Chapter 160


    After hearing that, Adrian shed tears. “I didn’t expect Grace to still remember me. That ident wasn’t


    just a coincidence, because..” His voice suddenly choked up because he was the one who caused the


    ident


    “Adrian, what are you talking about?”


    “Ms. Zimmer, follow me.”


    Adrian led Allison to a residential building that was about to be demolished.


    Allison could not have imagined that Northfield still had ces like this. The ground was covered with


    moss, making it very slippery to walk on. The air was filled with dense humidity, and overhead were


    countless power lines. The smell ofundry detergent permeated the air.


    Adrian lived here. He walked to a red iron gate, opened it, and said, “Come in, miss.”


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Adrian’s home was very simple. The living room only had a bed, a sofa, a table, and a few baskets on


    the floor. The air was filled with the musty smell of


    aging


    1 knew your mother a long time ago.”


    As Adrian spoke, he seemed to be lost in deep memories.


    “We met in middle school. She was beautiful, gentle, and academically excellent. She was the focus of


    the ss, and almost everyone in the school liked her, including me. We were in the same ss in


    middle school, high school, and all the way until college. Her grades were always better than mine. She


    went to a very good university, and I, not so good in studies, was driving cars. I often visited her during


    my breaks. She was even more beautiful in college and had more suitors, so I never dared to fantasize.


    Later, she got a boyfriend, a very handsome guy. I was happy for her.”


    Adrian looked at Allison, “That guy was Christopher.”


    Allison was surprised.


    Mr. nagan was my mother’s boyfriend in college?


    Seeing her reaction, Adrian realized that Grace hadn’t told her about it.


    *Back then, Christopher and Grace were the perfect couple. When she got a boyfriend, I stopped


    bothering her. Many yearster, I became friends with many people because of my driving. One of


    them delivered goods to Christopher’spany. One day, I went with him and saw Christopher and


    Leah together They looked very intimate. I asked around and found out they were married. Didn’t your


    mother tell you that she and Leah are cousins?”


    Allison’s mind was in chaos.


    My mother and Leah are cousins?


    “Back then, I held a little hope. If Grace wasn’t married or with Christopher, I might have still had a


    chance. I searched everywhere for her. After asking around, I finally found out Grace was the


    housekeeper of the nagan family and had already married. Her husband was a driver for the


    nagan family and also Connor nagan’s adoptive son. I thought to myself, maybe there really was


    no fate between your mother and me. I just hoped she could have a better life. Christopher should


    have been your mother’s boyfriend, but he ended up with Leah. That was a betrayal, he was a


    despicable man, so I’ve always looked down on him”


    Allison lowered her head and fell into deep thought.


    In the nagan family, Leah had always been finding ways to trouble them. So, this was the reason.


    Biting her lip, Allison asked, “Adrian, what happened next?”


    Jonah looked puzzled, 1 just find it really weird. Balfour is usually so cocky, he’s not the type to back


    down easily Something’s off. You don’t think Balfour is trying to help Patricia by stealing Ellinor from


    Theo, do you?”


    Kemp retorted, “You should really consider script writing, ya know?”


    Jonah lost interest, “Alright then! I’m done discussing this with you! We’re clearly not on the same


    page.”


    Belinda finished replying to all her friends‘ments. Gettingplimented on her photography skills


    left her bbergasted and even a tad bit eager to


    show off.


    So, she turned on her phone’s selfie mode, pulled Ellinor in close, and said, “Ellinor,e on! Let’s


    take a selfie. I’m gonna post these on social mediater.”


    Ellinor managed a strained smile, going along with Belinda’s antics and shing a smile at the camera.


    After snapping a picture, Belinda wasn’t satisfied with what she saw on her phone, “Ugh? The front–


    facing camera just doesn’t cut it. The rear camera takes way clearer pictures. Ellinor, let’s take another


    one.”


    Before Ellinor could refuse, she was pulled back in for another shot.


    After looking at the picture, Belinda still wasn’t pleased. This one, taken with the rear camera, was all


    wrong angle–wise. They were both smack dab in the center of the frame.


    “Ugh! It’s so hard to find the right angle with the rear camera.”


    Ellinor was about to suggest they stop taking pictures, but Bartlett interrupted, “I can take the picture for


    you two.”


    Before Ellinor could refuse, Belinda handed her phone to him, “Thanks Bartlett, make sure we look


    good in the picture.”


    Bartlett chuckled. He set Belinda’s phone aside, took out his own phone from his suit pocket, and said,


    “Let’s use my phone; it has a better camera”


    Ellinor didn’t want her pictures to be on Bartlett’s phone, but before she could say anything, Belinda


    had already agreed.


    “Sure thing! Just send them to me when you’re done.”


    Ellinor was at a loss for words.


