Chapter 12 - A New Member
Oliver was not a blood relative.
He was the son of a former employee who had died in an accident.
He had no one to lean on.
The day Oliver was sent to the orphanage, Rosa gripped Ethan's hand tightly.
They didn't need to say a word to each other.
They both understood.
The next day, Ethan drove to pick the boy up himself.
Oliver was ten years old, timid, and full of fear.
He stood before the massive doors of the Hargrove estate, clutching an old backpack.
Lily was the first to run out and greet him.
She didn't show pity.
She simply smiled.
"Do you want to see my swing?"
Oliver blinked, then shyly nodded.
That night, Ethan walked into Oliver's room.
The boy was huddled on the large bed.
"How long can I stay here?" Oliver asked in a tiny voice.
Ethan sat down beside him.
"For as long as you want."
"I don't have any money to pay you."
Ethan smiled, rubbing the boy's head.
"In this house, we don't use money to pay each other."
"Then what do we use?"
May you like
"We use sincerity, Oliver."
And from that day on, the photograph by the swimming pool had one more person.
