Aubree nodded her head. She didn’t know what he meant, but she knew that he wasn’t a bad person, because the police officers welcomed him with a smile.
Just like that, she followed the man home.
Aubree didn’t know at that time that this man was the mysterious yet the most influential person in City A. He could bring a company back from the verge of death or kill a business instantly. Tycoons in City A knew of his existence, but nobody had ever met him in person.
In the car.
“How should I call you?” Aubree blinked her large and innocent eyes, she looked like a doll.
Sidney Hudson was taken aback. He was prepared to bring this girl home, but he forgot to introduce himself.
“Young master’s name is Sidney Hudson, you can call him Uncle Sidney!” said a middle-aged man who was sitting at the passenger seat, as he glanced at Aubree profoundly. This person was Sidney Hudson’s personal butler, Steward Martin. He could tell what his young master was thinking and understood him very well.
Sidney didn’t say anything back.
Aubree couldn’t read his expression and she was slightly nervous. She rubbed her tiny hands against each other and bit her lips.
She was afraid of being abandon. She thought that she would be abandoned again if she made the person before her mad.
Steward brought Aubree to her room when they reached home. It was Aubree’s first time seeing a house as seen on television. Her room was filled with Hello Kitties and Mickey Mouse plushies. The carpets, bedsheets and curtains had Disney’s princesses on them.
“Is this a castle?” Aubree was amazed, she really liked it here.
Sidney walked in before Steward could answer.
“It’s a castle if you think it’s a castle.”
“Am I staying here from now on?” said Aubree with her eyes opened wide, she couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Open the cupboard,” said Sidney. His tone of voice was frigid and he didn’t bother answering her question.
Aubree opened the cupboard, and she was stunned by what was inside. She stood in front of it and couldn’t move her legs.
The cupboard was filled with pretty clothes and dresses. They were all matching and it was so exquisite that even she could tell that they were probably expensive.
Aubree felt like she was dreaming. The clothes seemed like they were tailor-made for her.
Sidney ruffled her hair and said, “From now on this is your home. If there’s anything you want, just tell me. I will fulfil your wishes.”
Aubree looked at Sidney who looked noble and elegant, he was like a prince from a fairy tale.
Suddenly, a bolt of bright lightning struck outside the window, and then a loud thunderstorm could be heard!
Aubree who was staring absent-mindedly at Sidney was now trembling violently. She looked like a frightened bunny before a predator. Sweat started forming on her forehead, she ran away and subconsciously hid in a dark corner of the room.
“Are you afraid of the thunderstorm?”
Aubree couldn’t stop her tears from rolling down her cheek, she nodded helplessly and said, “There was a huge thunderstorm like this when she died…”
She wasn’t actually her mother.
Sidney frowned, he knew who Aubree was talking about.
“Uncle Sidney!” Aubree suddenly ran towards him and hugged him tightly!
At this moment, Sidney noticed a unique fragrant that was looming around her.
“Can I sleep with you tonight…” The six years old Aubree was sniffling, she was begging him desperately.
Steward was taken aback. He went up to his young master and wanted to pull Aubree away. But then he heard his young master said.
“Sure.”
Steward was shocked. This wasn’t the young master he understood and knew so well!
His young master never liked children, he probably even hated them. But he promised to accompany Aubree to sleep! And Aubree was also…
What even more absurd and beyond Steward’s expectation was that the young master continued to accompany Aubree to sleep for many years to come.
…
Six years later, during a rainy night.
Aubree was wakened up by the rumbling thunder from outside. She immediately huddled herself up.
Sidney was next to her and was apparently awake.
“Aubree?” He inched closer to her and wiped her forehead. Her forehead was full of sweat.
Sidney took away the blanket Aubree was covering herself with and pulled her into his arms. He patted her back gently and said, “It’s alright. There’s no thunder anymore, don’t be afraid.”
Sidney’s unique scent and his warm palm calmed Aubree down.
