Chapter 72 The Poor Child

On the way home, Alistair kept a close eye on Caroline, noting

with relief that she showed no further signs of discomfort.

Still, he couldn't completely relax. He wasn't fooled. The low blood sugar was clearly just an excuse. But since Caroline didn't want to talk about it, he didn't press the issue.

What's the deal with that house in front of my place? Is something wrong with it?

Alistair racked his brain.

When he first started going to and from school after the new residents moved in, he hadn't paid much attention to the place.

Whoever lived there was fine by him as long as they didn't mess

with his life.

Most households in the neighborhood consisted of a married couple with one kid, but this one was different, with two women who, according to local gossip, were sisters taking care of a sick child who needed privacy to recover.

Ever since word got out that the kid had some illness-someone had started a rumor it was contagious-the other children stopped coming to Alistair's house, which was closest to theirs.

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Chapter 72 The Poor Child

- 20 mint

He couldn't really blame people for jumping to conclusions, though. The two women barely left home and avoided talking to locals unless absolutely necessary. They always wore face masks coming and going, so nobody knew what they looked like. All that mystery made people's imaginations run wild.

Alistair, being naturally quiet, didn't mind the lack of visitors. The peace and quiet meant he could focus on his studies.

Truth be told, Alistair wasn't actually that into studying. He'd never been the model child others thought he was. It was Robert who always pushed him to hit the books, saying that getting smart was the only way he'd eventually be able to buy Robert good liquor.

Robert's only real pleasure in life was enjoying a few drinks now

and then.

Alistair had taken this to heart, always trying to grow up exactly the way Robert wanted him to.

After school, Alistair would grab his folding wooden table and set it up in the yard before sunset. He'd perch on his little stool to do homework while the light was still good.

Once finished, he'd spend time playing with Robert's dog.

Their yard wasn't huge, but Robert had created a small vegetable

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provided nearly all the greens they

going crazy, barking at some

the garden. Alistair went to check it out and, spotting the

the overly curious pup might turn it into a chew toy. Being the good kid he

far behind the house,

release the toad

the moment he stepped back

his eye.

paper lay in

Weird.

wasn't like most older men-he was meticulous,

And Alistair definitely

the wind blew

it up,

it in uneven handwriting: [Don't

dirty?]

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72 The

him like a

to

note... it had to be aimed

But from whom?

took off, half-laughing, half

hiding in the mulberry tree?

the branches

Nothing. No one.

confused, he caught a slight movement in the curtains of

between the drapes, Alistair froze

be from those new neighbors who'd

not the adults, he figured. They

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72 The

was that sick

(→ 20 min left

some contagious disease, Alistair's hand trembled slightly as he

the kid might still be watching from behind the

be overly sympathetic, but he

the paper into a ball, but just before tossing it in the trash, a thought struck him. He

should keep any germs

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