Chapter 99

3^rd POV

Inside the dining room, the smell of rice and fried eggs still hung in the air.

Zane sat in his chair.

His spoon rested beside his empty bowl.

But he wasn’t doing his homework. His pencil lay untouched with his eyes were fixed on the door.

The door his aunt had just walked through.

Trisha.

His fingers tapped lightly on the table.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Across from him, Adam noticed.

“You’re thinking,” Adam whispered.

Zane didn’t answer.

Adam leaned closer.

“What about?”

Zane’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“She lied.”

Adam blinked.

“About what?”

Zane didn’t respond immediately.

His gaze shifted toward the living room.

Their grandmother’s voice drifted faintly from inside.

She was still talking with Mom.

Arguing.

Again.

Zane’s lips pressed together.

Then he slid off the chair.

“I’m going outside.”

Adam frowned.

“For what?”

Zane picked up one of the empty biscuit wrappers.

He crumpled it slowly.

“I don’t like cheap snacks.”

Adam raised an eyebrow.

“So?”

“I want chocolate milk.”

Adam stared at him.

Then his eyes slowly widened.

“You’re going after her.”

Zane smiled faintly.

A sly little smile.

Adam leaned back.

“You’re crazy.”

“Maybe.”

Zane shrugged.

“But I’m curious.”

Adam looked toward the living room.

“You’ll get caught.”

Zane shrugged again.

“Only if you tell.”

Adam snorted quietly.

“I won’t.”

Then he leaned closer.

“But if Nate asks…”

Zane grinned.

“Tell him I went to buy milk.”

Adam sighed.

“You’re impossible.”

Zane winked.

Then he quietly slipped toward the door.

No one noticed.

Not Jay.

Not Sophie.

Not Zoey.

Not even Nate.

But just as Zane reached the door—

A calm voice spoke behind him.

“Where are you going?”

Zane froze.

Slowly…

He turned around.

Nate stood there.

His arms crossed.

His dark eyes sharp.

Zane scratched his head casually.

“I want chocolate milk.”

Nate’s gaze didn’t move.

“You hate milk.”

Zane shrugged.

“I changed my mind.”

Nate stared at him for a long moment.

Then he sighed.

“You’re going to talk to her.”

Zane grinned.

“Maybe.”

Nate walked closer.

His voice dropped.

“Be careful.”

Zane blinked.

That wasn’t the response he expected.

“You think she’s dangerous?” Zane asked quietly.

Nate shook his head.

“I think adults are stupid.”

Zane laughed softly.

Then he pushed the door open.

Cool evening air brushed his face.

The street outside was dim.

Streetlights flickered on one by one.

Trisha hadn’t gone far.

She stood near the sidewalk.

Her heels clicked softly against the pavement as she checked her phone.

Her lips curled with irritation.

“This place…” she muttered under her breath.

Her eyes swept across the street, filled with disgust. She didn’t understand how Mannie could still live in such a place despite climbing such a high branch.

If she had such skill as Mannie, she wouldn’t be here trying to grovel for favour.

Looking at the old buildings, cracked walls and rusty fences, her nose wrinkled.

Her fingers tightened around her purse.

“Even after hooking up with David, she still can’t utilize the resources well”

What a waste.

If Trisha had that opportunity…

She would never stay in such a shabby neighborhood.

Never.

A faint sound reached her ears.

Trisha turned.

Her eyes widened slightly.

“Oh?”

Zane stood there.

Hands in his pockets.

Looking up at her.

Trisha’s expression changed instantly. Her disgusted expression vanishing.

Her face melted into a sweet smile.

“Oh my goodness!”

She bent slightly.

“Zane, sweetheart. What are you doing out here?”

Zane looked at her quietly.

His eyes were calm.

Too calm for a child.

“I came to see you.”

Trisha blinked.

“Me?”

Zane nodded.

“I didn’t like the biscuits.”

Trisha laughed.

“Oh dear.”

She crouched down.

“You should still be grateful. Snacks are snacks.”

Zane shook his head.

“I want chocolate milk.”

