Chapter 417 The Stranger at the School Gate
+8 Pearls
I’d seen him many times before–during school drop–offs and pick–ups. Every time I noticed him, he was watching me.
About two weeks passed like this. Then one day, my driver was late picking me up, and all the other kids had already gone home. I was the only one left.
That’s when the strange man finally approached me.
His eyes were full of warmth and affection. He didn’t look like a bad person.
“Nancy,” he said softly, calling me by name.
I stared at him, confused. “Sir… do you know me?”
“I’m your uncle,” he said gently.
“Uncle?” I scrunched up my face in disbelief. “You’re lying. You’re not my uncle.”
His face flickered with hurt as he tried to explain. “I really am your uncle, Nancy. Let me take you home, okay?”
He reached out as if to pick me up.
But I didn’t know him. Why would I let a stranger touch me?
Mom and Dad always told me never to go anywhere with strangers.
I immediately darted behind my teacher and grabbed her leg. “Teacher, I don’t know him. He must be a kidnapper! Call the police!”
Elliot froze in place when he heard that.
Only after his mother died did the memories of his past life fully
return.
All those nightmares he had in prison–they weren’t dreams. They were memories of things that really happened.
Every single day behind bars had been a living hell. He’d wanted so badly to find Lauren and explain everything. But after seeing his mother die without ever being forgiven, he didn’t have the courage.
He knew the damage he caused Lauren was no less than his mother’s. If Lauren wouldn’t even forgive Alice, how could she possibly forgive him?
So he stayed put in Hoverdale, year after year.
For all these years, he lived with regret and guilt.
He had never intended to disturb Lauren’s life again. But in the end, he couldn’t help himself–he came to Balewood.
Even if it was just to see her from afar, to witness her happiness, that was enough.
That’s how he learned Lauren and Felix had a daughter.
Her name was Nancy.
The same name as in the previous life. And she looked exactly the same too.
In the past life Lauren had died without ever knowing she had a daughter.
But in this life, she was finally living the happy, loved life she deserved.
For Elliot, not being forgiven by Lauren was his greatest regret. Second to that was never being able to enter his only niece’s heart in their last life.
He and Kenneth had lived in the same villa Lauren once suffered in, getting through each day on memories of her. They both died not long after.
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4:35 PM M
Chapter 417 The Stranger at the School Gate
Now, seeing Nancy again in this life filled Elliot with overwhelming joy.
He never planned to approach her. Just watching from a distance would have been enough.
But today, the driver still hadn’t shown up.
+8 Pearls
He saw little Nancy standing alone at the school gate, looking around anxiously, and he couldn’t hold back anymore–he stepped forward.
He just hadn’t expected Nancy to be this alert.
“I swear I’m not a bad guy, Nancy. Please believe me,” Elliot pleaded.
But I didn’t believe him. I pointed at the security guard and shouted, “Uncle security! Catch him! He’s trying to kidnap me!”
The guard knew exactly who I was–Lauren and Felix’s daughter, the most cherished little princess of both the Brooker and Mavis families.
Trying to snatch Nancy? Might as well be signing your death certificate.
The guard didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Elliot right away and didn’t give him a single chance to explain, dragging him straight to the police station.
No matter how much Elliot tried to clarify, the guard wouldn’t listen.
I stood there, arms crossed, watching the man struggle.
I tilted my head. For some reason… seeing him so upset made my chest feel tight. A little uncomfortable.
I frowned. It must’ve been because that strange man ruined my mood. That’s why I felt weird.
Hmph!
Try to kidnap me? Dream on.
Just then, the Brooker family’s car finally pulled up.
I got in. As the car drove away, I could still see that man trying to explain himself through the window.
The Brooker Family Estate
“Grandma, I’m home!” I shouted happily as I ran inside.
Kate beamed from ear to ear. “My precious little Nancy is home! Slow down–don’t fall!”
I dove into my Grandma’s arms, nuzzling my face against her.
She smiled and asked, “Sweetheart, how was school today? Did you have fun?”
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