Tangled Encounters and Unwanted Meetings

Estella had lived with them for a period of time.

She had seen a variety of figurines in their rooms, so she knew how much they would like the gift.

Yet it seemed to take them forever to receive the gift.

She nudged them and urged, “You like these, don’t you?” They tried putting up a stern face to deny her statement, but looking at the figurines, they just couldn’t say it out loud.

Eventually, they relented and said, “It’s too expensive.

Mommy won’t let us take it.” Estella didn’t expect them to reject her.

They also brought up their mother.

She pouted, lowered her eyes and stood pitifully before them, looking as if she would start crying at any moment.

Seeing that, they exchanged a look and said hastily, “Since it is from Essie, we will take it.

Please help us thank Uncle Lucian.” Only then did Estella start to smile again.

Roxanne continued her work at the research institute the second day after she returned from Bellridge.

When she was away for the past two days, she asked Colby to