Chapter 5 A Glimpse into the Past

• When Lia brought it up, Troy's mind returned to the girl who he had pushed her up against the wall earlier. "Lia, was that girl who bit my leg and soaked my pants with her spit—my seventh sister, Brittany?"
• Lia smiled. "Yep, that was Brittany. Bet you didn't expect her to turn out like that, huh? She's really grown into a beauty."
• Troy shook his head, still surprised. He remarked internally, The little whiner in pigtails, always running around in that red jacket, has turned into a striking woman with legs that are hard to overlook.
• He then asked, "Why didn't I get to see her?"
• "She had to catch a flight for work. I talked to her briefly and then let her leave. She's probably in the air by now," Lia explained.
• "If I'd realized it was you, I would've asked she stayed. Brittany's had you on her mind for years. Whenever she's home, she goes to where the orphanage used to be and just reflects."
• That struck a chord with Troy. Then he recalled the thugs from the alley. "Lia, did you find out who's behind those guys?"
• "Yeah, I did. Don't worry; I've got it under control," Lia replied confidently.
• Still, Troy noticed something off in her eyes. He thought, This isn't just a simple case. Hmm... I need to dig out the info myself. Whoever tried to mess with my sister is in for a world of trouble, and I'll make sure of that.
• As they continued to catch up, Troy got the scoop on what his sisters had been up to over the years.
• His oldest sister, Cassandra Dawn, had made her mark in the business world. She'd built up her network and now ran her own restaurant.
• Of course, Lia climbed the ranks after finishing her police training. She now held a captain position with the National Directorate of Security and had even become their public figure thanks to her strong image.
• His third sister, Cecil Sawyer, was always traveling the world. She barely came home; when she did, it was only for short visits. Nobody knew much about what she was doing.
• The fourth sister, Kathleen Webb, became an expert in traditional medicine and later attended Kingsbury Medical School. After graduating, she established her own hospital.
• The fifth sister, Andrea Snider, had dedicated herself to academics. She quickly earned her doctorate and is now a biologist, teaching at a university.
• Meanwhile, his sixth sister, Tami Harrington, was still a mystery. She showed up whenever she wanted and could go a whole year without coming home, though she always sent money back.
• Brittany Pollard, the youngest, had become a versatile celebrity—an actress and singer constantly on the move with her packed schedule.
• Lia also mentioned Donald Bolton, the man who adopted all of them. After Troy disappeared, the orphanage was torn down for redevelopment. Donald used the money to buy an old apartment, and their living situation improved greatly.
• Troy felt a pang of guilt. Back when he was around, they struggled to get by on bread and pickles; once he was gone, things seemed to turn around for everyone.
• "How's the old man holding up? Is he still around?" Troy asked, his voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and concern.
• Lia smiled. "Oh, he's doing just fine. These days, he's either tending to his garden or sipping tea and playing chess. Living the good life."
• Hearing that, Troy relaxed a bit. Since Lia had the day off, she offered to drive him over to Donald's place for a visit.
• As they drove through Kingsbury, Troy watched the city pass by, amazed by how much had changed. What was once a quiet, run-down town had turned into a vibrant, lively city over the last decade.
• Around thirty minutes later, they arrived in the older part of town. Lia pulled up in front of a modest apartment building.
• "Alright, we're here, creep. Time to get out," she teased.
• Troy hopped out of the car, feeling excited and nervous. He'd always been close to Donald, clinging to his every word when he was a kid. The old man had been his father, and he couldn't wait to see him again.
• Troy pictured the reunion in his mind. Donald's face would light up, and he'd run over to hug him and maybe even cry a little, saying, "Kid, you've been through so much..."
• Troy chuckled to himself at the thought. He'd even prepared a line, 'I'm back, stronger than ever!'
• By the time he snapped out of his daydream, Lia had already knocked on the door, but no one answered. After waiting for a bit, Troy muttered, "You think the old man's knocked out or something?"
• "Don't be ridiculous," Lia scolded, though she also seemed a little worried. Donald wasn't getting any younger, and the idea of something happening to him made her uneasy.
• They tried the door and found it unlocked. With a quick exchange of glances, they stepped inside.
• The living room was empty, and Donald was gone. With nowhere else to check, they headed toward the bedroom. Just before they reached it, weird sounds started coming down the hall.