Chapter 295
The old couple’s apartment was small. Their place was simple, with just the essentials—some basic furniture and a few family photos tacked up on the walls. The pictures all showed the three of them together, the two elders and a much younger man.
The latest photo looked fresh, taken recently at one of Novaria’s landmarks. You could see a huge tower behind them, stretching up into the clouds. In the picture, the young man looked about twenty-six or twenty-seven, and he had a fair, gentle look about him. But what really drew Camilla’s eye was the way he held his hand above his head, his wrist resting against his forehead. Right there on his wrist bone was a distinct, red mole.
Jasper had a nearly identical mark on the inside of his arm, in almost the same spot.
Camilla’s heart gave a strange little jump. She kept staring at the picture, lost in thought.
The old couple exchanged a glance, noticing that Camilla’s reaction wasn’t quite normal. The old woman came back with a glass of water and asked gently, “Dear, do you know Lean p>
Camilla managed a half smile. “You could say we’re connected p>
All the suspicions swirling in her mind were suddenly starting to make sense, but she still didn’t feel any sense of familiarity with the couple in front of her. Camilla decided to keep her doubts to herself, at least until she knew for sure what the truth was.
The old woman didn’t press. She turned to look at the same photo and said quietly, “We took that one just a month ago. It was Lean’s idea. Less than a week after, some men came and took him away. He must’ve known it was coming. Tell me honestly, do you think Lean is p>
“He’s alright.” Camilla cut in, her tone gentle but certain. “I promise, Lean will be fine. He just can’t come home right now, that’s all p>
About a month ago, Camilla had been getting ready to divorce Barnard. Back then, Barnard already threatened to use this against her, which made a lot more sense now. He must’ve been worried she’d try to find Lean, so he arranged to have him taken away before she could act. Barnard planned to use Lean as leverage, and as long as he still needed him, Lean wouldn’t be in any real danger.
The old woman seemed exhausted from worrying for so long. Once she sat down at the kitchen table, her words started to pour out. “Lean’s always been such a good boy. He never made trouble for us. Never gave us a minute of worry, whether it was with school or work. If anything, we’re the ones who’ve held him back. If his father hadn’t gotten sick back then, maybe we p>
She trailed off, her voice giving out as she shook her head in defeat.
“You can tell me more, if you want,” Camilla said softly. “Maybe I can help you find him p>
The old woman nodded. “There’s not much news about Lean these days, so we’re not hiding anything.” She sighed. “It all started when his father got sick. Lean was working part-time jobs while studying, sending home a few hundred now and then. Then, out of nowhere, one day he shows up with thousands. Enough to get his father the medical help he needed and pay for the best doctor. He told us a businessman had taken a liking to him and wanted him to work abroad… even said he’d bring us along. We couldn’t believe something that good could just fall out of the sky. We spent a while on edge. But it was quiet for five or six years, and apart from Lean not being able to come back home, nothing bad happened p>
Her voice trembled. “Then, last month, those men showed up and just took him. Didn’t say a word. You don’t think… do you think Lean’s gotten himself into trouble? Or maybe that boss of his is up to no good p>
Camilla shook her head. “I really don’t know. Honestly, I’m also trying to find someone—someone in my own family, actually, who’s in the same situation as Lean. I’ve been following clues all the way here, but I can’t give you any answers yet. Still, I won’t give up p>
After asking everything she needed, Camilla revealed a little bit of her true motive. The way the old woman looked at her softened, like she was clinging to hope. “Then let’s exchange numbers, please. If you hear anything, you have to let us know. Lean is our only son. If something happened to him… I just wouldn’t know what to do p>
“I promise, if I hear anything at all, I’ll let you know,” Camilla replied. “And if Lean comes home first, please let me know right away p>
The old woman nodded several times and then pressed a photograph into Camilla’s hands.
It was a portrait of Lean alone, looking much younger, but the pose was the same. He held his arm high, showing off that same little red mole on his wrist.
Camilla couldn’t be sure if that was a habit or if someone had told him to pose that way, maybe on purpose to confuse anyone who might come looking.
Nobody had visited in a long time, so the couple insisted Camilla stay for lunch. Camilla agreed, hoping to overhear more that might help her. But Lean had clearly kept most things to himself, and the older couple knew very little. In the end, Camilla didn’t end up learning anything new.