Chapter 19 Single Mother

• Sevyn was bewildered. “Hex—”
• “I said, we don't need it.”
• For once, Hendrix wore a stern expression on his face. Besides wariness, the look in his eyes as he regarded the man carried a hint of hostility that didn't match his age.
• “Thank you, but we can buy it ourselves.”
• Right after saying that, he dragged his sister away. While walking, he lectured her. “You can't simply accept things from strangers. I've told you this multiple times, but you just wouldn't listen.”
• “But Hex, that man is definitely not a bad person since he's so handsome.”
• “He's not handsome at all.”
• “No, he's handsome.”
• They started bickering between themselves.
• Raphael straightened up, watching as the two children walked away, appearing particularly cold in the rain. He handed the umbrella he was holding to his assistant, Zane Zeller, who came up behind him.
• “Mr. Gardner, who were those two kids earlier?”
• “Follow them and make sure that nothing happens to them.”
• “Understood.”
• Raphael watched Zane trailing after the two children before returning to the car. Rolling down the window, he lit a cigarette.
• The entrance to the condominium was a near distance ahead, and it was still raining outside, though it wasn't heavy.
• He and Levon were the only ones left in the car. As they sat in the car, his phone vibrated several times.
• “Mr. Gardner, Ms. Collins has called several times,” Levon remarked cautiously.
• Raphael merely stared out the window in a trance. A hint of puzzlement showed in his apathetic gaze.
• Of the two children he saw at the pharmacy just now, the girl resembled Elena so closely that they could be carbon copies of each other.
• The boy, on the other hand, seemingly bore some resemblance to him.
• He waited below the condominium until Zane returned. Before the windshield, the little girl's skipping figure first entered his line of sight, followed closely by the little boy. They went into the condominium together.
• Zane reported, “Mr. Gardner, these two kids are pretty smart. They told the cashier at the pharmacy that they've got no father, and it hasn't been easy for their single mother to raise them. The little girl could cry at the drop of a hat.”
• When the words “single mother” drifted into Raphael's ears, his brows furrowed.
• I wonder whether she's really a single mother or it's merely an excuse to garner sympathy. But no matter which it is, I'll find out who exactly the father of those two children is.
• He stared at the condominium, his gaze calm and unruffled. He ordered, “Investigate everything about the birth of those two children and deliver it to my office tomorrow morning.”
• Zane was momentarily taken aback. Despite that, he immediately nodded. “Understood, Mr. Gardner.”
• After a moment of silence, Raphael added, “Also, I'd like a report on Elena's whereabouts around June seven years ago. The more detailed, the better.”
• At the mention of the past events seven years ago, agony showed in Raphael's eyes once more.
• If there were hell on earth, the time when Elena broke up with him and left Horington at lightning speed seven years ago was his first time going through hell.
• It was such an agonizing experience that the mere recollection of it still had him feeling that a particular part of his heart was so fragile that it would shatter at the lightest touch.
• As the black car slowly drove away from the residential area, his eyes remained fixated on the rearview mirror, watching as the condominium disappeared from sight.
• Elena's return had him distinctly realizing that the days that had tormented him for seven long years wouldn't vanish with time.
• He wanted an explanation, and she had to bear that responsibility.
• Ten kilometers south of Citraine Condominiums was a renowned mansion area for the affluent in Horington.
• A crash rang out as a valuable cup shattered on the living room floor. It splintered into a million pieces, and the liquid within splashed everywhere. The housekeeper at the side jumped in fright.
• Vanessa had phoned Raphael several times successively, but no one answered. As she watched the video sent over from the Gardner residence right then, her face darkened frightfully.
• No, I can't wait any longer. As time drags by, there might be unnecessary complications. Elena can't be allowed to stay in Horington!
• She wore a grim expression on her face. “Cora, I heard that Cindy is going to have her birthday party at Lazuline Hotel this weekend.”
• “Yes, that's true.” The housekeeper, Cora Zielinski, had been by her side since she was young and was her confidante.
• “Say, if Cindy were to learn that the sister whom she had detested since childhood came back with two children this time, would she seize the opportunity to crush her sister beneath her feet and shine for once?”
• “What would you like me to do, Ms. Collins?”
• “Go and retrieve the item in the safe. It's been seven years since I've last seen her, so it's only right that I give her a huge gift.”
• At the thought of the item that had been in the safe for seven years, Vanessa's eyes glinted coldly. Back then, she kept it because she was afraid that Elena would return again.