Chapter 17: Unexpected Guest: Emma

Just as he was thinking, the sound of car tires scraping against the road reached his ears.

Louis looked up and saw David returning with items; behind him followed a little girl carrying a schoolbag.

The girl had jet-black hair and looked like a future beauty, though to Louis, she still fell short of Emma.

But judging by this scene, it seemed like they were… moving in?

Could it be…

As expected.

David brought the girl over and announced to Louis and Emma, “This is Estelle. From now on, she’s your sister. Believe me, she’ll surprise you.”

Surprise us?

Louis glanced at Emma beside him; she was indeed stunned, her fork nearly bent from the tight grip in her hand.

But why had David suddenly decided to adopt an orphan?

At that moment, Estelle bowed slightly to the two, smiling gently, “Hello, Louis. Hello, Emma.”

She then presented gifts: a delicate doll and a blunt little knife, giving the doll to Emma and the knife to Louis.

Louis accepted with a smile; after a moment of silence, Emma also took hers and returned Estelle with a friendly smile.

David, watching from the side, felt relieved—he had made the right choice. Estelle would get along well with Emma and Louis. Moreover, she was well-mannered, had read many books at the orphanage, and could even draw; she could easily teach Emma the physiological knowledge he couldn’t.

Thinking this, David led Estelle upstairs to prepare a room for her formal settlement.

The moment they went upstairs…

Emma’s expression twisted into fury. She slammed the doll onto the floor, stomped on it twice, and muttered under her breath, “Another one! Another one! Another one! Damn it!”

Watching her effortlessly perform the Sichuan specialty, Louis couldn’t help laughing.

Emma instantly shot him a venomous glare, met only by Louis’s cold stare—she immediately shrank back.

She walked toward her room, her footsteps slightly heavy on the floor.

Less than a minute later, she came back down. Without looking at Louis, she picked up the doll, bowed her head, and went upstairs again.

“Puhahaha!”

Louis burst out laughing.

Ignoring her malice, Emma was somehow kind of cute.

!!!

His laughter cut off abruptly. Louis’s brow twitched. He opened his mouth and pulled out a needle with a trace of blood, tasting the iron tang inside. He spat.

This thing was still hard to master.

Louis shook his head and went upstairs to help David organize the room.

On the second floor, opposite David’s room, a slightly smaller room had been prepared—bedding, desk, lamp… everything was in place.

Clearly, David had prepared in advance.

Estelle helped finish the setup.

David wiped his sweat, looking at the finished room, when a glass of water was gently placed before him—it was Estelle.

“Thank you, Estelle.”

“No, Uncle David. Thank you—for taking me out of the orphanage. From now on, I’ll be a good member of this family.”

Looking at the sensible, well-behaved Estelle, David clenched his lips, moved. For a moment, he felt incredibly lucky.

Emma had always been sensible and outstanding since childhood, Louis was a good boy living under his roof, and now even Estelle was so understanding and grateful.

He was truly blessed!

Estelle opened her arms, as if seeking a hug. David naturally didn’t refuse—he wanted to offer the child fatherly affection.

He bent down, and the two embraced.

In that moment, they looked like a harmonious father and daughter.

But…

Estelle slightly narrowed her eyes, tilted her head up, flared her tiny nostrils, her expression rapt, as if sniffing some intoxicating scent.

She slightly opened her mouth, extended her red tongue to lightly lick her lips—and on the face of this nine-year-old girl, an unmistakable seductive allure appeared!!

David still gently patted her back, soothing her, completely unaware of Estelle’s actions.

At that moment…

Tap-tap-tap.

Footsteps climbed the stairs. Louis appeared at the corner, returning with something. He stepped up just as the two broke their embrace.

But Louis sensed something odd—he felt Estelle’s gaze had just lingered on him, and it had felt… strange.

The room was quickly settled.

Estelle officially moved into David’s home, becoming Louis and Emma’s sister.

…

Night.

A shadow stealthily began moving.

She carried a music box and slipped quietly into the room.

Deep night, silence.

Inside the room, Estelle stared at the music box placed beneath the table, then suddenly smiled.

The next day.

“Ahh!!”

A scream shattered the quiet, waking everyone.

Emma’s face was tear-streaked. “Dad, my music box is gone, Dad.”

Her eyes were red, glistening with tears. She clung to David’s side, heartbroken. David rushed over, instantly filled with pity. “Emma, don’t worry, Dad will find it.”

“Maybe you left it somewhere.”

“Dad, I always kept it right here. I loved that music box.”

“Hmm.”

David nodded and began searching.

But found nothing. At that moment, Estelle and Louis came down, dressed. “What’s wrong, Emma?”

“My music box is gone.”

Emma looked at David. “Dad, check other places.”

Her gaze casually swept over Estelle.

Estelle spoke up: “Music box? Emma, didn’t you say you wanted to decorate the box’s surface, so you gave it to me? I finished it last night.”

???

David walked over, glanced at Estelle, then at Emma. “Emma?”

Now the question was on Emma.

Louis watched coldly from the side. He finally understood—this newcomer wasn’t simple. Emma was repeating her old trick: trying to frame Estelle with the same false accusation she’d once tried on him.

And she’d been outmaneuvered.

This Estelle was interesting. Could she be a movie character? If so, which movie?

He regretted not paying closer attention when searching for films—should’ve memorized names too.

At this moment, Emma looked between David and Estelle.

“I…”

Admit it? Or deny it?

That was the question.

Gulps.

Emma kept her expression calm. “I don’t quite remember. Maybe I did say something? I think I just mentioned the music box looked a bit plain.”

In the end, she chose vague evasion—and planted a subtle verbal trap.

Now the question returned to Estelle!

(End of Chapter)