ถ้าจะรัก ภพชาติก็แค่ปากซอย

The roads were soaked. It had been raining for a whole day in Southbury.

Aria Carver's backpack was thrown out of the door by the butler in disdain.

"Mr. Kent doesn't want to see you, Ms. Carver. So, I have to say some words in his stead. Your birth parents are in the countryside. Your father's last name is Carver.

"The Kent family mistook you for their daughter in the past. But now that Ms. Lily has been found, I hope that you can do what's best for everyone and stop contacting the Kent family."

The butler, Alfred Dun, took out a card. "Here's 10,000 dollars. Mr. Kent instructed me to give it to you as compensation."

"No need."

Aria didn't even look at the card as she picked up her backpack.

Alfred looked at her in disdain. She didn't want the money? Was she acting tough?

She should really think about her circumstances. The Kents had found their real daughter. They wouldn't want a country bumpkin like her anymore. She was an embarrassment.

"As you wish, Ms. Carver." Alfred closed the door with a loud bang.

Aria paid him no mind. She only took a black backpack when she left the Kent Residence. She stood proud and tall. She left the Kent Residence without taking anything that didn't belong to her.

The rain falling on her made her look a little defeated. The people on the second floor saw her and started snickering. They didn't care if she could hear them.

"She's finally gone."

"I know right? I was so afraid that she might not want to go back to the countryside, and would try to stay with us."

Aria didn't respond, but a sneer appeared on her face.

Were the Kents ignorant? Yes, they were.

Aria chewed on a gummy absentmindedly. She had a head of long and glossy black hair. Her face was a little pale, but it didn't make her look weak. Instead, she looked quite mysterious.

…

At the same time, the Carver family was having an international meeting at their home in Janovin.

Warren Carver sat at the head of the table. He held a cane in his hands and looked really intimidating.

"It's been so many years. Is there still no leads on your sister?"

He was talking to his six grandsons.

The Carver family was the wealthiest in Janovin. The six scions of the family were all very remarkable people.

Any single one of them would cause a stir if they went out in the open.

At that moment, they all looked saddened. Longing and sorrow filled their eyes. They were the ones that lost their youngest sister back then.

She was only a baby when she went missing. She never caused a fuss and was always very adorable.

It had been 18 years. They had never stopped looking since. All the leads went cold at a secluded village in the mountains. They had no idea how many times the human traffickers moved their baby sister around.

"Grandpa, let's keep looking. We will definitely find her!"

Suddenly, a chubby man, Frank Levin, rushed into the room with some documents in his hand. He panted as he said, "Mr. Chairman! Little Ms. Carver has been found!"

Warren, who was usually composed, stood up immediately. He was so excited that his hands were shaking.

"Where is she? Send someone to pick her up right now!"

Frank handed the documents over. "She's in Southbury. We're still looking into her exact location."

"Then let's go to Southbury! Get a car ready!" Warren was very excited.

…

It was evening in Southbury. Aria, who had been kicked out of the Kent Residence, didn't go to the countryside.

She waited for the rain to stop before she headed back to the place she was staying at. It was a very insignificant neighborhood.

When she was parking her car, someone called out to her, "You're back, Aria."

"Yeah. I'm back." Aria smiled.

Maria Goode, a fruit vendor, handed her an apple. "I haven't seen you in two weeks. No one else could help me with my arthritis."

"Don't forget about me, Aria. My hand always trembles when I'm playing chess."

Everyone knew that Aria was a very beloved figure in the Elmer district. Some retired government officials loved to chat with her as she treated their conditions.

The place might look plain and simple on the surface, but there was more than met the eye.

The person who talked about his hand was Jasper Garland, a former national chess champion.

Aria didn't delve into the identities of the other residents. She chose to live in this neighborhood because it was a nice place.