051: A veil of pretence

~Mia POV~

I met Emily seated calmly at a corner in the restaurant I had chosen. It was Mom’s favorite—El Patio. They served traditional cuisines, not the kind the rich often fancied, but warm and comforting in ways money could never buy.

“Sorry I’m late,” I said, slipping into the seat opposite her.

“No, it’s fine, you’re just in time. I already placed an order,” she replied, pulling out a brown envelope.

“Were you able to get any information?” I asked eagerly.

“Yeah, I did. It’s true. He actually lived years back with a peasant farmer in the hills of Compton, but later, they stayed in an orphanage they helped run.” She placed the envelope in front of me.

“Does that mean the Cole Orphanage was built by Robert?” I asked, remembering how he had stepped out of the building that night through the back door, how he had wept on Mrs. Cora’s shoulder.

“It’s not completely confirmed. But from what the locals say, there’s no denying Robert was with them,” Emily explained.

“Then why was he taken