Crossroads

Chapter 309

Stephanie said, “Don’t worry, the police won’t arrest you.” She pondered. That damned man really scared this poor little girl so much. She and her brother must have spent the whole night terrified by that pile of money!

She added, “Just give the money to your parents.”

The little girl responded, “I don’t have any parents.”

Maybe it was the way the girl spoke so naturally, or perhaps it was her innocent and tender voice that made the words so heartbreaking. Stephanie was stunned for a moment, unsure how to respond. She really wasn’t good at comforting people.

The little girl seemed used to not having parents and wasn’t upset. Instead, she cheerfully told Stephanie, “My brother and 1 live in an orphanage with many other children.”

Stephanie looked at the little girl’s outfit, which was just like the one she wore last night, an old red cotton jacket, oversized tasseled boots, and a young face smeared with a bit of dirt. But now, she was smiling brightly. Last night, Stephanie had noticed the little girl’s outfit and assumed she was from a poor family, but she hadn’t realized that the little girl and her brother were orphans.

The little girl continued. “My brother gave the money to Sister Alice at the orphanage last night. Sister Alice is an adult, so we must listen to her.”

“Was it the nuns who told you to sell flowers?” Stephanie asked. Thinking of the darker sides of society, she added, “Have the nuns ever hurt you?”

The little girl quickly shook her head. “Sister Alice is kind. We have food to eat now and can go to school. My brother says we’re big kids now and need to help take care of the younger children at the orphanage. He takes me here to sell roses so we can earn some money for books and food.” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Stephanie stared blankly at the girl, who was about seven years old, talking earnestly about orphanage life and selling flowers to make money. Stephanie thought the girl’s smile seemed truly content at that moment.

Almost instinctively, she reached out and wiped the dirt off the little girl’s cheek, thinking such a precious little life deserved

better.

bought a basket of roses from the little girl, who insisted

find her brother.

a cab back to her room, 402. The sight of the beautiful roses

TV, and the sound from it made the cold house feel

was on the TV at first. She was busy arranging the roses. But when she heard at news segment mentioning the Innovate Group, she looked up at the screen.

that this year, the company’s

news, frowned, and wondered why the Innovate Group suddenly had a strong interest in child welfare funding.

502, the apartment above hers. Stephanie rarely paid attention to the Innovate Group’s affairs. Perhaps the company had been funding such initiatives for

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the coffee table.

single wilted rose nearby, tied with a pale pink bow identical to

began to get lost in thoughts. It wasn’t until Stephanie’s stomach rumbled that she realized the hadn’t

she saw a wide variety of Christmas meals on the app, she didn’t

to

no matter how fancy the takeout was, she’d lose interest after eating too much. After some thought, she tossed the phone onto the sofa and headed to the kitchen to

easy that even someone as hopeless in the kitchen as

the soup was warm, and even though it was plain and tasteless, she could finish it. People called Stephanie picky. but she didn’t think she was that hard to please. They

came over and made clam chowder for her. As if by some kind of telepathy. her phone on the couch beeped just as she ladled the soup. Oscar had sent her a WhatsApp message.

staring at it

video called Oscar