FLASH MARRIAGE; CHARMED BY THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE CEO-Chapter 381: Family Gathering–A Surprise Visit
In the days following Nana Shawl's quiet departure from the world, the extended branches of the Shawl family tree began to gather—coming from near and far to pay their final respects to the woman who had, in one way or another, shaped them all.
The mansion grounds, once echoing with her soft wisdom and warm presence, now braced itself for the solemnity of the impending funeral.
All were present—except those locked away behind prison bars, still unaware of the matriarch's passing—and one other conspicuous absence: Matt's family.
To most of the Shawls, Lillian and her children were long presumed dead, lost in the ashes of Matt's unforgivable betrayal.
Only Gregory and his son-in-law, Blaze, carried the secret flame of truth—that Lillian, her children, and her elderly parents had been granted a second chance at life. Far away from Salvine City. Far from Matt's poisoned shadow.
Though Lillian longed to return and stand by her grandmother-in-law's grave, her heart knew better. As long as Matt still drew breath, she and her children remained in danger. The price of peace was invisibility.
Elsewhere, another soul found her way back home.
Harriet had returned to Salvine City after disappearing briefly with her children—needing time, space, and silence to heal.
The truth of her husband's betrayal had cut deep, exposing not just infidelity, but a web of deceit woven by women she once trusted as sisters.
With grief behind her and resolve in her bones, Harriet returned with a new purpose: to live as though widowed and to rebuild what could still be saved. She was ready, at last, to make peace with Gregory and, if the moment came, ask Amelia for forgiveness.
Back at the island, after a lengthy deliberation, Blaze finally agreed for Amelia to grace her grandmother's funeral.
Taking the morning flight, Blaze made the journey home, with Amelia and his mother beside him–and doctor Venessa in case of an emergency.
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It was a hauntingly calm evening.
Dusk had descended like a velvet shroud over the Shawls estate, wrapping the world in a hush that felt sacred.
The air was crisp with the breath of twilight, and stars began to bloom in the deepening indigo sky—twinkling like silent confessions whispered to the heavens.
Golden light from the mansion cast a soft, glow over marble pathways and perfectly trimmed lawns.
The quiet murmur of distant laughter floated in the air—family and friends scattered across the grounds, savoring the rare peace that had settled after days of mourning.
But then, a sound, low at first—a faint murmur from the distance disrupted the peace.
Heads lifted. Conversations ceased. Glasses paused mid-air.
The whirring grew louder, sharper—rotor blades slicing through the silence like a blade through silk.
Something was coming. Or someone. And the air shifted with tension so thick, it tightened around the heart.
The helicopter's silhouette emerged against the starlit sky like an omen, descending fast.
"Who could that be?" Gregory muttered, his brows furrowing as unease began to stir. His gaze scanned the estate in search of Henry and his head of security.
"Greg, are we expecting someone else?" Judith's voice came from behind, carrying a tray of oven-baked barbecue chicken, her eyes narrowing toward the night sky.
"No…" Gregory's voice was taut with uncertainty as he finally spotted Henry moving swiftly toward the landing site, flanked by two guards. "...But I think Henry knows who it is."
Judith squinted as the helicopter door swung open. "Is that... Amelia's husband?"
Gregory's breath caught in his throat. "Yes."
Blaze stepped down first—tall, confident—his right hand extended in anticipation. And then, she appeared.
A glowing silhouette in a flowing lavender maternity dress, her presence soft yet commanding. It was Amelia.
And behind her, a stately older woman followed—Maria, her mother-in-law.
Judith gasped. The tray slipped from her hands, forgotten on a nearby table.
"Oh my God!"
"Is that—?"
"Amelia!" Judith shouted, tears already springing to her eyes as she broke into a run.
Someone else cried out across the lawn, "It's Amelia!" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
Gregory stood frozen, his body suddenly too heavy to move, too full of emotion to function. This content is hosted at M|V|LE^MPYR.
They had spoken earlier that day—Amelia hadn't mentioned she was coming. Not for the funeral. Not at all. And now, here she was, radiant and alive, a living balm to his shattered heart.
"My sweet angel," Judith sobbed as she threw herself into her niece's arms.
"I've missed you so much, Aunt Judy." Amelia wept into her shoulder, her voice trembling.
"Me too, my darling."
"Cousin Amelia!" came Sarah's voice, clear and soft, slicing through the noise as she joined the embrace.
"Easy, ladies," Maria said with a playful laugh. "You'll crush my grandson if you keep squeezing her like that."
Judith laughed through her tears and pulled back to greet Maria, but her eyes never strayed far from Amelia.
"Doesn't anyone miss me too?" Blaze teased, folding his arms with a mock pout.
"Don't worry, I've got you, bro," Henry grinned, embracing him as laughter rippled again through the gathering.
What had been a still, solemn night just moments ago had transformed—now brimming with warmth, joy, and quiet redemption.
The family—at least those with clean consciences—gathered eagerly, ready to welcome back the one true daughter of Gregory Shawls, the shining light long cast aside.
"Dad…" Amelia turned, arms outstretched as Gregory approached, his eyes glistening.
"You didn't tell me you were coming," he whispered as he pulled her close, gripping her as though she might vanish again.
"I wanted to surprise you," she whispered back, covering his face with kisses.
She paused, searching his face—now etched with grief, the strong lines softened by sorrow. The stoic forehead she remembered now sagged with the wear of loss.
"Thank you for coming, my princess," Gregory murmured, pressing his lips to her forehead. "Now that you're here... I feel whole again."
"Me too, Daddy." Amelia buried her face in his shoulder, breathing in the scent of home.
"Thank you, son, for bringing her back to me." Gregory turned to Blaze, still holding onto his daughter.
"It's the least I could do for my father-in-law." Blaze nodded respectfully.
From a distance, Harriet watched. She didn't blink.
She couldn't. Her heart squeezed until it ached.
Tears slid down her cheeks—not tears of joy, but of remorse and regret.
She had helped turn the family against this woman. Had stood by, silent and complicit, while they tore Amelia down.
And now, watching her surrounded by love, by light, Harriet knew the bitter truth: Amelia had always meant well. Even when the family cast her as the villain, she had never stopped loving them.
"Mom…" Claudia's voice pierced her thoughts.
"Yes, my dear." Harriet wiped her tears and turned to her youngest daughter.
"Why can't we go say hi to big cousin Amelia? Is she also bad like cousin Gwen?"
"Claudia—" Elsie tried to hush her younger sister.
But Harriet raised a hand gently. "Let her speak, Elsie." She pulled Claudia into her arms, her voice soft but broken.
"No, my darling. Amelia is not bad. She has never been. She has a kind and beautiful heart—nothing like Gwen's. But... we can't go to her right now because... because Mommy has hurt her. I've said and done terrible things I need to make right."
She glanced at all three of her children, her voice quaking with grief.
"After I speak to her tomorrow—and ask for her forgiveness—we can all go to her together."
