"No need!" His expression suddenly changed, as if filled with strong resistance, even his volume increased instantly.
He seemed to realize his tone was too harsh, so he softened his voice and said, "I don’t like that painting. On the contrary, it reminds me of some unpleasant things."
She pondered and couldn’t help but say, "Is it... reminding you of your childhood?" That child gave off a feeling of loneliness and coldness, just like his name.
She thought about the meaning of his name and considered the possibility of him being abused by his mother when he was young.
His expression changed slightly, she was smart, smart enough to know what he was thinking. He lowered his eyes gently, those years with his mother were a shadow he couldn’t shake off all his life. Yet behind this shadow, he didn’t want to forget it.
The one he should call his mother, constantly hitting him, yelling and cursing, even grabbing his neck fiercely, saying, "Why are you his child! Why do you have to look like him! Why! Why!"
At that time, he was just numbly staring at the mottled ceiling, life and death seemed indifferent to him. He couldn’t remember at what age he stopped struggling. No matter how his mother beat or scolded him, he never pleaded, nor did he cry.
Because he knew none of it was useful.
In his mother’s eyes, he couldn’t see any love, only growing hatred, extending the hatred for that man onto him.
Suddenly, a pair of slender, white hands grabbed his hand; these hands were so different from his mother’s, possessing a warmth that hers never had.
Whose hands were they?
By his ear, he heard that gentle voice, "Kyle, no matter what you’ve been through before, you will not be lonely all your life."
He slowly lifted his gaze, and before his eyes was that gentle face, with a warmth he longed for. This was his lifeline, a person destined to live life closely with him!
"With you here, I won’t be lonely all my life." He murmured softly.
The next day at noon, Mabel Quinn took a cab to the entrance of Han’s Garden, rang the doorbell, and after hearing the servant’s inquiry through the intercom, she asked, "Is Mr. Harry Xenakis at home?" Up until now, she still didn’t know that this name was a false one given to her by Daniel Harris.
"Please wait a moment." The other party said, after a while, a servant came to the door, "What can I do for you?"
"Well, I accidentally got one of Mr. Xenakis’s paintings dirty before, so I specifically bought a painting to give to him." She said.
"Sorry, Mr. Xenakis doesn’t want to see you right now." The servant said.
Mabel bit her lip, "Then could you please pass this painting to him, and also tell him I’m sorry."
The servant took the painting, and the gate of Han’s Garden closed slowly again.
Mabel turned and left, not knowing that the servant took the painting to the greenhouse, respectfully saying to Daniel Harris, "Young Master, Miss Quinn sent a painting, saying it’s a replacement for you."
Daniel Harris said indifferently, "Just leave it."
"Yes." The servant placed the painting down and respectfully left the greenhouse again.
After a long time, Daniel Harris walked up to the painting, personally unwrapped the packaging, and looked at the painting. In it, a young boy carried a little girl on his back, strolling in the fields, so harmonious and beautiful.