Hearing Sarah Shelby’s words, Clara Grant smiled and said, "I know. His mom came around and decided to keep him with her, and I’m happy for him. I’m just a little sad I didn’t get to see him one last time before he went back to the U.S.A."

After she spoke, she turned and gave Sarah Shelby a deliberately casual shrug. "Let’s go."

Sarah Shelby nodded and walked ahead. Clara Grant followed, and just as they were leaving, she couldn’t resist one last, wistful glance at the children’s outfit.

But just as her gaze shifted back, a vaguely familiar figure near the checkout counter caught her eye.

Her eyes quickly darted back. The person seemed to be paying at the counter. Clara Grant whispered in disbelief, "Miss Shaw?"

She thought she must be seeing things, so she blinked hard. When she looked again, she was sure of it. That woman was Cherie’s mother.

Although they had only met once, Clara remembered her very clearly because it had been her first major order from outside The Nymphaea, and a very large one at that.

’But hadn’t she already taken Cherie back to the U.S.A? Why would she be here now?’

Filled with questions, Clara Grant found herself changing direction and walking toward the checkout counter. Seeing Cherie’s mother pick up her bagged clothes and prepare to leave, Clara quickly called out, "Miss Shaw."

The woman, however, acted as if she hadn’t heard. Without the slightest reaction, she just kept walking, bag in hand.

Clara Grant quickened her pace and hurried after her. "Miss Shaw, wait! Miss Shaw..."

Sarah Shelby, who had been walking ahead, heard her friend’s voice and turned around. She was startled to see Clara already quite far off in another direction and quickly broke into a run to catch up.

Clara Grant noticed that Cherie’s mother hadn’t been walking fast at first. But after she called out a few times, not only did the woman fail to turn around, she actually seemed to speed up.

By the time Clara Grant followed her out the door and took a few more steps in pursuit, Cherie’s mother had already been swallowed by the crowd and was nowhere to be seen.

Sarah Shelby finally caught up, grabbing her arm. "What’s wrong, Clara?" she asked, a mix of curiosity and concern in her voice. "What are you looking for?"

"Miss Shaw. I’m looking for Miss Shaw," Clara replied anxiously, still craning her neck to scan the crowd for any sign of Cherie’s mother.

"Miss Shaw? Who’s Miss Shaw?" Sarah Shelby asked, confused.

"Cherie’s mother," Clara said, continuing to walk forward with a frown. "I’m sure I saw her. How could she disappear in the blink of an eye?"

"Clara, didn’t you say she’d already taken Cherie back to the U.S.A.? Are you sure you weren’t mistaken?" Sarah Shelby’s eyes also scanned the surrounding crowd.

Sarah’s words made Clara begin to doubt herself. ’Did I really see wrong? But the resemblance was uncanny... and it’s not like I was hallucinating.’

’But what if that really was Cherie’s mother? Seth Quinn said she’d taken Cherie back to the U.S.A long ago, so why would she be here now?’

Unwilling to give up, Clara Grant kept walking and scanning the area, calling out "Miss Shaw" every so often.

Meanwhile, the so-called "Miss Shaw"—Jenna Quinn—had already made it back to the cafe. She quickly sat down and was about to say something when she saw Clara Grant heading right for them.

She immediately leaned over and grabbed the menu from the table, using it to hide her and Autumn Shelby’s faces. Pointing to a random drink to cover her actions, she gave a dry laugh. "This one looks good, doesn’t it? I bet it’s delicious..."

As she spoke, she snuck a peek outside from behind the menu. Seeing this, Autumn Shelby also tried to peer out, only to be yanked back down by Jenna Quinn.