Chapter 4

The next morning, the Riso family's motorcade drove into the slum in a grand procession. Several black luxury cars were parked neatly on the shabby square, out of place with the surrounding decrepit environment.

People nearby rushed out to watch, gathering in groups while they criticized.

The accompanying servants swiftly put away all the items.

Titus stood by the car, occasionally tiptoeing to peer at the distant intersection. He took out his phone and checked it repeatedly. Regret somehow rose in his heart. He wondered if he had gone too far when he asked me not to return to the rental house, and whether I suffered any injustice by spending the whole night outside the slum.

As soon as this thought occurred, Melissa walked over, holding Christian's hand. She said with a grin, "Titus, everything is ready. The butler and the rest are waiting. It's time for us to get in the car."

Titus came to his senses, frowned, and glanced at his phone. "Let's wait a bit more. Noelle hasn't returned yet."

Then, he urgently called my number again, but all he heard was a cold, prompt tone of the call being unanswered. The text messages he sent out were also met with complete silence.

Noticing his increasingly grim expression, Melissa asked softly, "Doesn't Noelle know we're leaving today?"

Titus did not respond. He turned to his staff and instructed, "You guys come with me to look around and see where Mrs. Holt went."

Just as Titus was about to leave, Melissa quickly grabbed his arm.

She bit her lip, her face full of self-reproach as she choked out. "Noelle must be angry with me. She left because of me. It was my fault yesterday. I shouldn't have been so sensitive and said those things."

She paused before continuing with red-rimmed eyes, "How about this? Take Christian and go first. I'll stay and find her. Once I find Noelle, I'll apologize to her properly and come find you together."

Titus was about to speak when she gently tugged at his sleeve, glanced at the butler standing not far away, and muttered, "Titus, look. That butler seems to be in a hurry to leave. You’ve just been brought back into the Riso family. If you keep delaying here, the family will think you're indecisive. It'll give them something to hold against you."

Titus followed her gaze and indeed saw the butler not far away, looking impatient and covering his nose with a handkerchief.

The slight guilt he had felt toward me was instantly replaced by anger. Titus' face turned completely cold. He felt I was deliberately throwing a tantrum.

"You don't need to stay. Noelle's too willful. I have to teach her a lesson this time. Let her stay in the slums and reflect on her actions. I'll send someone to bring her back when she realizes her mistake." His tone was full of anger and impatience.

Once he finished speaking, he bent over to help Christian and Melissa into the luxury car. "Let's go!"

With Titus' command, the motorcade slowly started moving.

Melissa sat in the car, watching the slums recede into the distance, a smug smile on her lips.

Christian leaned against the window, glanced back, and asked timidly, "Dad, are we not going to wait for Mom?"

Titus patted his head, his tone slightly displeased. "Your mother disregarded the bigger picture and has to stay to apologize. We'll go back first."

Melissa immediately interjected softly, "Don't worry, Christian. Your dad will bring her back in a while."

With that said, the three of them looked out at the scenery rushing by, each dreaming of their so-called wonderful lives.