Quinn Shelby stared at her. “It wasn’t possible before, but what about now? Am I still a child now? After all these years, you couldn’t find a single chance to tell me the truth? Do you think I can’t understand you now, or do you just think I’m so stupid that you can lie to me for a lifetime?”
Mrs. Shelby burst into tears.
“I just asked you, and you still won’t explain, won’t deny, won’t confess. Are you so sure that The Vault will never say anything, so you just waste her kindness however you want? When she was six and didn’t understand anything, she already knew how to be tolerant of you. Now she’s twenty-six, and she still has to pay the price for your mistakes. Why!” Quinn Shelby crouched down, hugging his head and pulling at his hair. “Why, really? I trusted you so much. How could you do something like this?”
Mrs. Shelby didn’t dare approach him, hugging her own arms. “I was scared.”
“Dad is a police officer. Why did he do this too! I never thought about it, because I couldn’t believe you would treat a poor, weak child like that! Didn’t Dad say she was his friend’s child? Didn’t he say he would take care of her! I really hated her! Genuinely! For so many years, whenever I remembered her, it was always with disgust. Every time I saw her, I would argue with her. So it turns out…” Quinn Shelby choked up, unable to continue. He covered his eyes, burying his face deep. “So the person I hated most was actually myself…”
Mrs. Shelby said, “Your father was worried about me. He didn’t dare let me be upset again. I almost miscarried, my mental state was unstable, and I couldn’t just take medicine. After he sent The Vault away, he actually kept caring about her. He sent her money, bought things, handled paperwork…”
Quinn Shelby asked, “So you just let her keep your secret with a clear conscience?”
Mrs. Shelby was heartbroken. “No! That’s not what we thought! We thought you would forget about it, or maybe you’d figure it out yourself.”
“I’m so disappointed in you…” Quinn Shelby said. “No, I should be most disappointed in myself. I’m a police officer—how could I believe such an absurd story? An adult dog, trying to kill it, dragging it into a cabinet—how much strength would that take? Why didn’t any of us hear anything that night? Could a child really do all that? I was too stupid. I was just deliberately avoiding it, deceiving myself. I’m still selfish.”
“Xiaomeng…”
Mrs. Shelby tried to help him up, but Quinn Shelby avoided her.
“I want to calm down. Mom, don’t come over.” Quinn Shelby retreated to the entryway, forcing himself to sound as calm as possible as he spoke to the woman across from him, who was already completely lost. “Mom, you were wrong. You really were. There are some things you adults can shake off, but we can’t… not for a lifetime. I don’t blame you, because you’re my mom, but what about The Vault? Your reasons shouldn’t have hurt her. Her whole life… has changed, and she’s never had it any easier than you. You had Dad with you, but she had nothing… not even an apology.”
After saying this, Quinn Shelby ran down the stairs without looking back.
The world spun and blurred before his eyes, dissolving into a misty haze. He didn’t even know where he’d run to, until his chest felt like it was being squeezed dry and he finally stopped, exhausted, in a deserted spot.
Quinn Shelby still remembered when The Vault first came to his home—thin, small, quiet, and adorable.
Her injuries hadn’t healed yet, a white bandage wrapped around her head. She didn’t like crowds, just sat quietly on the sofa, her big dark eyes observing everyone.
At that time, his mother was pregnant and kept telling him how wonderful it would be to have a little brother or sister, so he treated The Vault as his sister. Even though this sister was a bit odd, at his age he didn’t think that kind of strangeness was unacceptable—he even found it novel.
If his dog hadn’t died, maybe he could have grown up with The Vault, become her big brother.
But just because of that one “impulse,” everything was gone. His family changed in his eyes, and his years of persistence became a joke.
What did she feel every time she saw him acting so unreasonable? Maybe now she’d find it funny, but what about that little girl who stood far away from the crowd back then?
Memories he’d ignored for so long suddenly became clear.
