Isabella Garrison was almost on pins and needles.
She squeezed out an awkward smile from the corners of her lips, "Well, we accept charitable donations here, but we don’t investigate the donors’ identities beforehand. What you’re suggesting sounds like you’re suspicious of me..."
James Grant curled his lips, but did not respond.
Yet the coldness and disdain in his eyes were slowly rising.
Evelyn Clayton slightly smiled and calmly took over the conversation, "Director Garrison, don’t take it to heart; he’s just joking. Actually, we are considering making a donation ourselves, but we heard this place is due to be relocated soon. We’re wondering if our donation would be used for the construction of the new Ardendale Welfare Home site?"
Evelyn’s gentle and slow words eased the alertness Isabella had felt, and her eyes sparkled more as she heard Evelyn mention the donation.
"That’s easy, all of it can be discussed," Isabella smiled broadly, "But you two are quite informed, hearing about our relocation so fast... Rest assured, we’ll certainly notify the families who adopted children with the new address in due time!" Official source is novel{f}ire.net
Evelyn smiled and nodded, discreetly exchanging a glance with James, and then said, "That’s good. Could Director Garrison show us around to meet the children then?"
Isabella promptly rose and eagerly led James Grant and Evelyn Clayton outside.
Standing at the front door of the bungalow, looking into the yard, there were children of all sizes at play in the yard at that moment.
Evelyn looked over quietly, noticing that most of the children were quite composed, either sitting in the pavilion in the courtyard drawing and writing, or swinging back and forth on the swing set. Occasionally, one would want to go to the restroom and would raise their hand politely, and an accompanying welfare institution teacher would lead them away.
Evelyn roughly estimated that there were about twenty children here.
It was originally a relatively calm and healing scene, but upon closer inspection, it felt eerie.
The strange part was that with over twenty children in a moderately sized yard, there were hardly any children talking or making noise; the yard was quiet except for the occasional whisper.
If the children were around ten years old, it would be easier to explain, but from what Evelyn could see, most were under ten.
The youngest appeared to be only two or three years old, barely steady on their feet.
They seemed to be participating in a silent-themed gathering, saying nothing if they could, and showing no curiosity towards anything.
Occasionally, a few children would look over curiously but quickly look away.
This strange feeling wasn’t exclusive to Evelyn; James felt it too.
"These children are very quiet," James remarked, with an ambiguous tone, "Looks like Director Garrison taught them well."
Isabella showed a hint of subtle pride in her expression.
"After the children from Ardendale Welfare Home are adopted, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t praise them, saying they’re quiet and composed!"
Listening to Isabella’s words, Evelyn couldn’t help but think of Julia Lawrence.
Julia’s personality perfectly matched that of the children from Ardendale Welfare Home; it’s as if they came out of the same mold.
A gust of autumn wind swept by, causing Evelyn to shiver involuntarily.
Noticeably, James naturally wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "Cold?"
He leaned in close to Evelyn’s ear, "What do we do next?"
"Wait a moment," Evelyn replied with a soft voice, telling him to be patient.
Evelyn’s gaze shifted and fixed on a girl crouching in the corner of the yard.