Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Finally , the full scene came into view .

The young girl , her long hair falling loosely around her shoulders , was curled up in a corner .

Her gue seemed to streich across an enlless , boundless sper

She wore a simple whne dress , and in the soft light , her skin apprared flawless and pure .

“ When … .

, when is this ? ” Odessa exclamed , her voice thick with shock , echning the confusion of everyone else in the room .

“ She was so badly injured before – how could she heal so quickly ? ”

“ 0029 , stand up , ” a voice crackles over the speakers ,

The camera slowly panned upward , It was then that everyone realized this wasn’t a vast , open space at all — it was a small , sterile room with mirrors on all four walls .

Elysia’s face , even more beautiful than they remembered , looked even more fragile now – pale and drained of color .

The live – streaming screen now flushed with comments .

JOh my god , was that string of numbers her code ! They always number test subjects like that in shows .

[ Poor girl .

She looks nothing like a fourteen – year – old anymore ! She’s so thing

Wow , you guys used to call her a murderer .

How does that change so quickly ? Ihr how did Elysia go from this delicate girl to the dark – skinned Woman we saw earlier !

Special circumstances , special label .

.

but honestly , I really love this Elysia now I hopethey keep her like this for a while .

I don’t want her to grow

Watching on the big screen was nothing compared to the intensive expri shoulder .

“ Mr.

Rookwood , can I get another pair of glasses ? ”

e of VR glasses .

Torin rushed over to Stellant side and grabbed his

In that brief moment , Stellan clicked the mousse , and the screen went black .

A flood of Trustrued comments immediately filled the screen :

“ Mr.

Mr.

Drayton Stellan gritted his teeth , his voice thick with harely contained rage , as if he wanted to crush the words between his teeth .

.

Torin recalled what he’d overheard outside the door just moments carlier – Carllan’s mocking remark .

“ Looks like this project isn’t all that great ” Without thinking , he repeated in alouxi ,

Stellan clenched his fists , his knuckles turning white .

But within seconds , the anger in his expression softened , and a bitter smile curved his lips .

“ Do you know why this happened ?” he asked , his voter colder nour

“ It’s because , during this time .

Elysia probably went through unimaginable trasma .

So much so that she developed an instinctive resistance to these memories , ” Stellan continued .

Turin’s face drained of color as the weight of Stellur’s work sank in

“ Think about it , Mr.

Drayton , Stellan pressed .

“A thirteen – year – old girl , at an age when she should be running freely in the sunlight , instead trapped in this dark little room , assigned a number , and subjected to who knows what kinds of experiments for a whole year “

“ No ! No way ! The human trafficker … they said they were going to sell her to .

” Torin began , his voice shaking with disbelief .

In an instant , everything clicked for Torin .

He didn’t need Stellan to remind him .

Whether Elysia had been sent for experiments or sold into slavery , the outcome would have beeis equally tragic .

Elysia had suffered so much before being found .

And while she had been enduring that pain , what had they been doing ? The answer was clear : forgetting

Torin’s breath caught .

His muscles tensed .

Slowly , he lowered his head , his voice barely audible as he muttered , “ I make it up to her .

The word were spoken nut just to those in the room but also as a fragile prontise to himself :

Stellan offered a Lant , almost imperceptible smile .

Without timing his head , he casually continued typing on the computer .

“ Good luck .

If there’s

Müll tune ….

At the Drayton Group headquarters , Rupert stared at the VR glasses on his desk .

His mind kept replaying Torin’s words , as well as the dull , grayish photo he’d seen earlier .

The more he thought about it , the angrier he became .

by Elysia .

‘ For all these years , I’ve taken care of her – fed her , clothed her – but what has she done in return ?

He felt he had done nothing wrong by

“ First , she bullied Rowena , disrespected her elders , and even stole things .

She has no sense of class , no refinement – just petty , beneath the dignity of the Drayton family .

And that isn’t even the worst of it

Chapter 21

Transderstand that , growing sip in ancianderdeveloped area , she might not have the best manners , but she’s gone ton far – skipping school , being Tazy and undisciplined , even getting involved in a relationship ton early and having an abortion .

Outrageous ! The Drayton family’s reputation has been tarnished because of her ?

m them on

The more Rupert thought about it , the more convinced he became of his righteousness .

Feeling justified , he picked up the glasses and pur without hesitation .

As soon as he did , the screen flickered to life , shaming Elysia sitting in a police station .

The live – streaming screen now flushed with comments ,

[ Ah , my little darling was finally saved by the police ! ) .

[ Is she okay ! Her breathing sounds so shallow .

What did that man do to far ! I

[ white .

She’s cur

[ I think she looks fine .

I like her pale and delicate , all soft all wh

Report ! There is aj

a pervert here ! ]

Rupert’s confusion sleepened as he read the comments .

For they seriously describing her as “ saved by the police ” and “ pale and delicate “ ? Isn’t she the one arrested for stealing things ?

The pober had simply recognized her and contacted his , but at the titur , he had been on basy to take the call .

It had been Althea who had gone to pick her up

Rupert re

As Rupert replayed that day in his mind , he began tidding with the controls , trying to figure out how to send a message .

He wanted to clarify the truth : Elysia had been arrested for stealing rogs from their neighbors

But just as he was about to press “ send ,” a fumitur yuier crackled through his earpree .

“ Rowena didn’t you say you already took care of her ? Why is she still alive

A luxury car pulled up outside the police station , and the vone seemed to come from inside in

The Drayton family froze .

The car was the same model their family chauffeur always drove .

Rupert was the most shocked .

After all , he’d known that voice for turenty years — he would recognize it anywhere .

For a brief moment , the room fell

Homen’s voice came through , mufled and devant “ Sorry , Mom .

Bat Trought something good .

Once we put it on her Dad won’t like her anymore

“ And if we tell Dal

d she was

was arrested for a crime … I’m sure he’ll never like her agam , right , Mom !

Althea narrowed her eyes .

Since learning that Elysia was the one Rowena had pushed down the mountain , she had never underestimated her again .

“ Of course .

You are very clever .

“ But if you want her completely out of the picture , just making Rupert dislike her won’t be enough ”

Rowena smiled.

I know , Mom , And I’ve got my brothers and my fance to helpin

Outside the screen , Rupert furrowed his brows .

He had no idea what they were talking absst .

It all sounded so absurd .

Without any real evidence .

he wasn’t about to believe a word of h

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