billion book
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
In the oppressive swelter of August, a sense of restlessness pervaded the air.
Outside the orphanage gate, a well-kept middle-aged woman, her eyes swollen and red from crying, barely able to stand, was supported by her husband, Sanderson Delaney. "Is this our poor lost daughter?" she asked.
Sanderson also had reddened eyes, nodding. "Yes."
Sanderson and his childhood sweetheart, Lorna Wilson, were a picture of marital bliss, but their daughter went missing under tragic circumstances. After 18 years of searching, hope had faded. Yet, surprisingly, their prayers were answered when they found her in an orphanage.
Sanderson's gaze shifted to the two approaching him, settling on the polite girl trailing behind the headmistress.
She sported a white baseball cap, dressed in a clean set of blue jeans and a t-shirt, her hair neatly tied back in a ponytail, and her fair face featured delicate features, with beautiful and clear eyes looking at them, misty and bewildered.
Compared to the emotional couple, she seemed too calm.
Sanderson blinked in confusion.
As they drew closer, the headmistress presented the girl to them. "Mr. and Mrs. Delaney, this is Cordelia Delaney."
Turning to the girl, she said, "Lia, these are your parents. They've come to take you home."
After hearing that, Cordelia's gaze finally focused, settling on Lorna.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Lorna looked at her with restraint and longing, her lips trembling with the desire to connect, yet tentative for fear of rejection.
After a moment, Cordelia spoke softly, "Hello." Her tone was distant, somewhat indifferent.
Oblivious to the oddity, Lorna couldn't contain herself and embraced her daughter tightly, weeping loudly. "Oh, my darling girl, I have finally found you! You've suffered so much..."
The soft and warm embrace made Cordelia stiffen, unaccustomed to such affection.
Yet, pushing her away seemed too harsh.
Caught in her dilemma, Cordelia noticed Sanderson signaling the headmistress, and they stepped away slightly. In a voice he thought she couldn't hear, Sanderson asked the headmistress in a low tone, "Miss, there's nothing wrong with Lia, is there?" gesturing to his head.
The headmistress quickly responded, "Not at all. Cordelia is intelligent, a real genius. She's known in our orphanage for her brilliance. She's more absorbed in her studies than social interactions, so she might seem a bit slow to respond."
A genius?
To Sanderson, her being a genius mattered less than her not being foolish. He sighed in relief, and once Lorna had calmed down a bit, they got into the car to head home.
Through the car window, Cordelia silently observed the outside world. The chaotic streets and the slightly worn door of the orphanage receded slowly as the car moved away until it turned a corner and was out of sight. Only then did a faint feeling of loss belatedly sweep over her.
None of them saw that. After they left, a sleek black Range Rover pulled up quietly in front of the orphanage.
Inside sat two people.
The driver turned around. "Mr. Watkins, we're a step too late."
Everard Watkins in the back seat sat rigidly, his jawline firm. The dim light in the car cast his nearly perfect features in a shadowy veil.
His sharp eyes emitted a sincere intensity that made it difficult to meet his gaze.
His fingers, long and well-defined, tapped the armrest lightly before he coldly reminded, "Don’t call me Mr. Watkins. Use a different name out here."
The driver quickly corrected, "Yes, boss."
He couldn't gauge his boss' mood and asked, "Shall we go directly to the Delaney family and take her by force?"
Though prominent in Greenmeadow City, the Delaney family was no match for their power.
But, to his surprise, Everard paused before replying. "No rush."
The driver was stunned. After all this extensive searching to find the girl, why was the boss suddenly in no hurry?
As he pondered, he heard Everard command, "I'll handle her case personally."
[New story, new encounters! This is a totally different story, and I’m sure it’s very interesting!]