Chapter 82


    Chapter: 82


    “Millie,” he said warmly.


    “T have something to ask you. Is the rtionship between Marcus and Leon quite strained?” Millie inquired.


    Bruce slipped one hand into his pocket, momentarily taken aback by the question.


    His gaze shifted towards Leon, who was engaged in entertaining others.


    “Regarding the person you mentioned, he not only has a strained rtionship with Marcus but also with me. In fact, it would be


    an understatement to describe our association as merely bad. It is akin to water and fire, inherently ipatible,”


    Bruce exined.


    Millie felt perplexed by Bruce’s choice of words. Why did he refer to Leon as “the person” when discussing Leon?


    “Why is that so? Aren’t you three cousins by blood?” Millie probed.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    “Millie, why inquire about him? He is nothing but a nuisance. What you don’t know is that he went missing at the age of three and


    retuned to the Thomas family when he was sixteen. Unfortunately, his return brought back all the negative influences he had


    picked up during his time away. Both my brother and | had fiery temperaments, but his was even worse,” Bruce divulged.


    Bruce’s reluctance to dwell on the topic of Leon was palpable, yet upon witnessing Millie’s insatiable thirst for knowledge, he


    relented and continued.


    “Grandmother, burdened with an overwhelming sense of indebtedness, believed he had endured unimaginable hardships and


    implored us to foster camaraderie with him. Initially, we followed her wishes, striving to amodate his presence as best as we


    could.”


    Millie expressed her confusion. “He went missing? How did that happen?”


    “When his mother was pregnant, his father engaged in extramarital affairs, causing his mother to harbor resentment. She


    believed that his existence was the reason she lost her husband’s affection. As time went on, his father continued his affairs, and


    his mother gradually grew indifferent towards him. When he was three, his mother took him shopping. Witnessing his father in


    the embrace of another woman, she left him behind and went after his father. Upon her return, he was gone. He didn’te


    back until thirteen yearster,” Bruce recounted.


    Millie''s jaw dropped in shock. She had never anticipated that Leon had gone missing at such a young age. Her heart ached at


    the thought of the countless stories of lost children she had encountered, each more heartbreaking than thest.


    “It''s peculiar. The Thomas family spared no expense in searching for him. Yet, it took thirteen years to locate him in a distant


    town,” Bruce added.


    Observing Leon in the distance, Millie couldn’t help but specte. Given the resources at the disposal of the Thomas family, the


    lengthy duration of the search seemed rather unusual. Perhaps Leon had no desire to return to the Thomas family atall.


    Bruce scratched his head, his expression clouded with contemtion, before continuing his narration.


    “When he finally returned, he was a troubled teenager, bearing the scars of numerous fights. He regarded us with deep-seated


    animosity. Grandmother insisted that Marcus and | be amodating, as we were aware of the hardships he had faced outside


    our sheltered world,” Bruce exined.


    Millie nodded, her curiosity piqued, urging Bruce to share more.


    “But our rtionship quickly deteriorated. He carried an old bowl and used it every day. | couldn’t help but be curious about the


    bowl and attempted to examine it in secret. Unfortunately, he caught me in the act, his gaze fierce and intimidating.


    Startled, | dropped the bowl, which shattered upon impact. Before | could even apologize, he kicked me forcefully in the ribs,


    knocking me to the floor.”


    Bruce’s countenance grew increasingly somber, his face betraying the lingering pain in his ribs.