Chapter 11
The caller was none other than Lucy’s daughter, Rachel. She was blatantly, disgustingly shameless.
“Listen,” Robert said coldly, cutting her off. “We’re not coming back. You’re on your own now.”
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“What?” Rachel’s tone turned panicked. “You don’t even have a son! Don’t you care who’s gonna take care of you when you’re old?”
“Worry about yourself,” Robert scoffed. “Adrian is thirty and still living off you. I wouldn’t count on him for anything.”
“You-” Rachel was so angry she couldn’t get the words out..
“Give me the phone! Let me talk to him.” Lucy’s furious voice suddenly cut in from the background. “That damn girl’s better off dead. And if she’s not, you better kick her out anyway!
“And if you dare not come back, I swear I’ll hang myself at your front door-let the whole town know it was you who drove me to it.”
“Suit yourself,” Robert said darkly, his eyes clouding over. He hung up without hesitation and blocked the number.
After Nina finished her IV, Robert and Yvonne walked out of the emergency building, one on each side supporting her.
“Nina, I’ve got a surprise for you later,” Robert said suddenly, sounding mysterious. “You won’t guess what it is.”
“Then just tell me,” Nina said, acting sweet but secretly smiling. She actually had a surprise for Robert and Yvonne too.
Yvonne gently said, “If we tell you early, it’s not really a surprise.”
Just then, an old voice came from the steps nearby. “Please, have mercy, I haven’t eaten for three days…”
It was an old man with messy hair like a bird’s nest. He wore broken sunglasses and hunched over. His worn-out clothes were soaked with sweat. He held a dented stainless steel bowl, empty inside.
“Sorry, sir. We don’t have much money either.” Robert sighed when he realized the man was blind. He pulled out 15 bucks and dropped it into the bowl. “Here’s 15 bucks. It’s hot today-buy yourself some water.”
“Thank you!” The old man’s voice cracked a little as he shakily touched the money. “Your kindness will surely be rewarded.”
‘Nina noticed the man’s clean fingernails and raised an eyebrow.
“Thanks for the blessing,” Robert smiled and started to leave with his wife and daughter.
Unexpectedly, the old man let out a strange laugh. “You don’t really think I’m joking, do you?”
The family stopped and turned around.
A man dressed as a butler, wearing a monocle and with his blond hair neatly combed, stepped out nearby. He had two long white cloths draped over his arms.
He smiled and bowed respectfully to the old man, speaking in broken Clusian, “Congratulations, Mr. Arden. You have once again found a kind soul.”
Nina’s mouth twitched involuntarily-this man was Chris.
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Chapter 11
Behind him were two men in suits, serious-faced, holding folders with badges showing the name of a law firm.
“Yes, I am very pleased about that,” the old man said with a smile. He raised his hand to let Chris help him up, then suddenly pulled off the messy wig on his head and took off his glasses.
Chris immediately draped the white cloths he was holding-a robe and a headscarf-over the old man.
“Are you from Shaloria?” Robert asked in disbelief, noticing the unusual outfit.
“Yes, I am a wealthy merchant from Shaloria,” the old man nodded and put on a jeweled ring that Chris held out to him.
“Many years ago, I wronged a girl in Clusia and lost our child,” he continued. “I regret it deeply, but no matter how hard I searched, I could not find her-and I fell seriously ill.”
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Chris then added with great effort, “One day, Mr. Arden dreamed of a god.”
Nina stayed silent.
