Evelyn shook her head hard.
She struggled desperately.
She refused to rot in that place.
She refused to decay in some dark corner.
At four years old, she had never attended preschool.
She secretly observed Isabella.
When Isabella studied foreign languages, she silently memorized the pronunciations.
When Isabella stumbled on a word, she blurted it out.
She expected praise.
Instead, she faced catastrophe.
Linda actually complimented her.
She even gave her a piece of cake, an unprecedented act.
The cream was sickly sweet.
She couldn't bear to swallow it.
In that moment, she thought her life would change.
Linda smiled and led her outside.
Then abandoned her to a trafficker.
She didn't cry or make a scene.
The trafficker gave her candy.
He smiled at her.
He was gentler than her mother.
Until she was locked in a cellar.
There, she met the big brother.
They spent a month together.
The big brother was silent at first.
Later he asked, "Don't you want to escape?"
She answered clearly, "No."
Here, she could eat her fill.
She could stay warm.
No one hit her.
She felt happy.
The big brother was stunned. "Why?"
She replied, "No one hits me here."
He asked, "What's your name?"
She shook her head.
At four, she had no name.
No registered residence.
Other children cried and screamed.
Only she smiled every day.
The traffickers were least wary of her.
The big brother gave her a bag of sedatives.
Told her to put it in the food.
She did as told.
The children panicked and fled.
She stood there quietly.
The big brother asked, "Why aren't you leaving?"
She shook her head. "I don't know where to go."
"Come home with me."
The big brother took her hand.
His large hand enveloped her small one.
...
They didn't make it home.
They were rescued by police just after descending the mountain.
She was sent back to the Ashcroft family.
At their parting, she clung to the big brother's leg.
"You said you'd take me home?"
The policeman laughed. "You're not family."
Her eyes reddened. "I don't want to go home!"
"I want to stay with big brother!"
The big brother patted her head.
"Because you get beaten at home?"
The policeman didn't take it seriously.
Children getting hit was commonplace.
But the big brother said earnestly, "Wait for me to grow up and marry you."
"I'll take you to my home."
...
Evelyn jolted awake.
The dream receded like the tide.
She couldn't distinguish what was real.
What was false.
She remembered her fourth year clearly.
The big brother called her Eleven.
She was the eleventh trafficked child.
She remembered the taste of chocolate.
She remembered the dust motes in the cellar sunlight.
That was her happiest time.
She was twenty-two this year.
The big brother still hadn't come to marry her.
Evelyn smiled bitterly.
It wasn't real love.
A four-year-old doesn't understand romance.
But the big brother was her light.
He sustained her through the beatings and abuse.
Other children believed in superheroes.
Her superhero was the big brother.
But the big brother was just a child too.
He must have forgotten her long ago.
Evelyn blinked.
She sensed the room's atmosphere had shifted.
She turned her head.
Alexander Vance sat beside her.
"Water?" he asked.
Another voice spoke from the other side.
"All non-essential personnel, please leave."
"I need to examine the patient."
Dr. Mason picked up his stethoscope.
He looked at Alexander.
Alexander's face darkened.
"I am not non-essential."
Dr. Mason said calmly.
"Besides doctor and patient."
"Everyone is non-essential."
"The examination requires removing clothing."
"Your presence is inconvenient."
Alexander frowned.
"And you are convenient?"
Dr. Mason lifted the hem of Evelyn's shirt.
"I am a doctor."
"Gender is irrelevant."
...
Alexander saw a glimpse of pale waist.
His cheeks flushed slightly.
He stood and left the room.
Outside, Thomas tried to peer in.
Alexander blocked the door crack.
He closed the door.
"What are you looking at?" he snapped.
Thomas was taken aback.
He coughed.
"Sir, Miss Evelyn is trending."
He handed over his phone.
Alexander took it.
The trending topic showed a reporter's interview.
Liam Lowell wore a school uniform.
His face was anxious and cautious.
The reporter asked, "How do you feel about your father's death?"
Liam avoided eye contact.
"My cousin didn't mean to."
"It was manslaughter..."
"Do you hate your gambler father?"
Liam hesitated.
"Sometimes."
"But I can't change my birth."
"I want to speak for my cousin."
"Father often demanded money from her."
"It truly was manslaughter."
"I'm willing to provide a Letter of Forgiveness."
"I hope for a lenient sentence."
The interview should have been mundane.
But someone in the crowd shouted.
"Did you know your dear cousin is out on bail?"
"The reason is ridiculous!"
"Anemia affects her health!"
The news exploded instantly.
#RichHeirOutOnBail
#RichHeirGetsAwayWithMurder
#MoneyTalks
The hashtags surged to the top.
All questioned Evelyn's eligibility.
Someone clearly bought the trending topics to push it.
Alexander's eyes turned cold.
"Find out who bought the trending topics."
"Yes."
Thomas glanced around.
"Reporters have infiltrated the area."
Alexander's expression turned icy.
"Get security to protect this area."
Evelyn was physically weak.
She couldn't be disturbed.
Inside the ward.
After Alexander left.
Dr. Mason set down his stethoscope.
He sat on Evelyn's bedside.
Evelyn spoke softly.
"Brother, why tease him?"
Dr. Mason sneered.
"You got married without telling me."
"And you still call me brother?"
Evelyn's gaze was distant.
"I didn't want to disturb you."
Dr. Mason sensed something.
He changed the subject.
"What were you dreaming about?"
"You kept calling for哥哥..."
Evelyn smiled faintly.
"I dreamed about when I was three or four..."
Mentioning the dream.
She suddenly remembered the conversation clearly.