Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Finally , the full scene came into view .
The young girl , her long hair falling loosely around her shoulders , was curled up in a corner .
Her gue seemed to streich across an enlless , boundless sper
She wore a simple whne dress , and in the soft light , her skin apprared flawless and pure .
“ When … .
, when is this ? ” Odessa exclamed , her voice thick with shock , echning the confusion of everyone else in the room .
“ She was so badly injured before – how could she heal so quickly ? ”
“ 0029 , stand up , ” a voice crackles over the speakers ,
The camera slowly panned upward , It was then that everyone realized this wasn’t a vast , open space at all — it was a small , sterile room with mirrors on all four walls .
Elysia’s face , even more beautiful than they remembered , looked even more fragile now – pale and drained of color .
The live – streaming screen now flushed with comments .
JOh my god , was that string of numbers her code ! They always number test subjects like that in shows .
[ Poor girl .
She looks nothing like a fourteen – year – old anymore ! She’s so thing
Wow , you guys used to call her a murderer .
How does that change so quickly ? Ihr how did Elysia go from this delicate girl to the dark – skinned Woman we saw earlier !
Special circumstances , special label .
.
but honestly , I really love this Elysia now I hopethey keep her like this for a while .
I don’t want her to grow
Watching on the big screen was nothing compared to the intensive expri shoulder .
“ Mr.
Rookwood , can I get another pair of glasses ? ”
e of VR glasses .
Torin rushed over to Stellant side and grabbed his
In that brief moment , Stellan clicked the mousse , and the screen went black .
A flood of Trustrued comments immediately filled the screen :
“ Mr.
Mr.
Drayton Stellan gritted his teeth , his voice thick with harely contained rage , as if he wanted to crush the words between his teeth .
.
Torin recalled what he’d overheard outside the door just moments carlier – Carllan’s mocking remark .
“ Looks like this project isn’t all that great ” Without thinking , he repeated in alouxi ,
Stellan clenched his fists , his knuckles turning white .
But within seconds , the anger in his expression softened , and a bitter smile curved his lips .
“ Do you know why this happened ?” he asked , his voter colder nour
“ It’s because , during this time .
Elysia probably went through unimaginable trasma .
So much so that she developed an instinctive resistance to these memories , ” Stellan continued .
Turin’s face drained of color as the weight of Stellur’s work sank in
“ Think about it , Mr.
Drayton , Stellan pressed .
“A thirteen – year – old girl , at an age when she should be running freely in the sunlight , instead trapped in this dark little room , assigned a number , and subjected to who knows what kinds of experiments for a whole year “
“ No ! No way ! The human trafficker … they said they were going to sell her to .
” Torin began , his voice shaking with disbelief .
In an instant , everything clicked for Torin .
He didn’t need Stellan to remind him .
Whether Elysia had been sent for experiments or sold into slavery , the outcome would have beeis equally tragic .
Elysia had suffered so much before being found .
And while she had been enduring that pain , what had they been doing ? The answer was clear : forgetting
Torin’s breath caught .
His muscles tensed .
Slowly , he lowered his head , his voice barely audible as he muttered , “ I make it up to her .
The word were spoken nut just to those in the room but also as a fragile prontise to himself :
Stellan offered a Lant , almost imperceptible smile .
Without timing his head , he casually continued typing on the computer .
“ Good luck .
If there’s
Müll tune ….
At the Drayton Group headquarters , Rupert stared at the VR glasses on his desk .
His mind kept replaying Torin’s words , as well as the dull , grayish photo he’d seen earlier .
The more he thought about it , the angrier he became .
by Elysia .
‘ For all these years , I’ve taken care of her – fed her , clothed her – but what has she done in return ?
He felt he had done nothing wrong by
“ First , she bullied Rowena , disrespected her elders , and even stole things .
She has no sense of class , no refinement – just petty , beneath the dignity of the Drayton family .
And that isn’t even the worst of it
Chapter 21
Transderstand that , growing sip in ancianderdeveloped area , she might not have the best manners , but she’s gone ton far – skipping school , being Tazy and undisciplined , even getting involved in a relationship ton early and having an abortion .
Outrageous ! The Drayton family’s reputation has been tarnished because of her ?
m them on
The more Rupert thought about it , the more convinced he became of his righteousness .
Feeling justified , he picked up the glasses and pur without hesitation .
As soon as he did , the screen flickered to life , shaming Elysia sitting in a police station .
The live – streaming screen now flushed with comments ,
[ Ah , my little darling was finally saved by the police ! ) .
[ Is she okay ! Her breathing sounds so shallow .
What did that man do to far ! I
[ white .
She’s cur
[ I think she looks fine .
I like her pale and delicate , all soft all wh
Report ! There is aj
a pervert here ! ]
Rupert’s confusion sleepened as he read the comments .
For they seriously describing her as “ saved by the police ” and “ pale and delicate “ ? Isn’t she the one arrested for stealing things ?
The pober had simply recognized her and contacted his , but at the titur , he had been on basy to take the call .
It had been Althea who had gone to pick her up
Rupert re
As Rupert replayed that day in his mind , he began tidding with the controls , trying to figure out how to send a message .
He wanted to clarify the truth : Elysia had been arrested for stealing rogs from their neighbors
But just as he was about to press “ send ,” a fumitur yuier crackled through his earpree .
“ Rowena didn’t you say you already took care of her ? Why is she still alive
A luxury car pulled up outside the police station , and the vone seemed to come from inside in
The Drayton family froze .
The car was the same model their family chauffeur always drove .
Rupert was the most shocked .
After all , he’d known that voice for turenty years — he would recognize it anywhere .
For a brief moment , the room fell
Homen’s voice came through , mufled and devant “ Sorry , Mom .
Bat Trought something good .
Once we put it on her Dad won’t like her anymore
“ And if we tell Dal
d she was
was arrested for a crime … I’m sure he’ll never like her agam , right , Mom !
Althea narrowed her eyes .
Since learning that Elysia was the one Rowena had pushed down the mountain , she had never underestimated her again .
“ Of course .
You are very clever .
“ But if you want her completely out of the picture , just making Rupert dislike her won’t be enough ”
Rowena smiled.
I know , Mom , And I’ve got my brothers and my fance to helpin
Outside the screen , Rupert furrowed his brows .
He had no idea what they were talking absst .
It all sounded so absurd .
Without any real evidence .
he wasn’t about to believe a word of h
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