Justin was called to the Riverdale estate, but he didn’t go—boldly rejecting the invitation and continuing his work at the office.
But then, at noon, soone arrived at his office. "Mr. Harper, Ms. ira is here," Noah inford.
Justin was surprised to hear it. But then he could guess it must be another of Aeldric’s tactics to get to him.
"Let her in," Justin ordered.
Soon, Noah led the girl into Justin’s office.
ira looked at Justin, then her innocent eyes wandered around the lavish office. "Brother, your office is beautiful."
Justin looked at her. "Have a seat."
She nodded and slowly sat in the chair Noah pulled out for her. There was a light smile on her lips as she said, "Brother, it’s the first ti I got to see the city and actually co to a place other than the Riverdale estate. I didn’t know what I saw on TV was real. This city is beautiful. I wish I could go out more, but Grandpa..."
"Did he send you here?" Justin asked, keeping his expression unreadable—despite knowing she might not be his sister.
She was taken aback by the question—more like confused. "Umm... how should I put it? Well, Grandpa ca to and asked if I was bored. When I said yes, he asked if I’d like to go out and visit my brother, so I said yes. I’m glad he allowed to."
Justin didn’t doubt her. It likely happened exactly as she said. This girl wasn’t even aware she might not truly belong to the Riverdale family.
"Since when have you known that he is your grandfather and part of your family?" Justin asked.
Her expression turned confused again, as if she was trying to understand why he was asking. "Don’t all kids know who their families are? I’ve always rembered him as my grandpa... and my only family."
"Did he ever talk about other family mbers?" Justin asked.
She shook her head. "Not really him, but the nanny told that Grandpa has other family mbers, and that my parents have died, so he was raising alone. Grandpa never talked to much, and I’m scared of him, so I never asked anything. Everything I know is what my nanny told . Before he brought to the Riverdale estate, he did tell that my brother is back and he’s taking to et him. That’s it."
Justin simply humd and said, "While I’m working, you can do whatever you want," he added, signaling to Noah, "and if you need anything, ask Noah. He’ll help you."
"I’m sorry if I’m disturbing your work. I’ll do as you say," she said obediently and stood up. "I’ll go with Mr. Noah."
Justin humd. Just as she turned to go, she stopped and looked back at Justin. "Grandpa told to return ho with you. Will you co with ?"
Justin simply looked at her.
Her expression turned hesitant, but she said, "If I don’t bring you ho, he might punish ... but... if you don’t want to, then..."
"I’ll co with you," he replied.
That old man was just creating new ways to bring him back again and again—and Justin couldn’t let the little girl suffer for it. Also, it wasn’t like he didn’t want to go; going there was an important part of his plan.
Happy, she turned to Noah. "Can I look around everywhere to see how people work? Is it like in the movies where everyone is always working?"
Noah humd, unsure how to respond.
"Does it have any eating place?"
Noah humd again.
"Can I have ice cream? A big fancy one like they show on TV? Is there a park nearby?..."
She continued to ask various things, to which Noah kept responding with a simple "hmm." Their voices faded as Justin’s office door closed. He looked at the door and realised—this girl had been kept captive for a long ti. He couldn’t bla her for anything, not even the possibility of deceiving him. The happiness of getting even a little freedom was so evident on her face, as if she couldn’t hold back from exploring the world.
After almost two hours, ira returned to Justin’s office. He wasn’t there, so she decided to wait for him. Noah couldn’t ask her to go outside, as she had already walked a lot.
Leaving her in the office, Noah resud his work.
Justin had just finished an important eting when he returned to his office and found soone asleep on the couch.
"Mr. Harper, I didn’t know she would fall asleep," Noah said hesitantly.
"It’s alright," Justin replied and went to his desk, resuming his work. "Bring the files for the new project," he instructed, keeping his voice in check.
Another hour passed, and ira stirred in her sleep. She woke up and looked around, only to find Justin busy working. She imdiately sat up on the couch, her movent catching his attention.
As their gazes t, she smiled awkwardly, feeling guilty for falling asleep in his office while he was working. "Umm... Brother, I don’t know how... Maybe I was just tired after so much walking."
"I’ve finished my work. I’ll take you ho now," Justin said, not minding what she was trying to explain.
Her face fell slightly at the words, as if she were reluctant to return, but she stood up anyway, ready to leave with him.
After a while, both of them left for the Riverdale estate. ira was unusually quiet, her eyes sad as she stared silently out of the window.
"Do you want to say sothing?" Justin asked.
She lowered her gaze toward her hands as she replied, "I don’t really want to return. It feels like I’m at a stranger’s place. My previous ho felt better. At least the servants and guards were familiar to , and I talked to them once in a while."
"You’ll get used to it," Justin comnted.
"Brother, can’t I stay with you?" she asked. "I feel better with you around, even though you don’t talk much. At least you don’t restrict from going anywhere."
"That’s not possible," Justin said in a firm tone.
"Then... can you co and stay at the Riverdale estate?" she asked. "Or at least co and visit often?"
"We’ll see," he replied.
She stayed quiet for a while before mumbling, "It’s good to be a boy and be independent... unlike a trapped girl." She sighed and continued to stare outside with a longing gaze, as if she couldn’t wait to embrace the freedom beyond.
Justin heard her but said nothing.
They reached the Riverdale estate. Aeldric, as usual, felt victorious seeing Justin back—and this ti, he had sothing more planned for him. He couldn’t wait to carry it out.
There was no way he would let his grandson off the hook without making him obey like a good grandson.
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