The room''s air pressure plummeted to freezing levels. The assistant broke out in a cald sweat, feeling a chill run down his spine. Having been by


    Alex''s side for over three years, he knew exactly what his boss was capable of and quickly added, "But I can assure you, the real heiress of the


    Morris family doesn''t have a scar on her arm."


    Alex narrowed his eyes. This meant the little girl from back then couldn''t possibly be Miss Zack, nor Miss May, and certainly not Reba Morris. The


    only remaining possibility was Anthea


    Reflecting on his previous encounters with Anthea, Alex''s gaze darkened. She was indeed different from the other socialites of Cloudcrest. Her file


    was encrypted. And she was nothing like the waste everyone rumored her to be. Mysterious andplex.


    "Alright, you can go," Alex said with a dismissive wave of his hand. The assistant. feeling like he''d just been pardoned, bowed his head and scurried


    out of the room.


    After the assistant''s departure, the roam was left in a silence so deep it was almost terrifying. The Peterson mansion was perched halfway up the


    hillside. Coupled with Alex''s preference for solitude, the twilight made the atmosphere even more deste.


    Alex stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his face betraying no emotion, and for a moment, he was transported back to that cold basement


    twelve years ago. Hunger, cold, fear—they had surrounded him. A little girl came and sat beside him.


    "Brother, are you hungry? I have candy here. A piece of candy will make the hunger go away."


    With that memory in mind, Alex reached into his pocket and took out a piece of candy, unwrapping it until its sugary taste slowly spread on his tongue,


    dissipating some of the fierceness in him. He then turned and walked toward the backyard.


    Grandma Audrey lived there. The olddy was not in good health, and even before nightfall, she was already lying in bed.


    "Grandma," he greeted


    "Ah, Alex is here,” Audrey''s face lit up with a smile. Alex propped up a pillow behind the elderly woman. "Are you feeling any better, Grandma?"


    She nodded.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Doctor Yeager is quite skilled. I''ll ask her toe take a look at you.” Alex suggested


    "That would be nice, I do like her," Audrey said, and then as if remembering something, she added, "But tomorrow is Monday, and Annie has school.


    You could wait for her at the school in the afternoon."


    "Alright," Alex nodded slightly.


    After some more conversation, Alex took his leave. Watching his retreating figure. Audrey sighed. She worried that once she was gone, Alex would


    end up alone.


    Monday arrived. Anthea finished her breakfast and headed to school. Just as she was about to reach the school, a surprised voice called out from


    behind, "Anthea?"


    She nced back and saw Baldie.


    "Need something?" she asked casually.


    Baldie, whenadn''t seen Anthea ina


    few dayschad aplex expression


    on his face. But what really caught


    him off guard was the jacket Anthea


    was-wearing. Was that..a ?


    Nosthbridge High School uni iform?


    Céntent belongs to


    The Northbridge High uniform was a


    clunky mix ot blue and white that


    many students disliked wearing, but


    on her, ittseemed to take on an S


    effortt less purity. It confirmed that


    old saying: a beautiful persomcan


    rake even a bup sack look good.


    There she stood, doing nothing at


    all, yet fulfilling every teenage boy’s


    fantasy of a first love. Baldie was


    momentaritydazzled. Could it be .


    that An hea was actually a student


    at Northbridge High? But hadn'' =


    HarrieDsaid that Anthea was a‘’


    dropout, barely making it through


    rolddle school? Or was the-uniform


    she wore just a cheap buy meant to


    mimic a student''s look? These days,


    many who wanted to pass as


    students wore such uniforms for the


    thrill of it.


    With that thought, Baldie rxed. No matter how pretty Anthea was, she couldn''t possibly be attending Northbridge High. It was just her vanity


    speaking.


    “Anthea, you turned down such a well-paying job at my cest time. Did you find something better?" Even if she had, what of it? Without an


    education, she was still uneducated


    Anthea, carrying her backpack with one hand, replied indifferently, "I have school, no time for part-time jobs.”


    Baldie didn''t call out her bluff and continued, "You''re at Northbridge High?"


    She nedded.


    At that moment, Baldie had to admire Anthea''s audacity. Her inner world must be enormous to lie so tantly without even batting an eysh