CHAPTER ELEVEN

"Welcome home, Ava," David called, his voice carrying across the driveway.

He descended the steps with surprising agility for a man in his seventies, making his way directly to her.

Up close, the resemblance was undeniable. They shared the same high cheekbones, the same determined set of the jaw. Most strikingly, they had identical eyes, a beautiful shade of green with flecks of gold.

"Mr. Cardwell," she began, extending her hand formally, her nervousness showing in her voice.

"David, please. Or Grandfather, if you're comfortable with that." He ignored her outstretched hand and instead pulled her into a gentle embrace. "You look so much like Eleanor," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

When he released her, Ava saw moisture in his eyes. He composed himself quickly, gesturing to the people waiting on the steps.

"Allow me to introduce some of the household staff. This is Mrs.James, our housekeeper."

A plump woman with kind eyes stepped forward and curtsied slightly.

"This is Silas, our head of security." A broad-shouldered man in a subtle dark suit nodded respectfully.

"And this is Henry Jacobs, my chief advisor and right hand for the past thirty years."

A lean man with shrewd eyes and a carefully neutral expression stepped forward, extending his hand. "A pleasure to finally meet you, Ms. Cardwell. Your grandfather has spoken of little else since discovering your whereabouts."

"Thank you," Ava said, overwhelmed by the formality of it all. "It's just Ava, please."

"Why don't we get you settled?" David suggested, nodding to Thomas, who still stood next to the car.

He paused noticing the absence of luggage.

Ava noticed his gaze and gripped her handbag tightly"I...I didn't bring anything with me" She said quietly, looking up as David's hand held hers.

"Mrs. James has prepared the east wing suite for you. It has the best morning light and a view of the rose gardens."

His eyes were soft with understanding and an unspoken emotion as he led her by the hand towards the mansion.

"It has everything you need"

As they ascended the marble steps, Ava felt as if she were walking into a dream. The grand foyer opened up with soaring ceilings, a crystal chandelier hanging from above, and a sweeping staircase that curved elegantly upward.

"This is all... quite overwhelming," she admitted as they crossed the foyer, their footsteps echoing on the marble floor.

"I understand," David said gently. "It must be a lot to take in. We have plenty of time to talk about everything, your mother, your childhood, what happened between Eleanor and me."

He placed a weathered hand on her arm. "For now, get settled, rest if you need to. We'll have dinner together tonight, just the two of us, and begin to get acquainted properly."

Mrs. James led her up the staircase and through a series of corridors adorned with original artwork and antique furniture that Ava suspected were museum-worthy. Finally, they arrived at a set of double doors, which the housekeeper opened with a flourish.

"Your suite, Miss Ava," she announced.

The rooms beyond were more beautiful than any hotel Ava had ever stayed in, a sitting area with a fireplace, a bedroom with a four-poster bed draped in silk, a bathroom with a claw-foot tub that could fit three people, and a walk-in closet bigger than her first apartment.

"Mr. Cardwell had some basics brought in for you," Mrs. James explained, opening the closet to reveal several garments with price tags still attached. "But tomorrow a personal shopper will come to help you select a proper wardrobe."

"That is too much," Ava protested immediately "I can find something"

"Nonsense," the housekeeper said with a warm smile. "You're a Cardwell. This is exactly what you deserve."

Left alone in the suite, Ava sank onto the edge of the bed, trying to process the whirlwind of the day.

From serving divorce papers to arriving at a mansion as the long-lost granddaughter of one of the country's wealthiest men, it felt like the plot of a fairy tale or a soap opera, not her actual life.

She kicked off her shoes and lay back on the plush bedspread, staring at the ornate ceiling. As she did, she twisted her fingers absently, a habit formed from years of fidgeting with her wedding ring. Only now, her finger was bare, the indentation where the ring had sat still visible on her skin.

---

From his study window, David Cardwell watched as his newly discovered granddaughter disappeared into the east wing with Mrs. James. The girl looked so much like Eleanor it made his chest ache. Same determined stride, same way of tucking her hair behind her ear when nervous.

"Sir?" Henry Jacobs entered the study after a discreet knock. "Everything is proceeding as planned. Ms. Cardwell appears to be settling in."

David nodded, turning from the window. "I noticed she's not wearing a wedding ring, though she's still legally married according to our information."

"Indeed, sir. The divorce papers were just served today, from what our sources indicate."

David's eyes narrowed slightly. "I want to know everything about this Ethan McQueen. Everything. His business dealings, his personal life, why my granddaughter is divorcing him."

"I'll launch a full investigation immediately," Henry assured him. "We already have preliminary information. Would you like to review it now?"

"Not yet," David said, moving to sit behind his massive mahogany desk. "I want to get to know my granddaughter first, hear her side of things. Then we'll decide how to proceed."

Henry nodded, understanding the unspoken directive. The Cardwell family protected its own, and Ava was now under that protection, whether she realized it fully or not.

"There's something else," David added, his voice hardening. "I want to know why Eleanor kept Ava from me all these years. Someone knows the truth, and I intend to find out what happened."

"Yes, sir," Henry replied. "I'll see to it personally."

As his chief advisor left the room, David opened his desk drawer and pulled out an old photograph, himself, younger and less gray, with his arm around his daughter Eleanor at her high school graduation. The same photo he had shown Ava to prove their connection.

"I've found her, Eleanor," he whispered to the image of his long-estranged daughter. "I'll take care of her now, I promise."