Chapter 158

Vivian rushed over at Evelyn's call and spotted an emerald-green carved jade lying in the deep pit.

She picked it up, wiping away the dirt to inspect it more closely.

The jade glowed with a vivid translucence, flawless in its purity. Its surface felt cool against her fingertips.

The intricate carvings told her this was no ordinary artifact—it was a treasure beyond measure.

Evelyn frowned at the discovery. "This is odd. How could something so valuable be buried here all this time? Did someone sneak in and hide it after the Lockhart family fell?"

Vivian's brow furrowed as she studied the jade's markings.

Something about the pattern tugged at her memory.

"I don't think so."

Evelyn shook her head firmly. "I've guarded this place day and night. No one could've gotten past me. And why would anyone bury priceless jade in another's backyard?"

Vivian nodded.

Evelyn was meticulous. If the soil had been disturbed, she would've noticed.

That left only one possibility—this jade had been here for years, hidden in plain sight.

"Evelyn, this design feels familiar, but I can't place it. Do you recognize it?"

"Let me see."

Evelyn adjusted her glasses, peering closely.

After a moment, her eyes widened. "I've seen this before! The quilt you were wrapped in as a baby—the lining had this exact embroidery. A fusion of phoenix and spider lilies!"

Vivian's breath caught.

Her photographic memory confirmed it. She'd glimpsed that quilt while packing her mother's belongings. It now lay safely in a keepsake box, one she carried everywhere.

"If this belonged to Mrs. Lockhart, why bury it here instead of passing it down?" Evelyn mused.

"I don't know. But it's important—I need to keep it safe."

Vivian clenched the jade, resolve hardening. She had to compare it to the quilt's embroidery for answers.

But when she opened the box, the quilt was gone.

Her stomach dropped. "This doesn't make sense. I know I put it here."

Had she left it at Sunrise Heights? Or Blackwood Estate?

Either way, retrieving it meant returning to one of those places—and facing memories she'd rather avoid.

Brushing dirt from her clothes, Vivian turned to Evelyn. "I need to go out. Don't wait lunch for me."

"Where are you headed, Miss Viv? Should I come with you?"

Evelyn's voice held a tremor. After years of waiting like a ghost in the shadows, she feared losing Vivian again.

"I'll be back by evening."

Vivian slipped into a loose lavender dress and canvas shoes, pulling her hair into a high ponytail. The casual look made her seem like any other college student.

She headed straight for Sunrise Heights. Though she'd moved out, the penthouse was still legally hers—Nathaniel had bought it in her name.

Hoping to avoid Nathaniel, she planned to be in and out in ten minutes.

But fate had other plans.

The elevator doors opened—and there he stood.