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.

little girl, who insisted on only accepting

find her

basket of roses, took a cab back to her room, 402. The sight of the beautiful roses lifted her spirits a bit, easing her

sound from it made the cold house feel

pay much attention to what was on the TV at first. She was busy arranging the roses. But when she heard at news segment mentioning

spokesperson has promised that this year,

news, frowned, and wondered why the Innovate Group suddenly had a

then instinctively looked up at the ceiling, toward 502, the apartment above hers. Stephanie rarely paid attention to the Innovate Group’s affairs. Perhaps the company had been funding such initiatives for a long

iL

the coffee

a pale pink bow identical to those in the

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

to order takeout, but when she saw a wide variety of Christmas meals

what to choose.

no matter how fancy the takeout was, she’d lose interest after eating too much. After some thought,

someone as hopeless in the kitchen as her could manage it. While others were

and tasteless, she could finish it. People called Stephanie picky. but she didn’t think she was that hard to please. They just

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. It was simple a

by the message, staring at it for a while before

suppressed and complex expression and video called Oscar on WhatsApp. Stephanie waited anxiously for him to accept, but