“Please, no matter what, you must help me find my father,” Callie pleaded, handing a check to the man across from her.
“Please… make a trip to Anbusea.”
Since he wasn’t in Switzerland, the most likely place was Anbusea. Even if there was only a sliver of hope, she wouldn’t give up.
“Miss Marsh, this is…”
“I have some matters to attend to and can’t return home for now, but I will be back soon. I’ll leave my father’s matter to you.”
The man nodded slightly. “Miss Marsh, rest assured, I will do my best.”
After pocketing the check, the man stood up. “Miss Marsh, I will take my leave now. See you in Anbusea.”
“Alright.”
After the man left, Callie sat alone, staring out the window without focus.
After a long while, she got up and left with her bag.
Callie wandered aimlessly along the street… Passersby hurried by in the unfamiliar country, making her solitary figure seem out of place.
Yet she had endured in this city for two years because of her inner resolve.
Reuben, where are you?
Suddenly-
Callie stopped, her gaze falling on a boy singing on the street corner. He looked about seventeen or eighteen, holding a worn-out wooden guitar, singing English songs with a deep and melodious voice.
Few passersby stopped to listen. Callie stood there and listened to two full songs before taking some bills from her bag and placing them in the boy’s box.
She said, “Keep it up…”
The boy stopped strumming his guitar and stared at Callie. Finally, he spoke, “Thank you for your encouragement, beautiful girl. May all the good luck in the world follow you…”
Callie flashed a smile and sauntered off, leaving behind a captivating silhouette.
When Callie got home and opened the door, she didn’t see Nelson but saw Mollie holding Grape while on a video call.
On the other end of the call was Bridger’s deep-set face, staring intently at Grape. “Whose child is this?”
Mollie teased.
“I saw this cute child and thought I’d show you. Isn’t she adorable? Come on, baby, say uncle-”
Grape followed suit, “Uncle-”
Bridger hummed. The child was indeed cute, but why did she look so familiar?
It seemed-
“Little one, what’s your name? How old are you? Who are your parents?” Bridger asked several questions in a row, suspicion growing in his heart.
Callie couldn’t help but smile at this.
Mollie replied bluntly, “Stop asking. I’m afraid the truth might scare you.”
Bridger’s curiosity grew.
“What’s the story with this child? Why does she look so much like Nelson?” Bridger was startled by his own words.
Unknowingly, he had stumbled upon the truth.
“Haha… guess,” Mollie’s ambiguous answer made Bridger’s heart itch with curiosity, eager for an answer.
“Mollie, stop teasing me. Tell me, what’s going on?”