She held onto Sidney’s shirt and huddled into his arms. She said softly, “Uncle Sidney…”
“Yes, I’m here.”
Sidney’s deep voice made Aubree feel calm, she closed her eyes and fell back asleep.
But a few moments later, she froze up.
Sidney could tell that something was wrong, he frowned and asked, “Aubree, are you not feeling well?”
Aubree’s face was as red as a tomato. It seemed like she mustered all her courage to raise her head.
Sidney looked at her and she looked like she was about to cry, his heart tightened, “What’s wrong? Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Uncle Sidney, I think I peed my pants…” Aubree’s eyes were red.
She was not a child anymore, it was embarrassing that she peed her pants.
Sidney was taken aback, he then opened the covers and saw bloodstains on the bedsheets.
His pupils dilated as he thought that Aubree got hurt. He then thought about what she said and finally realized that she wasn’t hurt, but she had her first period.
Sidney who was always calm and collected was flustered.
But it was only for a brief moment. He calmed down quickly and hugged her in his arms again, “Don’t worry, Aubree. You didn’t pee your pants, you just hit puberty.”
“What do you mean, Uncle Sidney?” Aubree looked at Sidney curiously, but her face turned red again, “Uncle Sidney… I…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll get Steward to buy the necessaries for you.”
Aubree nodded slightly, she wanted to dig a hole and hide her head in it like an ostrich.
About ten minutes later, Steward knocked on the door. The thunderstorm outside had passed.
Sidney took the items from Steward’s hand and gave them to Aubree, “Do you know how to use them?”
Aubree pursed her lips and said softly, “Yes.”
She then ran into the bathroom.
“Aubree!”
“Yes?” Aubree looked out from the bathroom.
“Put on your shoes.”
“Okay…” Aubree put on her house shoes obediently.
Five minutes had passed and Aubree was still in the bathroom. Sidney was standing outside the bathroom door and he was uneasy, he knocked on the door and asked, “Aubree?”
“Uncle Sidney, I’m almost done.”
Sidney frowned as he could hear the water running in the bathroom. He turned the knob and opened the door, and went into the bathroom.
Aubree was trying to wash her panty over the sink.
She was embarrassed that she stained her panty and the bedsheet!
Aubree subconsciously hid her panty behind her when she saw a large figure walking in, “Uncle Sidney, how could you come in!”
Sidney grimaced, “Don’t use cold water at times like this, just leave this to Steward.”
Aubree shook her head, “No, it would be embarrassing to let him wash this for me.”
Sidney laughed slightly. Without saying anything more, he took the panty from Aubree and washed it thoroughly. He then hung it up to air dry.
“Uncle Sidney, you…” Aubree was taken aback, she never thought that Sidney would do something like that, washing her panty that was stained with blood.
She was so embarrassed that her face was abnormally red.
“Alright, let’s go to sleep.” Sidney carried the stunned Aubree to the bed.
The bedsheets were already changed, it wasn’t stained and didn’t smell like blood anymore. The bed in the room now smelled like the sun instead.
But Aubree was still dying from embarrassment knowing that someone saw her period bloodstains.
Sidney didn’t seem to care, he rubbed Aubree’s abdomen and said, “How are you feeling? Does your tummy hurt?”
Aubree didn’t notice the pain on her abdomen until Sidney mentioned it. She suddenly felt bloated and cramped.
And the pain was getting worse every minute.
Aubree huddled herself into Sidney’s arm, “Uncle Sidney, it hurts…”
Sidney looked at Aubree, her face was turning pale and he hugged her even more tightly than before. He then ordered Steward to get some ginger tea and a hot water bottle.
Aubree felt much better after having the ginger tea and pressing the hot water bottle on her abdomen.
Sidney rubbed her back, his palm was warm.
In a mist of warmness, Aubree finally felt sleepy, “Uncle Sidney, I’m going to sleep. Good night.”
Sidney smiled, “Sweet dreams, Aubree.”