Chapter 4
As Loretta’s expression changed, Gordon had already slapped Rosalie hard on the cheek.
“What are you talking about? You ran someone down and were incarcerated. You’ve utterly embarrassed the family and already have no future. Do you want to ruin your sister’s future now as well?” Gordon bellowed.
His eyes were full of disgust toward this daughter of his. In the past, when their family got close to the Xanthos family, he had been exceedingly proud. However, now, that same pride had turned into endless share and humiliation!
Rosalie instantly felt a burning pain on her face. Yet, her gaze remained calm as if she did not care at all.
“Initially, I just came back to light candles for my mother, but it seems like there’s no need for me to do it here anymore. From today onward, I will never step foot in this place.”
After saying that, Rosalie turned around and left the place that she used to call home.
Apparently, there was no place for her in this “home” anymore.
When Rosalie returned to her rental home, the apartment was pitch-black, as the lights were off. After she switched on the lights, what welcomed her was dead silence.
In the room of around 108 square feet, it could be seen at a glance that no one else was in the house.
“Did Jon leave? So, it turns out that I’m still all alone, after all!” she mused as her heart suddenly felt empty.
Smiling bitterly, Rosalie was about to turn around and close the door when she saw a figure walking toward her slowly. At once, she froze.
“It’s Jon!” she exclaimed inwardly.
He was still wearing that worn outfit from the previous day, except he was now carrying a plastic bag. His thick bangs covered nearly the entire upper half of his face, such that his face could not be seen clearly at first sight. However, she knew that underneath the bangs was a face so handsome that it could make countless people fall head over heels.
“Could such a person… really is a vagrant?” she wondered.
In truth, she was not familiar with him at all. She did not even know him before taking him in like this. Despite knowing that she was being impulsive and might potentially be in danger, she still couldn’t resist the idea.
Perhaps it was because humans were social animals, after all.
“I’m back.” An icy voice rang out flatly, but it sounded like the most heavenly and melodious voice.
A tight feeling suddenly crept up her throat, making her choke out, “I… I thought you wouldn’t come back anymore.”
He stared at her. “I merely went out to buy something.”
Hurriedly, she turned sideways, pulled him into the house, and closed the door. Only then did she catch sight of the two pieces of bread in the bag he was carrying.
In a trice, she felt much more relieved and smiled gently.
“Then, let’s eat together later, but before that, I… want to light candles for my mother. Today’s her death anniversary,” Rosalie said as she took out the candles, which she had previously bought on her way home, from her bag. She then placed a photo
frame on the table.
In the frame was a black-and-white photograph of a beautiful, gentle-looking woman who seemed to be in her 30s.
After lighting up the candles, Rosalie held them to the photo in silence
for a while.
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Chapter 4
“Mom, I’m starting to live a new life now, and I’m doing very well. I have a job to support myself, and my income is enough to sustain me, so you can rest assured. Moreover, I’ll do better and better in the future…”
Jonathan stood at the side and watched how the woman before him wore a faint smile on her face while her eyes shone with a hint of moisture. The room’s light and flickering candles combined to cast shifting shadows on her face, creating a dance between light and darkness.
She had beautifully arched eyebrows, a small nose, and pink lips that were just the right thickness. Though she was not bad- looking. Jonathan had seen too many beautiful women, such as his fiancée Melanie, who was a rare beauty back then. Hence, to him. Rosalie was simply an average woman.
He had read her information and thus knew that today was her mother’s death anniversary. “She just came out of prison and is working as a road sweeper, yet she claims that she’s doing well?” he thought.
“Besides, someone is living with me now,” Rosalic continued gently. She turned her head and looked at him with her deep eyes. Under the candlelight, she appeared tranquil and unperturbed, yet her gaze was seemingly filled with a profound sense. of happiness.
It was as if his existence was a source of contentment to her. A moment later, she shifted her gaze to the woman in the photograph again. “So, I’m really doing great, Mom. You can rest in peace now.”
With that, she placed the candles in front of the photograph and then stood quietly as she looked at the framed photo.
After approximately 15 minutes, the flames started to flicker and fade. It was only then that Rosalie blew out the candles completely and said to Jonathan. “All right. I’ll go clean up and make a bowl of soup, after which we can have dinner together.”
“Mm,” he responded.
Rosalie quickly packed up the things before taking out some carrots and tomatoes from the refrigerator to make a pot of tomato soup with carrots speedily. The duo then took a piece of bread each to have with the soup for dinner.
“By the way, Jon, what did you do for a living before?” Rosalie asked while eating.
“Everything. As long as there’s work, I’ll do it. Otherwise, I’ll just find a random place to rest.”
Hearing this, Rosalie wondered, “Rest? Like how he was sitting motionlessly on the road yesterday? I bet he must have suffered a lot. If not, who would sit by the street on a cold winter night?”
“How old are you, then?” she queried.
“Twenty-seven”
“We’re the same age.” That surprised her. “In that case, which month were you born in?”
“November.”
“I was born in July, so I’m a few months older than you. Well, since neither of us really has a family, why don’t you treat me as your older sister from now on? You can call me Rosie. Likewise, I’ll regard you as my younger brother. What do you say?” Rosalie offered,
“Older sister?” He laughed lightly. No one had ever dared to tell Jonathan that she wanted to be an older sister to him. He thought, “How does this woman have the audacity to ask that of me?
If she knew who I was, would she still dare to say something like this?
But I guess it’s precisely because she doesn’t know that makes it interesting.”
“Is it not okay with you?” Her gaze dimmed.
When Rosalie’s mother died, Rosalie was only three years old. The only thing she knew was that her mother had an accidental miscarriage and died despite valiant rescue efforts. She had also inadvertently heard from her relatives that the
15:48 Wed,’6 Sept J
Chapter 4
child her mother carried was a six-month-old boy who, unfortunately, lived a short life of only ten minutes.
“If the boy had survived, he would’ve been my younger brother. Then perhaps, I won’t be as lonely as I am now…”
she
04%
brooded.
“Are you sure you want to be my older sister?” The man’s voice suddenly sounded
She looked up promptly and met those beautiful eyes concealed behind his bangs. Although his eyes were crystal-clear, they somehow made her feel that his gaze was clouded and hazy
“Mhm”
“But I don’t have a fixed place to live or a stable job, and I can barely sustain my basic necessities. Why would you want to be my sister?