    Bartlett rose and aimed his phone at the two of them, adjusting the focus, “Ready? Look at the


    camera.”


    With no choice but to go along with it, Ellinor forced a smile at the camera.


    Bartlett took a bunch of pictures, gave a thumbs up, and said, “Alright! We’re done!”


    Belinda couldn’t wait to see the pictures on Bartlett’s phone, “Bartlett, your phone’s camera is amazing!


    The pictures are so clear, you can even see the


    detail in our hair.”


    She continued to flip through the pictures until she found one that looked rather funny.


    In the picture, Balfour somehow squeezed in next to Ellinor from the other side of the frame.


    Belinda burst outughing, “Haha! Ellinor, look at this! This one is hrious. Balfour looks just like my


    dog with his head tilted. Haha!”


    Balfour fell silent.


    Ellinor wasn’t interested in the pictures at first, but she took a look at the picture Belinda wasughing


    at and gave a small chuckle, “Yeah, you’re not wrong! You’re absolutely right!”


    Balfour stayed silent.


    After Bartlett got his phone back, he received a private message from Balfour. “Send me the pictures.”


    Bartlett was a bit surprised but replied with a smile, “Which one do you want?”


    Balfour replied, “What do you think?”


    Ding!


    Bartlett sent the picture of Balfour with his head tilted. Balfour saved it immediately.


    Even though he looked a bit awkward in the picture, it was the first picture he took with his sister after


    many years. He had to keep it safe.


    Balfour was totally engrossed in the photos.


    “Bartlett, were you guys taking pictures just now?”


    Patricia’s voice suddenly came from behind Bartlett. Her voice was gentle and curious.


    Bartlett was sitting on a single sofa, looking at the pictures he had just taken. Patricia hade


    downstairs and happened to walk behind him, seeing the photos on his phone.


    Turning his head to her, Bartlett smiled, “Oh, it’s you, Patricia! Yeah, we were taking pictures. Wanna


    join us for a group shot?”


    Patricia shook her head, “No, I didn’t put on any makeup today. I won’t look good in the pictures.”


    Bartlett politely responded, “Nonsense, Patricia. You look great without makeup.”


    Belinda looked at Patricia, stuck out her tongue, rolled her eyes, and muttered, “Yeah right, ‘no


    makeup. As if we can’t tell her face is refined.”


    Ellinor was sipping her juice, uninterested. She was used to Patricia’s pretentiousness.


    Patricia heard Belinda’s murmur. She turned to look at Ellinor and Belinda and also noticed her brother


    Balfour sitting there, “Oh, Balfour, you’re here too?” After seeing Patricia, who should have been at


    home at this time, suddenly show up, Balfour became a bit stern, “When did you get here?”


    Patricia came over and sat down naturally as usual, leaning affectionately against her brother, and


    sweetly said, “Balfour, Baber was fussing about wanting to see Theo today. I called Theo, and he told


    me he was at Pearl Moon, so I brought Baber over.”


    Balfour didn’t spoil his sister like usual. Instead, he frowned slightly after hearing her words, “You


    brought Baber too?”


    Patricia was a bit scared by Balfour’s sternness. She quietly exined, “Baber wanted to see Theo. I


    couldn’t persuade him, so I had to bring him out…”


    “The kid was seriously hurt yesterday. Why would you bring him out at thiste hour?*


    “Balfour, Baber really wanted to see Theo. No matter what I said, he wouldn’t listen.”


    Balfour now understood why Ellinor was sitting here alone and Theo had gone upstairs.


    It was because of that headache–inducing Patricia!


    He rubbed his brow helplessly, “Where’s Theo?”


    Patricia replied, “Theo is still upstairs with Baber. I thought he might be thirsty, so I came down to get


    him a drink.”


    As she said this, she picked up a bottle of soda from the table, Tm going to take this drink to Theo.”


    Patricia got up to go upstairs. Before she left, she said to Ellinor, “Ellinor, I’m going upstairs. You guys


    chat. Make yourself at home.”


    Although her words were polite, her actions clearly showed that she was the hostess.


    Ellinor smiled slightly. Before she could say anything, Belinda rolled her eyes and said impatiently,


    “Ms. Howard, don’t worry; we won’t be shy here.


    Yes, Pearl Moon is owned by the Howard family, but today Theo and Ellinor rented this ce for the


    party.


    To the Howard family, we are the guests, and guests are supposed to be treated like kings! As such


    esteemed guests, why should we be shy around you?”


    Patricia’s face turned a bit sour at Belinda’s words; even her usually innocent smile froze, Right, I was


    being extra.”


    Belinda was Theo’s kin, and Theo valued her greatly. Therefore, Patricia didn’t want to fall out with


    Belinda, so she didn’t say anything more and turned to


    leave.


    “Hold on.” Ellinor said.