The topic of Jimmy was quickly brushed aside.
Bobby, who ranked eighth among them, had always been a man of few words. He just faintly smiled as he listened to their conversation.
It was rare for Aiden to come down from the mountain this time. He still had a shaved head and he still looked very handsome. Coupled with the green robe he wore, he appeared incredibly holy when he looked down with a gentle gaze.
He appeared elegant, like the flowers after the rain. He looked like a delicate rose blooming amidst the barren trees, with a unique nobility that couldn’t be dulled by his simplicity.
“Are you going back after later, Aiden?” Bobby asked in a low voice, “Your parents often ask me about you, but I tell them few. You arrived last night. Have you visited the Xuereb family?”
Aiden shook his head. “I have already dedicated myself to Christianity, and I feel comfortable at the church.”
“Then why did you come here today?” Bobby said with a smile, “Are you here to see us or to see Maddie!”
“Both Aiden said, his wrist adorned with a long string of rosary beads that almost reached his knees. “Also, I bring a new set of rosary beads for
Caleb.”
Bobby nodded, his demeanor as always, warm and gentle. “Sounds good though just follow your heart.”
Hank and Leonardo didn’t come either.
Yohannes sat at the end of the table, alone and aloof, playing with his phone. The faint light from the screen reflected on his cheek, his hair, usually in various colors, was dyed back to black this time. Instead of drinking the tea, he had a lollipop in his mouth.
Footsteps were heard from outside. The nine men present all turned their heads towards the door in unison
Madeline stood at the door with a large suitcase.
Gavin rushed over and took the suitcase from Madeline’s hand. “You should have told me the exact time you arrived so that I could have picked you up. Carrying such a big suitcase alone must be very tiring, right!”
Eugene, who was disgusted by Gavin’s behavior, walked slowly to greet Madeline. He took her hands and blew on it. “Maddie’s hands must be sore. Let me massage it for you. I recently learned massage and I’ll come to your room tonight and help you relax. The filming must be tiring, right! With me at home, you can rest easy and worry–free.”
Gavin gritted his teeth as he watched Eugene take Madeline away. He tightened his grip on the handle of the suncase, thinking. That guy still has no shame!!
Madeline sat down next to Eugene and looked around. When she saw Aiden, she blinked. “Mr. Blennett? Are you Aiden‘”
Aiden nodded slightly, “Yes.”
Madeline also smiled at him with pursed lips. “I didn’t recognize you on the mountain before, and you didn’t tell me either. I thought all the priests on the mountain were as kind as you.”
Aiden shook his head. “Not being recognized by you was perhaps meant to be
Madeline turned to Ivan with disbelief. The ruthless bully who used to be feared in the orphanage had now become such a distinguished figure. She remembered how quiet Ivan was as a child.
It was said that a dog that barked was less dangerous than one that remained silent. Ivan was the silent kind, and when he attacked, he could be ruthless.
Despite his fierceness. Ivan was loyal to his family and friends. He cherished them.
“It’s been a while, Ivan Madeline said.
“Has it?” Ivan raised his eyebrows and looked at her. “When you were in the countryside, 1 visited you once on a business trip. I was in the mayor’s car at the time.” He continued, “I didn’t want to disturb you, so I just took a quick look from a distance and left. Every year, I’d go back to check on you, though you were unaware. I even made sure your school, which was about to close, stayed open until you left, so you wouldn’t have to travel far for your education.”
Madeline was surprised. She never heard about this. Seeing Ivan’s reassuring and powerful presence, she realized how formidable he was. “No wonder my family was chosen for the grant one year, and we received annual subsidies. And the school did close after 1 left. I didn’t expect it was all thanks to you.”
Ivan gave a modest smile. “It was nothing, Larranged for your education under my secretary’s name to ensure you could attend college withou
11:54 AM
Chapter 246
trouble, but before I could help you with that, you had already returned to Acocester. I heard that you worked hard and were always top of your
class.”
Ivan looked at Madeline, his eyes filled with complex emotions as if he was feeling a sense of pride in her growth. “All your school report cards are kept in the safe in my office. And all the photos taken of you at school have been preserved, which 1 can give you later.”
Madeline’s smile froze. She was grateful for him, but she felt that keeping her photos was a little odd. “Don’t bother, Ivan. I don’t like to look back. 1 prefer to focus on the future.”
Think of it as a keepsake. Don’t feel burdened, Ivan said, pouring her a cup of tea.
His hands bore the calluses of someone who wrote often, with additional calluses in peculiar places.
Madeline looked at his white cuffs, and in a moment of distraction, he had already withdrawn his hand. “What kind of job do you do now, I You’re dressed quite formally. Are you in a position like Caleb’s?”
“No.” Ivan raised his cup, gesturing for her to drink. “Just… An employee in the government.”
Ivan?
Madeline nodded thoughtfully, thinking, Just an employee who could have the mayor accompany him? She tilted her head, looking at Ivan without further questions.
They talked about Jimmy, Hank, and Leonardo, but no one knew their whereabouts.
Madeline looked at the empty seats, realizing that she had been reborn for a year and hadn’t seen all her brothers. It seemed that the next time she was free, she should take the initiative to visit them to avoid them disappearing without a trace.
Madeline took a sip of her tea, finding it bitter and not to her liking, so she quietly put the cup down. Hobby considerately poured her a cup of warm water. “It’s warm, Maddie.
“Thank you, Bobby. Madeline smiled and quickly took a sip of warm water to dilute the taste of the tea in her mouth
Surrounded by nine men who were all outstanding but suddenly fell silent, she couldn’t help but straighten her back, feeling uneasy and unsure of what to do.
Madeline didn’t know why she felt so out of place. Perhaps because she was the only innocent one among those shrewd men.
