Chapter 12
Rosalie replied softly, “Yes.”
Lesly pressed, “What’s going on? This doesn’t make sense.”
“The Spencer family favors her, and she doesn’t want to leave.”
Rosalie omitted the truth, knowing Lesly would explode if she learned the details.
Even without the full story, Lesly’s anger spiked. “So they forced you out of your home and separated with Brenna? How could they do that?”
Rosalie recalled the day the Spencer family came to pick her up and the whispers at tonight’s banquet.
After a pause, she said flatly, “Maybe they thought I was desperate to leave Grandma and eager to go with them.”
Lesly gaped, certain she’d misheard. “Why would they think that?”
Seriously?
“Because Grandma is poor.”
“What?” Lesly’s confusion deepened. “Brenna is Pinedland’s most powerful reclusive doctor. They think she’s poor?”
After her outburst, Lesly was enlightened.
“Wait, did they see Brenna living rural with you and just assume she’s poor without verifying? For heaven’s sake, damn fools.”
Born with a fragile frame and hypersensitive nerves, Rosalie couldn’t withstand even trivial stimuli, surviving several near–death experiences.
To ensure her survival, Brenna searched relentlessly for a healing environment. They finally settled in a southern mountain village where they lived for seventeen years.
But the Spencer family blinkered by the countryside’s poverty, dismissed her as a penniless old lady. How could such a family treat Rosalie well?
Rosalie didn’t deny Lesly.
Unable to contain her curiosity, Lesly asked, “Does Brenna know? That they’re such snobs…”
“No.”
“Hey, why didn’t you tell her the truth?” Lesly huffed. “Let Brenna take you home.”
Rosalie’s voice sharpened. “Lesly.”
Lesly fell silent at once.
“Don’t tell her anything.” Rosalie’s tone softened, her near–imploring voice laced with a sadness that made Lesly feel sorry for her.
Lesly understood Rosalie didn’t want to worry Brenna, so she accepted the arrangement. For a moment, she was speechless.
Finally, she asked, “So… you haven’t told them who you really are?”
If they knew Rosa’s identity, they’d surely treat her like treasure.
“Why would I?” Rosalie replied with a faint smile.
She wasn’t a possession. The Spencer family had ignored her wishes, forcing Brenna to part with her under the pretense that “a child needs her parents“…
“What’s your plan, then?”
Rosalie paused. “Wait until I turn eighteen
Her custody had been transferred to Dominik and Karen. Minors faced too many restrictions.
“Can I visit when I have time?”
“Of course” Rosalie agreed. “Thanks for bringing the piano back. I’ll treat you to dinner next time we meet.”
“Sure.” Lesly was ready to hang up when the piano mention triggered her memory. “Wait, hold on! I ran into your teacher at the auction.
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3:04 PL
PM dd
Chapter 12
“He fancied the piano too but Banquet this December.”
for you. when he heard it was aside stepped
One condition,
he though,
wants
“I see.” Rosalie
forehead. rubbed her
“Oh, and
I help me look into something.”
“No
problem.”
you and the
piano
AD
