Chapter 199

Frank rolled his eyes at Vicky. “What on earth do you keep in your brain?”

“You.” Vicky smiled.

Frank was left speechless.

They arrived at the small diner that Winter’s adoptive mother owned, and a sweet young girl greeted them as soon as they entered.

“Please sit anywhere you like,” she said.

Frank studied the girl and saw some resemblance between her and his mentor.

Vicky cleared her throat just then, bringing him to his senses.

They found a quiet corner, and Frank flipped through the menu before saying, “Bring us some of your specialities.”

“Alright. Please wait a moment,” Winter said, picking up the menus before hurrying off to the kitchen.

Frank looked around–though it was a modest diner, there were many customers.

It was most definitely lively during rush hour.

“What do you think, Mr. Lawrence? She fits your description the most,” Yara said.

Frank nodded. “Probably. She resembles my mentor.”

“What are you going to do?” Vicky asked. “Tell her who you are? Give her money?”

Frank thought about it. “I’m not planning anything until I see how her current life is. If she’s self–

sufficient, I won’t impose…”

Turning to Vicky just then, he asked, “It won’t be an issue for you to arrange a job for her when she graduates, right?”

“No problem since you’ve asked.” Vicky shrugged, a lot less wary toward Winter than Helen. Frank turned to Yara just then and said earnestly, “Thank you, Ms. Quill.”

“That’s not necessary. Just holding up my end of our deal,” Yara replied.

Frank nodded. “Let’s eat for now.”

Soon, a man in a suit hurried into the diner, quickly changing clothes before heading to the kitchen to help.

He appeared to be Winter’s adopted brother, Fred.

“That’s one dutiful son–helping out as soon as he returns from work,” Vicky pointed out. Frank was further relieved as well, since Winter’s life appeared to be good.

Bang!

Suddenly, the front door of the diner was kicked wide open as a tattooed bald man strode inside, followed by two young goons.

“Business booming today, Madam Zims!” the bald man bellowed.

A woman who had been working at the kitchen all this while hurried out to him–she was Carol Zims, Winter’s adopted mother.

“Oh, I didn’t know you were coming, Mr. Compton!” she exclaimed, hurrying to the counter to grab a stack of cash and quietly stuffing it into the bald man’s hands.

Through it all, Winter and Fred were standing tamely in a corner, while Jackie Compton promptly counted the cash…

“Just one thousand?!” he growled. “Are you trying to mess with us?!”

Carol was left bewildered. “W–Wasn’t it always a thousand?”

“That’s before.” Jackie snorted. “Business is booming, isn’t it? You’ll have to pay more–two grand starting this month!”

“B–But I don’t earn that much, Mr. Compton,” Carol replied. “Aside from rent and utility bills, there’s also Winter’s tuition fees… We really can’t spare more!”

“Don’t give me that!” Jackie bellowed before wheeling on Winter. “Studying when you’re penniless?

Just come work for me!”

He seized Winter by the chin, chuckling. “Hehehe… Who knows, you’d make bank if with me.”