Chapter 5
When they got back to the Adler family home, the day was still young. It was a weekday, so Kelvin was getting ready to head out for work.
The maid quickly ran after him, handing him a cup of coffee. After that, she swiftly cleared the breakfast table and, with the help of another servant, brought out the breakfast that had been prepared.
Maybe because she’d been told in advance, the maid took Yvonne’s presence in the house like it was no big deal–just the way it should be.
Yvonne sat quietly at the table, chewing on her bread without saying a word.
When she was done eating, she quietly leaned over to Jeremy and softly asked, “Brother, is it just us here?”
Jeremy shook his head. “No, you’ve got three other brothers, too. But right now, it’s just me and the third brother at home. The others aren’t here”
The family setup was simple and easy to remember–no confusion there.
After hearing that, Yvonne raised her soft, pale face and asked in her sweet, innocent voice, “What about the third brother? Can I meet him?”
Jeremy paused for a second, his hand hanging by his side. His lips pressed into a thin line, and his eyes darkened. “He isn’t feeling well. He’s resting.”
Yvonne nodded, understanding. But when she saw him preparing to leave, she stood up, eyes filled with reluctance as she looked at him.
At the right moment, the maid brought over his school jacket, which Jeremy grabbed and held in his hands.
He looked down at her and said patiently. “I’m heading to school now. I won’t be back until tonight. Don’t go running around the house, okay?
“Lillian will take you to your room once she’s done. Be good and wait for me.”
Yvonne, still new to the house, clung to her brother, but she understood that she couldn’t hold him up. She quickly stepped aside, making room for him. “Got it, Jeremy. I’ll wait for you.”
Seeing how obedient she was, Jeremy’s fingers twitched for a second, and after a brief hesitation, he awkwardly reached out and ruffled her hair. “Be good, alright? I’ll bring you something nice when I get back.”
Yvonne’s face lit up instantly. “Okay!”
She wasn’t excited about the treats–no, it was because Jeremy had patted her on the head. That little gesture made her heart soar.
After Jeremy left, Yvonne sat quietly on the couch for a while.
Once Lillian Bennett finished cleaning up, she led Yvonne to her room. The room was spotless, clearly never used before, with brand–new furniture and unopened packages scattered around.
“Ay, how could I forget?” Lillian said, slapping her head in frustration. “The blankets haven’t been aired out, the new sheets aren’t washed, the mattress still hasn’t been unwrapped… So much to do. Getting old is no joke!”
She was talking fast, and though Yvonne didn’t understand all of it, she caught the last part. Lillian, you’re not old!” Yvonne said seriously, her baby voice making Lillian’s heart melt.
“Aww, Miss, you’re too sweet…
No matter how old a woman gets, she still cares about her age–even Lillian, who’d been working at the supermarket for years, wasn’t immune to it.
Lillian started fixing up Yvonne’s room, but since she was worried the little one might hurt herself in there, she decided to take her out to the garden,
“Sweetie, how about you play here for a while? I’ll finish up soon and come get you to head back inside, okay?” Lillian spoke softly, like Yvonne was her own granddaughter.
After making sure everything was in place, she turned and went back to finish her work.
Yvonne sat quietly on the delicate wooden bench, soaking up the rare moment of peace.
But when she spotted the gardener slip and fall from a distance, she jumped up without thinking and rushed over to help, even though she knew
she didn’t have much to offer.
Meanwhile, from a room above the garden, a gray curtain was pulled back just enough to reveal a sliver of the world outside.
A figure glanced out casually, but his attention was immediately grabbed by the sight of the little girl darting around. Charles Adler couldn’t seem to look away.
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11:49 AM
Chapter 5
He was pale, almost unnaturally so, his thin frame more fragile than anyone could ignore. His skin was a sickly, cold white, but despite his frailty. he was still striking.
His sharp eyes had a clarity to them that drew you in, but his overall appearance screamed someone who’d been sick for too long.
The corners of his eyes were faintly bloodshot, giving him a brooding, almost haunted vibe. His lips were pale, barely tinted with pink, and aside from that, there was no color in his face at all.
His frail body made it obvious that he didn’t have much time left.
He kept watching Yvonne, noticing that while her clothes weren’t anything extravagant, they were spotless.
As she ran, it was clear her legs gave her trouble–probably from some old injury–but it didn’t dampen the energy radiating from her.
She was like a bird–free and unburdened–completely different from him.
Charles continued to stare at her, his pale fingers pressing against the cold glass unconsciously.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. “Mr. Adler, your medicine’s here.”
He took a step back, his expression neutral, and slowly let his hand drop from the glass.
The gray curtains slid shut, blocking off the outside world. The servant entered, carrying the bowl of medicine, and the bitter, nauseating smell hit the air even before he got close.
The liquid was thick and dark, looking every bit as gross as it smelled. Yet, Charles didn’t flinch or show any sign of resistance, as if he’d completely numbed himself to it by now.
But when some of the unstrained herbs hit the back of his throat, he choked, turning red and coughing violently.
It took a while before the coughing subsided, leaving his face even paler than before.
Once the servant left with the empty bowl, Charles spoke, his voice flat. “Take that pot of flowers outside.”
The servant hesitated for a moment but then carefully gathered the wilting jasmine from the desk and quietly walked out.
That jasmine had once been a thing of beauty, one of the Charle’s favorites.
But despite the constant care–sunlight, water, and attention for months–it had never bloomed. In the end, it had just withered away, like everything else in Charles’s life.
Meanwhile, in the garden, Yvonne was having the time of her life watering the flowers with the gardener.
But after standing for so long, her legs started to ache. Just then, Lillian appeared, ready to take her back inside.
Yvonne followed her without a word, but as they walked through the door, her eyes landed on the pot of flowers the servant was holding.
Her gaze stopped, focused on the drooping leaves, and she suddenly froze.
“Miss.” She spoke up carefully, pointing at the pot in the servant’s hands, her eyes wide with hope. “Can I have this one?”
The servant paused, unsure. “This jasmine?”
Yvonne nodded eagerly, her eyes not leaving the plant.
The servant hesitated. “This is what Mr. Charles Adler told me to throw out. I can give it to you, but it’s already dead. There’s no point in keeping it.” Yvonne’s face dropped for a second, but she quickly recovered, her voice urgent. “Please don’t throw it away. Can you give it to me?” When she heard the mention of “Mr. Charles Adler,” Jeremy’s words from that morning popped into her mind.
His health isn’t great. Maybe if this flower came back to life, it might make him a little happier. The thought made her even more desperate to have the flower.
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