Chapter 357

Ashton, feeling a little embarrassed, asked, "Mrs. Lycan, it's already such an

honor for you to visit us, and yet you've brought such expensive gifts? We really can't accept this."

Emily smiled softly, "These are just small gifts, and you deserve them. If you like them, I'll be happy."

Emily meant it-Carla had done so much for the Lycan family.

"Then... then quickly, quickly, let's prepare some snacks for Madam. I'm sure you must be hungry after coming all the way here," Ashton urged, and Maisie hurried off to prepare.

Emily quickly waved her hand. "No need. I'll just stay for a bit and then leave."

Her words hinted that she wouldn't stay long, so the Shepherd family stopped insisting. They understood that perhaps Emily wasn't used to their home-cooked meals, and pressing her would do no good.

At that point, Skyler had already made sure Carla was comfortable, so Emily walked into Carla's room.

Although Carla appeared a little pale, her spirits were still high. Seeing Emily, Carla tried to get up to greet her, but Emily gently stopped her.

Emily asked with concern about Carla's health and reassured her to rest and recover, stating that once she was better, she was welcome to return to work at any time. She also made it clear that Carla's salary would continue to be paid during her illness.

Carla was eternally grateful for this.

After that, Emily brought up a topic. "Carla, I wanted to ask you something. Do you remember the key to Nic's room?"

Carla nodded. "Of course I remember. I've kept that key safe and always with me."

Emily's expression grew serious as she continued, "Have you ever given it to anyone? Because a few days ago, someone found an identical key somewhere else, so I wanted to ask you about it."

Carla's face immediately tensed, "I never gave it to anyone, Mrs. Lycan, I assure you. I've always kept it safe, never leaving it lying around."

Saying this, Carla quickly called her husband over. Ashtonthen retrieved a small locked safe from the drawer. Opening it, inside, besides some valuables, was the key to Nicholas' room.

Emily couldn't help but feel moved by how carefully Carla had taken care of the key. This key was incredibly important to Emily, and to see that Carla had treasured it so much, even storing it in a safe, made Emily admire her attention to detail. It also assured her that the key had not been passed on by Carla.

With the Shepherd family's enthusiastic escort, Emily left.

As she sat in the car on her way back, Emily's brow furrowed, deep in thought about the key's origin. She never took her own key off her person, and the fact that it appeared in Nicholas' room meant it had never been brought there. Carla had kept the key so securely-so where had this other key come from?

Her heart raced with a growing sense of unease.

Back at the Lycan Estate, Emily examined the key again, her mind filled with confusion. Where did this key come from? How had it ended up in distant Alnewgo? And it was gold-plated too?

There had originally been only three gold-plated keys-one for her, one for Quintis, and one for their son. The one Carla kept had to be Quintis'.

As Emily pondered, she suddenly noticed something on the key-it was engraved with three letters that read, "Nic".

Emily immediately rubbed her eyes in disbelief. No, she wasn't seeing things. The letters on the key were indeed "Nic".