Trisha’s smile stiffened. Inwardly, she couldn’t help but curse, ‘Who does this bastard think e is? Just because I tried acting nice.’

“Chocolate milk?”

“Yes.”

Zane pointed down the street.

“The shop sells it.”

Trisha followed his finger.

There was indeed a small convenience store nearby.

Her lips tightened. She didn’t want to spend money on such a brat, but if it could help smoothen her rough relationship with Mannie and make Mannie recommend her to David, it will be worth it.

If Mannie heard her thoughts, she would probably tell Trisha to Dream on. Does buying biscuits or chocolate milk worth few pennies, afford her such favor.

She didn’t want to walk into that cheap store. But she forced a smile.

“Well… maybe next time.”

Zane tilted his head.

“You said you care about us.”

Trisha blinked again.

The child’s tone was strangely steady.

Almost like he was negotiating.

Trisha chuckled softly.

“You’re a clever boy.”

Zane stepped closer.

“Will you buy it for me?”

Trisha hesitated.

Then she sighed dramatically.

“Oh, alright.”

She reached into her purse.

“But you must promise something too.”

Zane raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

Trisha smiled sweetly.

“You must tell your mother that I’m a good person.”

Zane stared at her.

A long moment passed.

Then he nodded.

“Okay.”

Trisha smiled wider.

“Such a good boy.”

She pulled out some cash.

Then she suddenly leaned forward.

“Come here.”

Zane blinked.

Trisha tapped her cheek playfully.

“If you give Auntie a kiss, I’ll buy you chocolate milk every time I visit.”

Zane stared at her face.

Then his gaze dropped.

For just a second.

To her chest.

A faint red stain marked the fabric of her blouse.

Small.

But noticeable.

Zane’s eyes narrowed slightly. He wondered what that was? Did Aunt not know how to wash her clothes well?

Then he stepped forward.

And kissed her cheek.

Trisha laughed.

“Oh my!”

She ruffled his hair.

“What a sweet child.”

But neither of them noticed—

Across the street.

Hidden behind a dark window.

A rifle pointed directly at Trisha’s chest.

The long barrel remained perfectly still.

The sniper’s eye pressed against the scope.

His breathing slow and steady.

His finger rested lightly on the trigger.

For ten minutes he had waited.

Watching.

Calculating.

Trisha.

Target confirmed.

Distance: seventy meters.

Wind: minimal.

One shot.

Clean and silent.

His finger slowly tightened.

The crosshair centered perfectly on the red spot over her heart.

Then—

Movement.

A small figure entered the scope.

The sniper frowned.

“A child?”

The boy stepped closer to Trisha.

Blocking the shot.

The sniper’s finger paused.

He adjusted the scope slightly.

Trying to find another angle.

But the child stayed too close.

Then—

The boy kissed Trisha’s cheek.

The sniper froze.

His eye focused on the boy’s face.

And his pupils suddenly shrank.

“…Wait.”

The sniper leaned closer to the scope.

Studying the child.

Dark hair.

Sharp eyes.

That expression—

“No shot tonight.” Within seconds, the weapon disappeared into a long black case. “I need to report to boss.”

The shadow behind the window vanished.

Meanwhile, outside—

Zane stepped back.

Trisha patted his head again.

“I’ll bring you chocolate milk next time.”

Zane nodded.

“Okay.”

Zane pointed.

“What’s that?”

Trisha looked down.

“Oh.”

She laughed awkwardly.

“Someone shot me earlier.”

Zane blinked.

“With what?”

“Red ink.”

She waved her hand dismissively.

“Some naughty kid with a toy gun.”

She clicked her tongue.

“So rude.”

Her eyes scanned the street.

“I wonder which neighbor brat did it.”

Her lips twisted. “This neighborhood really is terrible.”

Inside her mind, her thoughts were far harsher.

What a disgusting place.

Mannie really lives here?

Even after catching David Monroe’s attention?

Trisha scoffed internally.

If it were me…

I would already be living in a luxury villa.

Her eyes returned to Zane who had been watching her micro expressions. Zane scoffed inwardly.

‘Truly, Just like brother said; Some adults are really stupid.”