Chapter 810 - 796: Crime-Solving Little Detective (26)

Chapter 810: Chapter 796: Crime-Solving Little Detective (26)

In the living room.

Una Sullivan excitedly held Shirley Lockwood’s small hand. "This must be Rory. Come, let Grandma have a good look at you."

"Hello, Grandma. I’m Rory."

"Such a good girl..."

"Mom, Dad, I’m so sorry for everything over the years. I’ve caused you so much suffering." Archie Lockwood looked at his adoptive parents, his heart aching terribly. Ever since he grew up, all he wanted was to make money—lots of it—so his parents and sister could live a good life. But like a bastard, he had walked away and disappeared for years.

Hearing this, Una Sullivan shed tears but smiled, shaking her head. "Silly child, what nonsense are you saying? We’re just happy to see you doing so well now. As long as you’re all alright, your father and I don’t mind whatever happens to us."

"That’s right. Seeing how successful you’ve become, your mother and I couldn’t be happier." Joseph Summers walked over to Archie Lockwood, patted his shoulder, and smiled with relief.

This long-lost feeling of having family warmed Archie’s heart, but amidst that warmth was a deep sense of guilt.

Because he had matters to attend to at his company in the afternoon, Archie didn’t stay for dinner. Before leaving, he tried to leave a large sum of money for his parents, but they refused it. He wanted to take Rory with him, but since she and Kiki went to the same school—and due to Rory’s strong insistence—Archie had no choice but to let them go to school together.

Outside the villa.

Archie Lockwood stared at the check in his hand, his brows tightly furrowed. He turned to Tristan Grayson, who had walked him out. "Can you give this check to Mom and Dad for me?"

Tristan’s lips curled into a mocking smirk. "Archie Lockwood, I can’t help you with that."

"I know you guys don’t lack money, but this is a token of my gratitude to them, and it’s my responsibility." Archie glanced down at the numbers on the check, his tone low and cold.

"Archie, I thought you’d finally figured things out when you followed us home to visit Mom and Dad. But seeing you like this—heh, it seems you’re no different from the man you used to be." Tristan scoffed, knowing full well that not everything in this world could be solved by throwing money at it.

Archie’s handsome face darkened, a flash of ruthlessness crossing his eyes. "Tristan Grayson, what do you mean by that?"

"Mom and Dad’s intentions are perfectly clear. They won’t take your money. If you truly want to show them filial piety, just bring Rory back to spend more time with them." After saying that, Tristan simply turned and walked back inside, regardless of whether Archie understood him or not.

Archie watched Tristan walk away, his eyes swirling with complex emotions. He simply didn’t know how else to make up for his mistakes other than with money, or how else to repay them for raising him.

When Tristan returned inside, he was met with Mika Summers’ worried expression. He sighed, pulling her into his arms, and softly comforted her. "Since your brother is willing to come back, he must have figured things out. Don’t overthink it."

"It’s not about that." Mika shook her head, her face pale. She dragged Tristan toward the door. Just before they walked out, she lowered her voice and said anxiously, "Tristan, I think I said the wrong thing."

Tristan frowned. "What happened?"

"My brother doesn’t seem to have told Rory anything about her mother."

"Hm?"

"Tristan, I’m doomed. I let that little one trick me into spilling the beans."

"Don’t panic, honey. What exactly happened?"

"Well, I was taking Rory upstairs for a tour, right? And then Rory asked me which room her mom used to live in, so I told her."

"That’s it?" Tristan couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. His wife really was making a mountain out of a molehill; he thought it was something truly catastrophic.

"Tristan, you know that my brother and the others did all the interior design for this villa back then. Even after my parents moved in, they never changed the layout. My brother’s bedroom on the second floor is exactly as it was."

"And?"

"Rory saw a photo of my brother and his wife. Then she came over and commented on how beautiful her mom was when she was young. I didn’t realize she was fishing for information, so I let the little one trick me."

"Are you saying Rory had no idea what her mother looked like?"

"Yeah, my brother probably never told Rory anything."

"Don’t worry, honey. Maybe Rory actually remembers what her mom looks like. Don’t forget, she was already three years old back then."

It shouldn’t be that hard for a three-year-old child to remember her own mother.