He remembered the next day, when the runaway The Vault was brought back by his father, and he himself questioned her about why she killed his dog. The Vault looked at him with a confused and pitiful gaze, but said nothing.
Why didn’t she say anything?
Of course.
How could she say it? Say your mother is a pervert, that your mother killed the dog you’d raised for years right in front of a child, and then blamed it on her?
She’d experienced that kind of pain, so she couldn’t say such things to Quinn Shelby.
His father had given her a little help, and she was grateful for that kindness, then bore Quinn Shelby’s accusations for twenty years.
Quinn Foster was right—The Vault was just too empathetic. She understood other people’s feelings better than most kids her age.
That kind of kindness would only hurt her, make her sad, so she gradually became withdrawn.
Quinn Shelby was suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of collapse and broke down, crying uncontrollably.
He half-squatted on the ground, and when he came back to himself, he realized he’d unconsciously dialed The Vault’s number.
On the phone, The Vault’s usual calm voice came through.
“Hello.”
“Hello?”
“If I count to three, that’s the limit of my patience.”
Quinn Shelby said hoarsely, “It’s me.”
The Vault: “I know. Caller ID is basic common sense.”
Quinn Shelby kept his mouth shut, forcing himself to lower his voice.
When The Vault got no reply, she said, “So what is it? Oh, is it because we’re about to work together, so you’re calling to congratulate me?”
Quinn Shelby’s sobs escaped as he said, “I’m sorry.”
There was a pause on The Vault’s end. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m sorry,” Quinn Shelby mumbled, “I really am sorry…”
Hearing his miserable voice, The Vault couldn’t even bring herself to tease him. She was silent for a moment, then sighed. “You’re still so emotional. Well, it’s not a bad thing. Keep being Quinn Shelby, but this time, remember to look forward. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”
This person always acted like nothing mattered, facing other people’s hurt and hiding her own kindness.
Quinn Shelby said “I’m sorry” again. It seemed like that was all he could say.
The Vault replied softly, “Mm.”
Chapter 86: The Attack
Julian Grant left the police station and drove aimlessly around the city.
His mind kept conjuring up strange images—like a dim, shadowy room, with a small The Vault crawling slowly on the floor, leaving a long trail of blood on the wooden boards behind her.
…The scene grew more and more eerie… and bizarre.
Julian Grant shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.
He knew he was probably overthinking things. The Vault didn’t seem like someone who would still be upset by this kind of thing, but he couldn’t help worrying. The more he thought about it, the more he trapped himself in that scenario, and the sadder he became.
So, when he passed a flower shop, he stopped on a whim and went inside.
Even though he didn’t really know why he’d come to a place like this.
The shop assistant saw a handsome man walk in and hurried over, greeting him enthusiastically, “Sir, what kind of flowers would you like?”
Julian Grant glanced over the lush, colorful bouquets, unable to decide.
The assistant suggested, “How about roses? We just got a batch in, and they’re blooming beautifully today.”
Julian Grant instinctively wanted to refuse. He thought roses were too obvious in their meaning, used too often in romantic situations, and might make The Vault misunderstand. If he showed up with a bouquet like that, even he would feel awkward.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a flower in the corner with delicate petals and bright colors, and pointed. “That one.”
“Carnations?” the assistant said. “Are you buying them for your parents? For your dad or your mom? What kind of wrapping would you like?”
Julian Grant: “…??”
If he hadn’t never seen this person before, he’d suspect she was helping The Vault mess with him.
The assistant noticed his odd expression and asked, confused, “Sir?”
Julian Grant asked, “If a father is giving flowers to his daughter, what should he choose?”
The assistant was surprised—she hadn’t realized Julian Grant was married and had a daughter. She quickly glanced at his hand and saw he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.
Afraid she’d pick something too cutesy, Julian Grant added, “Nothing too childish.”
The assistant immediately understood.
She got it.
Men always like to play the role of their girlfriend’s dad. Or rather, men like to be everyone’s dad.
Intermittent brain malfunction. Needs to drain the water.