Chapter 2
Leaving the Young family estate, I headed straight for my old neighborhood. Years had passed since I last visited, and now it lay abandoned, covered in fallen leaves and dust.
When Karter was little, I often tried to convince Osman to accompany me back here. He would always say that if he were seen in such a place, reporters would concoct stories that could affect the company's stock price. So I snuck back a few times with our son. Back then, the neighborhood was lively, filled with children, and Karter had a blast playing there.
Later, Pearl found out and reprimanded me. She said that as a member of the Young family, I should behave like a proper lady of wealth, not constantly return to my childhood home. She insisted that letting Karter play in the dirt like a commoner would harm the family's reputation. Since then, Karter lost interest in returning, and I couldn't come back either.
“Ma’am, are you looking for my dad? We live on the second floor,” chirped a sweet little girl's voice, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I crouched down to her level. “Who’s your dad? Why haven’t you moved out yet?”
She giggled. “My dad is Vance Campbell. He said he’s waiting for an aunt here, and I’ve seen photos—it looks just like you.”
Just as she finished, Vance came running up, a little out of breath. “Laylani, you wandered off again—”
His eyes widened with delight when he saw me. “Leona? What brings you back here?”
I looked at my old friend, smiling slightly. “It's like you knew I'd come back. Why are you living here instead of in a mansion?”
Vance and I had grown up together, almost like childhood sweethearts, but his family moved abroad, and we rarely saw each other after that. He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, a hint of blush on his cheeks. “I’m holding on to memories.”
Laylani gently tugged at my hand. “Ma’am, I want to give you this candy; it’s really good.”
Vance explained, “That's her favorite candy. She never gives it away, not even to me, which means she really likes you.”
I picked Laylani up. “Come on, let’s go find something tasty to eat.”
That meal was the best I’d had in years. The three of us laughed and snapped countless photos at a fondue restaurant. For once, there was no need to worry about impressions, catering to others' tastes, or watching anyone's reactions. That night, for the first time in ages, I didn’t suffer from insomnia and fell into a deep sleep without any sleeping pills.
The next morning, my phone rang, waking me up.
“Leona, where did you put my favorite tie and cufflinks?” Osman was always making sure I was available whenever he needed something.
Suppressing my morning grumpiness, I responded coldly, “Left side of the wardrobe, third drawer.”
I heard the sound of the drawer being opened and closed, followed by his voice, “How does Karter take his supplements? He didn’t have any yesterday and is complaining about a stomach ache this morning.”
Karter, being born prematurely, had always had a sensitive stomach and had been taking supplements daily since birth. As he grew older, I reduced the dosage and started making him health tonics for better digestion. It had been ages since he last complained of stomach pains. But now, just two days after I’d left, he was unwell again.
I sighed and said, “Check the instructions carefully. If it’s too much trouble, you can ask Mina to help him.”
Ending the call, I went back to sleep.
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