Chapter 464
Chapter 464:
Devin and the bodyguards stayed out of sight. Kailey quietly sent Devin a message, asking him to look into the people Caleigh’s husband had been in contact with before his death. If she had thought of investigating, Gregg surely had too. And if her husband hadn’t been alone when he discovered whatever secret it was, those people were probably keeping their heads down now. The deeper she thought about it, the more complicated it felt.
“What are you standing there for?” Caleigh asked.
Kailey looked up.
Caleigh stood by the kitchen doorway, her face unreadable. “If you’re staying for a meal, then come help p>
Kailey slipped her phone away and walked over with a smile.
She wasn’t confident in her cooking skills, so she took on whatever small tasks she could. Caleigh pushed a pile of vegetables toward her.
“There are so many,” Kailey murmured. “How are we going to finish all these?” She glanced at Caleigh, but the older woman gave no sign she had heard.
They worked side by side in silence. Kailey sorted the vegetables while Caleigh sliced the meat with steady hands.
𝗖𝗁i𝘯e𝗌е 𝘯o𝗏e𝘭𝗌 𝘁𝘳𝘢nѕ𝘭𝖺𝘵е𝖽 𝗼𝗇 ѕ.c𝗼𝗺
Most people had switched to gas stoves long ago, but some still preferred cooking over firewood for the flavor it brought. Caleigh moved to the stove and began preparing the fire. Her eyes flicked toward the celery Kailey had trimmed — the pieces uneven and rough. She clicked her tongue in disapproval.
Kailey gave an embarrassed smile. “It’ll taste the same once it’s cooked, right p>
No answer came.
When the fire finally caught, thin smoke curled upward through the chimney, and the room slowly filled with warmth.
“Come watch the fire,” Caleigh said.
“Alright.” Kailey crouched down in front of the stove.
Behind her, Caleigh rinsed the pot and scooped a spoonful of white lard from a jar. Soon, the scent of hot oil and vegetables filled the air. Smoke drifted toward Kailey’s face, making her eyes sting. “I’m okay,” she insisted, blinking back tears. “I can handle it p>
Caleigh looked at her small figure bent over the fire. For a brief moment, the corner of her mouth lifted.
By the time everything was on the table, Kailey’s cheeks were streaked with soot.
Caleigh gave her a long look. “Where are your friends? Call them in. I made too much. It shouldn’t go to waste p>
Only then did Kailey understand why there had been so many ingredients.
“Alright.” She laughed, completely unaware of how ridiculous she looked, and hurried toward the door to call Devin — missing the way Caleigh quickly turned her face aside to steady herself.
A few minutes later, Devin stepped in. The moment he saw Kailey, he stopped cold, his eyes widening.
“What are you standing there for?” she asked, thinking he felt awkward about joining them. She lowered her voice. “Mrs. Pierce agreed. She cooked a lot. You can bring the others too p>
“Sure…” Devin lifted a hand and gestured toward his own cheek. “Your face p>
“What about it?” Kailey reached up to touch her cheek, still clueless.
Before she could check properly, her phone lit up. Kyson was calling through video.
Devin noticed and grinned. “I’ll go help Mrs. Pierce. You answer that p>
“Why is he acting so strange?” Kailey muttered as she accepted the call.
The camera turned on. For a split second, she thought the screen had glitched. Then Kyson’s low laugh came through clearly.