Chapter 593: Explosive News

Cecilia thought for half a second and gently used a tissue to wipe the young girl’s face.

"Cynthia, I’ve heard that your mother has passed away. Although your father is your legal guardian, he hasn’t fulfilled his responsibilities. If you don’t mind, I’ll use that thirty thousand to rent you a place with good security, close to school, and from now on, you can act as though you don’t have that father."

Cynthia looked at Cecilia in disbelief that she would be willing to help someone completely.

"Miss Vaughn... I’m afraid I’ll be a burden to you..."

Little Cynthia was quite shy and tried to refuse, hesitatingly.

Sometimes Cynthia truly hated her father. Why was she born into such a family? Her father was a gambler, and since she could remember, there had never been a moment of peace at home.

Though her mother was a bit fierce and would hit and scold her, when Cynthia saw her mother holding her and crying, her heart inexplicably softened. Perhaps without a fierce woman to control the household, even attending high school would have been an issue for her.

However, later on, her parents divorced, and she thought she’d escaped, only for her father to cling to the home, refusing to leave. Even after getting the divorce certificate, he shamelessly insisted on living in the house awarded to the mother by the court.

Her mother had no solution, with no one in the city to support her, ultimately being angered to death by that gambler.

...

Thinking about the past, Cynthia couldn’t control her tears from falling.

Her eyes became bloodshot and her lips trembled, but for a long time, she didn’t know how to explain her family’s situation to Cecilia.

Her father’s gambling debts had accumulated significantly. The only solace for Cynthia was that, unlike in those trashy TV dramas, her father hadn’t made his young daughter pay the debts.

Cynthia hated her father but never thought of seeking revenge; she only hoped she could escape far away, as far as possible, and never be entangled with him again.

Call her cold-hearted or selfish, heartless and ungrateful. From childhood to adulthood, her living expenses were provided by her mother. Cynthia felt that all she owed her father was her flesh and blood.

And unlike Nereus cutting bones to sever ties, she couldn’t afford to do that.

...

Cecilia gazed at the teary-eyed girl, feeling inexplicably pained. Somehow, through Cynthia’s beautiful face, she saw herself when she was at a dead end.

Even if someone extended an olive branch to her, she dared not reach for it.

Afraid it would be a mirage, that a light poke would shatter the dream.

"Cynthia, don’t worry about anything else. Just focus on the college entrance exam. I’m not giving all of this to you for free. Let’s say, that thirty thousand is simply yours. For anything else I might spend on you, you can repay with bank interest once you graduate; the support is only until you graduate from college."

"Miss Vaughn... I really don’t know what to say... Thank you, really, thank you..."

Cynthia choked up, her throat aching sharply. Even her mother had never tenderly wiped away her tears. Cynthia’s memory of her mother, despite loving her very much, also came with physical and emotional scars.

She could understand her mother but couldn’t think of her with clean joy, devoid of shadows.

But looking at the girl in front of her, only a few years older than herself, Cynthia found she could let go of all her defenses.

...

"Miss Vaughn... I really envy Evan having a sister like you. I want one too..."

Cynthia wiped her tears, but suddenly her snot dripped down.

This scene inevitably seemed a bit comical.

Cecilia couldn’t help but laugh, took out a napkin to wipe the girl’s face.

"Silly girl, you’ve already called me sister, so there’s no need to make me a real sister, right? Everyone has their own fate. If I could choose, I wouldn’t want to be the older sister taking care of Evan; I’d rather be the younger sister being cared for."

"That’s true..."

Cynthia broke into a smile amidst her tears.

Thinking about it, only children often envy families with siblings, picturing harmonious relationships where the older one leads the younger.

But if they really had to become an older sibling themselves, not every only child could accept such a tough role.

...

Cecilia didn’t intend to form a sisterly bond with Cynthia thoroughly, considering whether Evan’s feelings for Cynthia were mere youthful affection or the kind intended for after college.

If this young girl were destined to marry Evan in the future, wouldn’t the relationship hierarchy get confused?

Thus, Cecilia preemptively cut off Cynthia’s thought, not making them sisters, not negating helping Cynthia. As long as Cynthia was promising, Cecilia didn’t mind being a guide for her.

...

To some extent, this mirrored Boss Zane’s decision to invest in Nolan Zane, except Cecilia wasn’t someone like Boss Zane.

"Alright, alright, no more happiness today. I’ll inform you about the specific housing later. For now, just go to and from school with Evan, or have you considered living on campus? When it’s vacation time, you can go to the place I rented; this saves you from commuting."

"Alright, I’ll follow Miss Vaughn’s arrangements."

Cecilia lovingly stroked the young girl’s hair and gently reminded her.

"Cynthia, I’ve paved the way for you, but hope you have independent thoughts and personality. Don’t follow the crowd; don’t take others’ words as truths. Ultimately, no one can help you forever."

Indeed, having someone willing to reach out to lend a hand is a great fortune.

Helping is a grace, not helping is one’s right.

This truth, Adrian Law understood far better than her.

...

"Alright, I understand. I’ll work hard for the college entrance exam and plan for my future early."

"That’s good then. Take these foods to Evan; this bag is yours, and that bag is hers."

"Thank you, Miss Vaughn."

Cynthia looked at Cecilia with reddened eyes, as if she was about to cry again.

Cecilia merely gave a slight smile, then turned to leave.

She was just about to drive away when suddenly, a sensational news alert on her phone popped up.

——Extra! Extra! The boss of the city’s leading enterprise, Zane Group, suddenly died of a stroke this afternoon!