Chapter 91
Chapter 91 A Tiny Wisp of Sorrow
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Zora took another huge bite, her small face sinking into the fluffy cotton candy, sugar smearing all over her cheeks.
Jensen watched with quiet amusement. He gently brushed the cotton candy away with his hand, freeing her delicate little face, his low voice laced with faint laughter.
“Look at you, eating cotton candy like a messy little kitten p>
Jensen pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, poured a little water from the table, and dabbed away the sticky sugar residue on her face bit by bit.
“It’s so sweet, Jensen p>
Zora stayed perfectly still, letting him tend to her quietly.
The cotton candy was impossibly sweet, the flavor melting slowly on her tongue. Zora loved it.
“Is it? If you like it, I’ll bring you some again next time p>
Jensen’s features softened with warmth.
“Okay p>
Zora nodded, taking only a tiny bite this time.
Yet she kept eating one bite after another, unable to stop for a long while.
“Is something bothering you, Zora? You can tell me everything p>
Jensen set the handkerchief aside, reaching out to catch her hand before she could lift another mouthful of cotton candy to her lips.
“…I’m just a little sad. Only a tiny bit p>
Trapped, Zora fell silent for a moment. Then she lifted her other hand, pinching her thumb and index finger together to show just how small that sadness was. A bright smile tugged at her lips, putting on a carefree front.
Truth be told, over those two months living with the Knox family, it would be a lie to say she’d held no expectations for them at all.
She’d grown up alone with her mentor in a small village. All the other kids had parents-only she had no one but her mentor.
When she was little, the village children would always ask where her mom and dad were.
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She never knew how to answer, for she’d never laid eyes on them her whole life.
She’d asked her mentor, but even he had no answers.
He’d found her abandoned beside a roadside trash can as an infant.
Her mentor had always told her he was her family.
For as long as Zora could remember, her whole world had only ever been her mentor.
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Then she’d been taken back to the Knox family, learning she actually had living parents. A quiet spark of joy had bloomed in her heart back then.
When she woke the next morning, her mentor was gone. All she found in the yard were unfamiliar faces-Wendy and Holden.
Her mentor’s sudden disappearance left Zora heartbroken, her eyes glistening with tears. Wendy must have noticed her sorrow, for she stepped forward, took her hand, and spoke to her softly, coaxing her gently.
It was the first time Zora ever understood what it felt like to have a mother.
Holden frowned at her with a tight brow, yet relenting at her grief, he tossed her a handkerchief.
“Stop crying,” he had said, his tone icy. Then he pulled a lollipop from his pocket and threw it at her.
At the time, Zora thought this brother was a bit mean and didn’t have a nice way with words- he probably didn’t like her much.
Still, she’d known he had a good heart-he’d given her a handkerchief, and then a sweet lollipop.
Zora had always been slow to process things, never quick to pick up on subtle emotions. She’d told herself they’d only just met, so it was only natural that he didn’t warm up to her right away.
She hadn’t been too upset back then.
Later, she’d ridden back to the Knox Villa with Wendy, who’d fussed over her kindly the entire
way.
The heartache of feeling abandoned by her mentor faded a little.
She’d even pouted to herself back then, stubbornly thinking. Fine, if my mentor doesn’t want me, I don’t need him! I’m not some unwanted kid anyway.
Her first impression of Wendy had been kind. After being left all alone, Wendy was the one
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A Tiny Wisp of Sarrow
who’d come to take her home.
She just forgot that one person’s love has its limits.
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Wendy might have felt a flicker of guilt toward her, but it could never compare to the love she’d poured into raising Jolie for over a decade.
And the lollipop Holden had given her? It had been the one Jolie didn’t want.
“Zora, no matter how the Knox family treats you, you’ll always be my favorite girl. You’re the little princess of the Marlow family, and no one else matters p>
As Jensen saw the girl hold up her fingers to show how little it was, his voice turned hoarse before he knew it, and his eyes glistened faintly.
He sighed quietly to himself, leaning forward to wrap his arms around the girl who was forcing a smile through her pain.
“With me, Zora, you never have to be mature or pretend to be strong p>
The next morning, Jensen drove Zora and Reed to Havenridge High School.
Reed walked her all the way to her classroom before heading off to his own.
“Good morning, Zora p>
As Zora stepped into the room, her classmates all greeted her warmly.
“Good morning.” After a full night to collect herself, Zora had already steadied her emotions.
“Zora, did you not sleep well last night? How come your dark circles are so bad p>
Zora had barely sat down at her desk when Easton turned around from the row ahead, spotting the tired shadows beneath her lids at once.
Zora had fair skin, so even the smallest mark stood out starkly.
At his words, Felix beside him and Maya both turned to look at her too.
“I just stayed up late last night p>
After talking things through with Jensen the night before, Zora’s mood had slowly eased.
Deep down, she’d always known how Wendy and the others truly felt about her. Still, actually facing being cast aside left her with an indescribable ache in her heart.
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The Real Heness s New Family Adored by All