Reborn, She's Back for Revenge novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

The artificial lake glimmered under the moonlight as more than twenty of the Larson family’s guards and servants fanned out in silence, closing in on the lone figure seated at the water’s edge. The man seemed completely unaware of the tightening circle around him.

He lounged on the shore, his long legs stretched out in front of him, a reed stem clamped between his teeth as he gazed up at the stars. Their flickering light mirrored in his eyes, accentuating his striking, almost otherworldly features.

The guards edged closer. At the butler’s signal, they rushed forward in unison.

But the man was quicker. In one swift motion, he rolled to his feet, slipped through their grasp, and broke into a sprint.

His long strides ate up the ground, and within moments, he had disappeared into the night, leaving the Larsons‘ men gaping after him.

“Useless!” Stella snapped, her voice sharp with fury. “Quit standing there like idiots and go get him.”

Larry immediately went to search as well.

Stella called after him, “Hold on. There’s something I need to ask you.” When Larry turned, she continued casually, “Who was that girl?”

But Larry understood–when his mother bothered to ask, it meant she was actually interested.

He remembered how close his mother had been with Edith’s mother years ago–close enough to have Edith over for meals and even joke about being like a second mother to her.

Now that Edith was back in Sunspire, he guessed his mother might be happy to see her again.

“That’s Edith Lovett,” Larry said, his eyes lighting up. “Karen’s daughter. Do you still remember her, Mom?”

Stella’s expression darkened for a moment. Now she knew why Edith’s face had struck her so instantly–the resemblance to Melinda was uncanny. And with every year, it only became more pronounced.

If Melinda were still alive, Stella would have been happy to maintain ties with the Lovett family. There was something about Melinda–her gentle nature, her quiet intelligence–that always put people at ease.

But Karen had secured Melinda’s position through less than honorable means. Between society’s disdain for Karen and her own unwillingness to associate with her, Stella had gradually let her connection to the Lovetts fade.

“How long has Edith been back in Sunspire?” she asked, her voice soft.

“About a week now,” Larry replied. “She had a difficult time in that backwater place, and it affected her schoolwork. I’ve been helping her get back on track.”

Stella’s fingers stilled for just a moment.

The Larson family’s wealth and influence placed them among Bonrea’s most powerful families, the kind that people would do almost anything to be associated with.

When Karen had tried to arrange things between Hallie and Larry, Stella had made her polite but firm refusal perfectly clear. She had much higher standards for her son’s future bride.

Hallie was born out of wedlock, and Edith wasn’t much better off in Stella’s eyes. She was convinced those six years in a small town had stripped away every last bit of Edith’s Lovett family refinement.

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Chapter 29

Stella couldn’t believe it–Edith had barely been back in Sunspire a week, yet she’d already charmed her son into tutoring her. What really surprised Stella was how her son, usually so quiet and distant with everyone, perked up whenever Edith’s

name came up.

Stella knew all about scheming girls. Forbidding her son outright would only make him more stubborn, so she decided to find a smarter way to keep him away from both Lovett sisters.

As night fell, Edith finally spotted Zachary at the bus stop outside the gated community.

“You’re wasting your time,” she said calmly. “The buses have stopped running. If you want to leave, you’ll have to wait until morning.”

Zachary turned with a half–smile. “Who said I was waiting for a bus? Just taking in the scenery. Got a problem with that?”

Edith shook her head with a quiet laugh. ‘Never admit defeat–typical Zachary, she thought.

She reached into her pocket and produced a small tin. “Strawberry–flavored, maybe,” she said, offering him a pink candy. “Your favorite since you were little.”

Zachary studied the candy, suddenly remembering those childhood dentist visits–the bright lights, the scraping tools, and the way his fingers would dig into the armrests.

When their mother banned candy, Edith kept his sweet tooth satisfied with strawberry treasures hidden under his pillow. He’d wait until lights–out to unwrap each one.

Edith had always looked out for him. Even just now, as their father raised his hand, she stepped between them without hesitation, just as she’d done when they were kids.

Edith held the pink candy up to his lips. “Try it,” she said. “Tell me how it tastes.” She wanted to see if the candy had any special effect.

Zachary pressed his lips together. “I don’t eat candy anymore,” he said coldly. “And I hate pink.” With that, he turned and walked away.

“Where are you going?” Edith called after him.

“Go home to sleep,” he said, already walking off. After a few steps, he added without turning around, “I ripped up all the tests. And I’m not doing any homework.”

Edith almost smiled. Since he was willing to go home without more arguing, that meant progress. She decided to let it go for tonight, but tomorrow, she’d make sure he did his homework.

She wanted all five siblings to have a real future, not just scrape by.

Edith was about to return the pink candy to its gold–accented black tin when a hand suddenly darted in from the side.

“Yum! This is amazing,” a gentle, almost childlike voice said. “It’s so sweet. Do you have more?”

Spinning around, Edith found herself face–to–chest with a man who stood at least six feet one.

His bespoke suit suggested wealth and refinement, but the childish lilt in his voice and eager movements betrayed that impression.

She recognized him from the special school entrance. The way he carried himself made her think there might be some developmental differences.

“You promised,” he said, his eyes blinking with hurt. “I waited at the bus stop for hours and hours, but you never came back

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Chapter 29

for me.”

Edith stared as his eyes grew shiny with tears and his voice took on a childlike sweetness, like honey dripping from a spoon. So this is the candy’s strange effect?‘ she thought to herself.

“When I returned for you that night, you’d already disappeared,‘ she said softly. “Did you go home by yourself?”

He tilted his head in thought. Suddenly, his tear–filled eyes widened. I remember now! Some men grabbed me, knocked me out cold, and threw me in their car. I thought I’d never see you again

He launched himself into Edith’s arms with such force that she stumbled backward, barely catching herself.

When he buried his face against her flat chest, she felt a rush of gratitude for her small frame–this would have felt completely inappropriate otherwise.

“You… you need to let go first,” Edith managed, pushing against him. “What’s your name? Where do you live? I’ll help you get home.”

“My name’s Dodo. I don’t have a home, and I’m not going anywhere. I wanna stay with you!” he replied.

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