Chapter 229 - Katherine Young is coming home.

October 30

It's been a few days since Katherine, Styles, and Amelia had been collaborating, trying to figure out how they were going to go about their plan of making Katherine's grand entrance less risky. No matter how they look at it, there were a lot of pros and cons.

For the past several years since Amelia escaped Shadow, it hasn't been easy for her. She was intelligent, but a one-man army couldn't take the organization all by herself. Bringing down Shadow was a goal that she was hoping to achieve but dying before realizing this goal was just plain stupid because then all of her sacrifices would just be worthless.

Amelia had managed to live in hiding for so many years while keeping small tabs on Shadow at the same time. On the day that it was bombed, she happened to be very near and that's when she met Styles. At first, she was only going to extract information from him but after their encounter, everything changed.

She believed that it was fate to meet Styles… that it was fate to know Katherine… and it was fate that Katherine and Damien were entangled in ways more than one.

It was only the three of them now, but this group was stronger than she was when she was still alone. For the first time in many years, she could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Katherine and Amelia have grown closer since the first day they met. Their conversations were mostly limited to their future plans, as they both knew which topics they should avoid discussing together. It was more of a sore spot with Katherine than with Amelia but the latter still understood not to pry.

Katherine's endless questions were left at that… only questions to herself. Perhaps she was afraid to talk about it… or perhaps she wished that not talking about it was going to be easier.

Getting to know Amelia taught her one thing – that she was human, which was easily forgotten back when she was still in Shadow. For the years that she had been training in Shadow, she was taught to only listen to orders and to execute orders to the T. She became a soldier. She was taught to suppress her emotions and to act perfectly according to disguise.

Which was why it was difficult for Katherine to process her extremely overwhelming emotions. Yes, she may have lived without Shadow for the past five years without her memories but she was still alone and lost. She was still dependant on something. 

She could be stubborn but most times — she was better to follow leaders than to lead followers.

Now, her identity was making it hard for her. She hadn't lived as Katherine Young since she was twelve. How was she supposed to become herself when she doesn't even know who she was?

Who is the real Katherine Young?

This was scary for her, but this wasn't enough to cause her to turn her back. Now, she was going to have the chance to reinvent herself… and maybe save the world in the process.

Maybe that's too far-fetched… She probably has to start saving the city first, then the country.

Whatever it was, Katherine promised herself that she was going to play her part as best as she possibly could. 

Her eyes landed on Styles and Amelia, her small smile forming on her face as she realized something – at least now she wasn't alone.

"Do you remember what Chris told you when he saved you that night? Why did he bring you to an orphanage instead of your grandfather? Also… where was this orphanage?" Amelia asked as Katherine settled on the sofa.

Katherine shifted her gaze to the side, thinking back to the time when Chris brought her out of the woods. "It was a really long time ago… And I honestly don't remember what orphanage it was because I fell asleep on the way there. But I know that it was a long drive. He did mention something about not contacting anyone if I want to keep them out of danger… It was as if he knew something. But when he took me out of the orphanage years later, I asked him about it and he just told me it wasn't safe, and that it was all he could tell me."

"So, Chris might know who really sent the order…" Styles muttered.

"You think so too, huh?" Katherine thought for a second before she continued, "You know, I dodged his men for two months already. I think he knows something is up if they hadn't found me yet. What if… I draw him out?"

Amelia flicked her fingers, "I was going to suggest the same thing. The only good thing about drawing Chris out is that he wouldn't report this back to Shadow. It will save us from an unexpected ambush. But… knowing how Chris is capable of doing anything just to save you, he might get to you asap."

"We can't let that happen before I go out there. Who knows what he will do?" Katherine got up and grabbed her phone.

"Who are you calling?" asked Styles.

"Grandpa," she muttered while dialing her grandfather's number.

As usual, her phone call went through on the first ring. It made her smile but only briefly as she had more pressing matters to discuss with the old man.

"I promise I will not announce your return. It will only be kept to very close people," Chairman Young said as soon as he answered the call.

Katherine wanted to laugh but she suppressed it, she forgot how cute her grandfather could be. "Grandpa… actually, I need you to ask you a favor."

The sound of papers shuffling in the background was heard. "Oh? What is it? Tell me, and I will make sure to do as you wish."

"Grandpa… I want a huge celebration for my return. Send invitations. Let's do it on the 3rd of November."

"But… I thought you didn't want a big crowd? And pumpkin, that's four days from now… However, it doesn't mean that I can't make it happen. Of course, I can! But are you sure this is what you want?"

Katherine wasn't sure, but this was for the best. Breathing in deeply, she nodded her head despite knowing that her grandfather wouldn't see her and said, "Yes. The more the merrier, right? I will tell you more when I come back tomorrow."

She heard her grandfather gasp from the other end of the line. 

"Really?! You're really coming home tomorrow? Oh, that's fantastic!" Chairman Young exclaimed, his voice evident with joy and excitement.

Katherine swallowed, and in a clear tone, she answered, "That's right, Grandpa, I am... Katherine Young is coming home."