Chapter 1861
Baber jumped when he heard this mysterious voice, and he slowly turned his eyes towards the source.
A man sat beside a campfire, grinning at him. Yet the smile was anything but friendly. It was downright terrifying.
It took Baber a good ten seconds to recall who he was. “You… you’re the balloon seller!”
The man was probably in his forties. He had a scruffy beard and unkempt attire, which was distinct enough for Baber to remember.
He recalled the shabby man previously speaking to him through the back gate of the Blanchet Villa.
“Oh! You do remember me. Too bad, I don’t have any balloons to sell you now.”
Baber sensed danger and curled up in a corner of the dog cage. “Why…why did you bring me here? What do you want?”
The shabby man found his fear even more amusing. “Don’t be afraid; I won’t hurt you. Your mother asked me to bring you here. She misses you.”
Baber frowned in disbelief. “Nonsense! If my mother misses me, she can see me at home. She wouldn’t have someone bring me to such a scary and secluded place! Who are you really, and what do you want?!”
The shabby man smirked mysteriously. “I didn’t lie to you. When your mother arrives, you’ll know.”
The shabby man’s certainty made Baber waver. Could it really be that his mother asked this man to bring him here?
But why? This place was so gloomy. It didn’t seem like a place where humans could live. And why was he in a dog cage?
Could it be that his mother was preparing a surprise for him? Was this all part of a scary setup?
As he was mulling over the situation, he heard some noises from outside.
Baber immediately perked up, hoping his mother had come to get him.
However, it wasn’t Ellinor who pushed aside the weeds and stepped in, but a woman whom Baber considered a nightmare.
It was her!
Why was it her?!
Once his leader had arrived, the shabby man hastily stood up to assist her, but the woman swatted his hand away in disgust.
“What are you doing?! Back off, don’t touch me!”
The shabby man didn’t get angry and continued to flatter her with a sycophantic smile. “Ms. Howard, I brought you the boy. I risked my life to do this for you. Don’t forget what you promised me.”
Patricia Howard glanced at him. “Rest assured, you’ll have your money. Now go stand guard outside, and let me know immediately if there’s any disturbance.”
“Sure thing!” The shabby man answered and obediently went outside.
With the shabby man gone, Patricia was left alone in the narrow cave with Baber, who was in the dog cage.
At that moment, Baber was curled up into a ball, shivering more than he did when he was alone with the shabby man.
Patricia walked over to the cage, crouched down to look at the child inside, and smiled. “Baber, do you remember your mother?”
After hearing Patricia’s question, Baber stiffened, then trembled even more.
“Baber, look at your mother! I’ve missed you so much over the years!”
Baber didn’t lift his head. He buried it deeper between his knees, refusing to face her.
