s voice that stirred a sense of familiarity in Fiona’s mind, a feeling that filled her with an unexplainable warmth and affection.

It was as if she were talking to a member of her own family.