Chapter 394
How could anyone describe Isabella that way?
Sophia was intrigued.
Isaac chuckled and shook his head.
"Your mother seems quiet now, but she was quite the troublemaker as a child."
"Climbing trees for birds, wading into streams for fish—she did it all."
Sophia's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"The sixty-eight railings along the covered walkways in Atlante Gardens were added later."
"Because of my mother?"
Isaac lowered his voice.
"To prevent her from jumping into the ornamental ponds to catch fish."
Sophia was speechless.
She couldn't picture Isabella ever being like that.
"Surprised?"
Sophia shook her head.
"It's unbelievable."
Isaac laughed heartily.
"I'll show you your mother's childhood photos later."
"We kept them all. Plenty of evidence."
Sophia's eyes lit up.
"Can we go now?"
The old man nodded happily.
"Of course!"
Grandfather and granddaughter headed eagerly upstairs.
Sebastian returned to the living room after his call.
It was empty.
He searched the first floor twice.
Finally, he entered the kitchen.
"Grandma, where are Grandpa and Sophia?"
"They were just in the living room."
"I don't see them."
Florence wiped her hands.
"Maybe they went somewhere else. Let them be."
"Aren't you working late? Head to the office."
Sebastian didn't move.
"I'm not busy."
Florence looked at him curiously.
The housekeeper had just mentioned work calls coming in on the landline.
Before Sebastian could search further, Isaac and Sophia came downstairs.
Florence emerged from the kitchen.
The family settled on the sofa to look through the photo album.
"This is your mother right after she was born. Six pounds, eight ounces…"
"This one at three years old. Her great-aunt Deborah gave her her first pair of high heels…"
The album documented Isabella's growth.
Every photo was filled with memories.
After Isabella disappeared, the album pages remained blank.
But it became Florence's solace, a way to remember her daughter.
The cover was worn, clearly from frequent handling.
Sophia turned to the last page and made a soft sound of surprise.
Florence smiled.
"Found it? That's you as a child."
Placed alongside photos of Isabella from the same age.
Florence gently traced the image with her finger.
"Don't you look alike?"
Before Sophia returned to her city, Florence had specifically asked for her photo.
"Your mother had a mole here. It faded as she grew up."
"You have the exact same spot."
Florence couldn't stop talking about Isabella.
Sophia had always thought she resembled her father.
But seeing the photos, she realized she looked like her mother too.
"Grandma, could I have this one?"
She wanted to take it back as a keepsake.
Florence nodded with a smile.
"Of course."
She removed the photo and watched Sophia carefully put it away.
The laugh lines around Florence's eyes deepened.
"The weather is nice. Shall we take a walk in the garden?"
"Sure, I didn't get a good look earlier."
Florence's back often ached, making prolonged sitting uncomfortable.
Sophia had been wanting to stroll with her.
The sky was a pale gray-blue.
Sunlight occasionally broke through the clouds.
Green was rare in Kyoto's deep winter.
But the Atlante garden was different.
Lush flowers and plants thrived in the glass greenhouse.
Creating the most vibrant colors of the season.
Gardening was Florence's favorite pastime.
She had initially lost interest.
Isaac built this garden to distract her.
From initial reluctance, she gradually grew fond of it.
Florence put on her gloves and knelt to weed.
Sophia helped prune branches and loosen soil around the plants.
Florence glanced at her.
Her movements were skilled, clearly experienced with plants.
She also knew about plant needs and proper watering.
"Sophia, you're not just a good student. You have a green thumb too."
Few young people had such patience nowadays.
"You're the one with the green thumb, Grandma. I'm just helping."
The trailing jasmine at their feet was flourishing.
It would be even lovelier soon.
Florence shook her head with a smile.
"You always know just what to say to make me happy."
"It's the truth."
"Look at this rose. It's blooming like a cabbage…"
Sophia frowned at the overly full rose.
Then she laughed at herself.
Florence joined in the laughter.
She looked at Sophia with tender eyes.
As if seeing Isabella through her.
Lost time, regained in another form.
…
Florence and Sophia spent an hour in the garden.
Seeing Florence tired, Sophia helped her back to her room to rest.
Before going upstairs, Florence called for Sebastian.
She took Sophia's hand.
"Your room is upstairs. Sebastian prepared it himself."
"Let him show you."
With that, Florence and Isaac went upstairs to rest.
Only Sophia and Sebastian remained in the living room.
He broke the silence.
"It's on the second floor, left side. Want to see it?"
"Okay. Thank you."
Sophia followed him upstairs.
Sebastian spoke as they walked.
"It's a suite with a balcony."
"It faces the garden greenhouse. Nice view."
He didn't tell Sophia.
He had chosen this room for her.
He thought she would like it.
"Here we are."
After a few steps, they stopped at a door.