Chapter 1780
Upon seeing Sheila’s sudden change of attitude, Marlinie and Bertha glanced at each other, then back at Sheila.
With a sycophantic smile on her face, Sheila encouraged them to come in. “Come in, come in. The sun is blazing outside; don’t just stand there.”
Marlinie nodded. “When is your father expected to be home?”
Sheila chuckled. “He’ll be back soon, very soon! Come in and sit down. I’ll make some tea for you. Just wait a bit; my father will be home any minute.”
Marlinie led Bertha and the young Lea into the Mendoza family’s cozy suburban home.
Guests naturally drifted towards the living room,
But Sheila blocked their path. Her face beamed as she said, “Ladies, our living room couch is currently out of commission. I’m afraid it can’t be used at the moment. Please follow me upstairs to the guest room. It’s much cooler up there.”
Having received such a kind invitation, Marlinie and Bertha could hardly refuse, so they followed Sheila upstairs.
Lea, trailing behind her mother and Marlinie, was on high alert; something seemed off.
Sheila ushered Marlinie and Bertha into the attic room, the same room Ellinor had once occupied.
“Ladies, please make yourselves comfortable here. I’ll go and prepare some refreshments for you.” Sheila’s smile was both polite and amiable.
Although Marlinie found it somewhat peculiar that they were being accommodated in such a small, confined space, she merely thanked Sheila and didn’t comment further.
Upon their hostess’ departure, Lea grumbled, “Mom, Ms. Marlinie, this doesn’t seem like a guest room. It’s small and cramped. Who would invite guests into such a place?”
Bertha patted her daughter’s head. “We shouldn’t speak ill of others’ hospitality, dear. If they ask us to wait here, we wait.”
Lea pouted, showing a clear dislike for both Sheila and their current location.
However, Marlinie found herself intrigued by the room’s decor.
It indeed did not resemble a guest room. It seemed more like a room that had been lived in. It seemed like a nanny or housekeeper had lived here.
The room was filled with everyday items, which were all covered in a layer of dust, indicating a long period of neglect.
Possibly due to her maternal intuition, Marlinie speculated that this old, dark, and narrow room was probably where her daughter had lived while staying with the Mendozas.
Generally, it was considered impolite to go through someone else’s belongings, but Marlinie was desperate to confirm her hunch. With that in mind, Marlinie approached the writing desk against the wall and pulled out a random notebook from the simple book rack.
It was one of Ellinor’s old notebooks. She used it to document case studies for her college thesis.
While gazing at the elegant handwriting, Marlinie felt a surge of bitterness in her heart. When she flipped to the first page, she saw Ellinor’s name and her class.
This must have been where her daughter stayed while living with the Mendozas. The ceiling was incredibly low, and one would have to stoop while on the bed to avoid hitting their head.
The room was damp; even the bedding felt moist to the touch.
Had Arnold really let Pearl live in such conditions?
She entrusted her daughter to Arnold while also giving him a significant gesture of good faith.
She had given him an antique gemstone necklace from her collection as a token of gratitude. With that, he could take care of her daughter for a while without having to suffer.
