Chapter 510: Chapter 510: Girls These Days Are Quite Adorable

"Mhm!" Addie nodded firmly, her tone resolute. "I don’t want to go back."

"Okay." A small smile touched Renee’s lips as she said softly, "I understand."

Hilary, sitting in the driver’s seat, felt her grip on the steering wheel tighten. Deep down, she couldn’t help but feel happy for Addie.

Perhaps Addie had been truly unfortunate in the past, but meeting Renee now was the greatest stroke of luck she could have.

As long as Addie could resolutely break free from the adoptive parents who didn’t love her, her life was sure to get better and better.

The car moved with the steady flow of traffic. Suddenly, the scorching, brilliant sun vanished behind a thick blanket of clouds. The sky darkened in an instant, and the rain began to fall without warning. Large, heavy drops hammered down, fast and furious.

"Why is it suddenly raining so hard?" Michelle Fuller turned to look out the window, her brow furrowing slightly.

Zachary Conway chimed in, "Yeah, it seems like they get a lot of typhoons here in the summer."

"Huh?" Michelle Fuller pouted. "Is there a typhoon coming in the next couple of days? Will our flight tomorrow be affected?"

Hilary said with a laugh, "If the flight gets canceled, I’ll just take a day off to spend with you."

"Alright, Hilary! You’re a true friend." Michelle Fuller broke into a grin and said cheerfully, "Next time you visit Zenvia, I’ll be your tour guide."

Hearing this, Hilary’s tone grew even more cheerful. "Oh, that sounds wonderful!"

"We should make it happen soon." Michelle grew more excited as she spoke, leaning forward to rest one hand on the back of the driver’s seat and the other on Addie’s shoulder. "Hey, why don’t you just come with us this time? Addie can come too."

Hilary glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "You’re making it sound very tempting."

"If you’re tempted, then let’s make it happen!" Michelle said, wiggling her eyebrows at her.

"I can’t," Hilary said in an exaggerated, tearful voice. "A workhorse like me doesn’t have that freedom."

Addie also said softly, "Thank you for the invitation, Sister Michelle. I was planning on finding a part-time job before university starts."

"You’re getting a part-time job?" Michelle asked. "Doing what?"

"Yeah." Addie pressed her lips together. "I don’t know yet. Maybe find a job as a waitress in a restaurant."

She had to earn enough money to buy a phone first.

Hearing this, Michelle’s heart went out to her. "Addie, why don’t I just hire you? You can be my personal companion. How much do you want to be paid?"

Addie thought she was joking and said, "Sister Michelle, it would be my honor to hang out with you. I couldn’t possibly accept payment for that."

Michelle was delighted by her response. "Addie, you’re such a smooth talker! I’m serious, just come home with me!"

A blush crept up Addie’s face as she said softly, "Once winter break starts, I’ll come visit you and Renee. I can look for a part-time job in Zenvia then, too."

Michelle Fuller said, "Alright, let’s add each other then."

"I don’t have a phone," Addie said, embarrassed.

"What?" Michelle was shocked. "You’ve graduated high school and you still don’t have a phone?"

’I’ve had my own phone since kindergarten.’

Addie explained, "My parents said they were worried I’d start dating too early, so they were going to get me a phone right before university starts."

Michelle rolled her eyes, speechless. "Worried you’d start dating? More like they were too cheap to buy you a phone!"

Addie didn’t answer, but deep down, she knew Michelle was right.

’But they’re not my real parents, so it’s only natural they’d be reluctant to spend money on me.’

Michelle placed her hand on Addie’s shoulder again, her tone serious. "Addie, let me ask you a question."

"Okay." Addie nodded obediently. "Go ahead, Sister Michelle."

"Do you like your Sister Michelle?"

Addie was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting such a question. When she recovered, she said earnestly, "I do. Sister Michelle is kind and warm, beautiful and generous."

Michelle wanted to laugh but held it in, putting on a serious expression. "In that case, Sister Michelle is giving you a new phone."

Hearing this, Addie immediately waved her hands in protest. "No, no, that’s too much! I can just get a part-time job and buy one myself."

"No is not an option." Michelle’s face was completely serious. "If you refuse, it means you don’t like me."

Addie said anxiously, "I do like you, but I really can’t accept it."

"Addie," Renee said with an amused smile, "just accept it. Otherwise, Michelle will be heartbroken. She’s never had a gift rejected before."

"But..." Addie was still hesitant.

Hilary, who was driving, chimed in with a smile, "Just take it, Addie. It’s a heartfelt gesture from our Sister Michelle, after all."

’If I could afford it, I’d give her one too.’

Addie looked at Michelle and said gratefully, "Thank you, Sister Michelle. I’ll definitely repay all of you in the future."

Michelle was amused by her words. It reminded her of Melody Marsh, who had said just a couple of days ago that she wanted to devote herself to repaying Renee.

’Girls these days are so darn cute.’

The car pulled up to the police station. The rain had just stopped.

The group entered the police station, and Renee immediately spotted Felix Sutton and Helen Lockwood in the waiting area. They were both in the same posture—heads down, blank-faced, scrolling on their phones with one hand.

"Consultant Jennings." Raleigh greeted them with a smile. "You’re here."

Hearing the commotion, Felix Sutton and Helen Lockwood looked up. When they saw Addie standing behind Renee, they shot to their feet and strode forward.

"Addie, where have you been these past two days?"

"Addie, we’ve finally found you! Your father and I have been worried sick. How could you run off like that without saying a word?"

One was a question, the other an accusation.

Addie pressed her lips together, silently comforting herself. ’It’s okay. Don’t be sad.’

Renee stepped in front of Addie, her gaze coolly falling on the couple. "She didn’t just ’run off.’ She jumped into the river."

"What?" Helen Lockwood’s eyes snapped to Renee’s face. "What kind of joke is that? Jumped into the river?"

"Do I look like I’m joking?" Displeasure flickered across Renee’s delicate features. She turned her head to ask Raleigh, "Have Uncle Victor and Ms. Conway arrived yet?"

"Our colleagues went to get them. They should be here soon," Raleigh replied.

"Good." Renee nodded and pulled Addie down to sit in the waiting area. "Let’s just sit for a bit."

Addie obediently sat beside her.

Helen Lockwood frowned, clicking over in her high heels to stand before Addie. "Addie, what on earth happened? Is what she said true? Did you jump into the river?"

Addie nodded faintly. "It’s true."

"Really?" Helen’s expression faltered. She couldn’t help a flicker of annoyance rising within her, and though she tried to suppress it, her tone was laced with displeasure. "Why would you jump into the river?"

Felix Sutton’s face was grim. He remained silent.

"Because I felt like living was exhausting and painful." Addie tilted her head up to look at her, her expression calm. "I didn’t want to live anymore."

"You..." Helen was furious. "You’re tired? You don’t have to earn a single cent! You have food on the table and clothes on your back. What do you have to be tired about?"

’The thought that this damn brat had found out she wasn’t their biological daughter and kept it to herself without breathing a word...’ Helen’s teeth itched with rage. She wanted to strangle her.

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