Chapter 51: Dawn Had Barely Broken

Dawn had barely broken when the village bus stop was already crowded. The early bus was the only transportation to town—missing it meant a sixty-mile trek on foot through mountainous terrain.

Elena Ward adjusted her small bundle when she heard someone call her name.

"Elena, where are you off to so early?" Helen Reed approached, pulling her daughter Emily along, her face warm with a friendly smile.

"Auntie, I'm visiting my Grace in town," Elena said, lifting her bundle slightly. "And I need to send my brother Daniel a telegram about my university acceptance letter."

Helen's eyes lit up. "Oh, what wonderful news! Grace will be thrilled to see you. Tomorrow, I'll have Martin put up the honor roll so the whole village knows we've got a university student among us!"

Just then, Mayor Martin Reed lowered his voice. "Isn’t that Vanessa? Wrapped in a scarf in this heat, sneaking around like a thief."

Elena followed his gaze and spotted a figure in a floral scarf pushing onto the bus—Vanessa, unmistakable in her furtive movements.

"Vanessa!" Helen clapped a hand on her shoulder. "Where are you off to?"

Vanessa jumped, her face pale beneath the scarf. "I—I'm visiting Grandma..."

"If you're visiting family, why skulk around?" Helen teased.

Vanessa stammered, her eyes darting toward Elena. Then, as if struck by inspiration, she brightened.

"Elena, I heard you're visiting Grace?" Vanessa sidled closer, her smile artificial. "I haven’t seen her in ages. Why don’t we go together?"

Elena suppressed a cold laugh. After yesterday’s disgrace, Vanessa suddenly wanted to visit family? Clearly, she was plotting something.

"Sure," Elena agreed cheerfully. "Company on the road would be nice."

Helen nodded approvingly. "That’s more like family."

As the bus rumbled to life, Elena glimpsed Vanessa through the window, gripping her clothes with white-knuckled intensity, her gaze dark. Elena allowed herself a small smirk—if Vanessa wanted to play games, she’d play along.

Vanessa’s mind churned with venomous schemes. Once they reached Grace’s home, she’d expose Elena’s true origins in front of everyone. Let’s see if Grace would still dote on this bastard then!

Dust swirled behind the wheels as the two girls—each harboring their own secrets—set off on the same journey.