The snacks at Glimmering Tower were numerous and exquisite, each more delicious than thest. Even a simple pound cake was sweet without being cloying, with a fragrant and chewy texture that melted in the mouth. Violet took a bite, and said with a smile, "This was my favorite treat when I was little. Our chef didn''t make it, so my brother would sneak out to buy it for me. We loved hiding under the apple tree and eating pound cakes together." She gazed out the window as sunlight streamed in and illuminated her face, which was alight with smiles and memories.


    "It was often on bright autumn days like this one. But back then, in September, it didn''t get as cool as it does in the capital. Sometimes, it was quite hot. The sunlight would filter through the tree branches and cast a warm glow on my brother''s face."


    As Violet spoke, her hand brushed over the rabbit figurine beside her, and she sighed softly. "But it''s been so long since I''ve seen him."


    Darin was momentarily stunned. The scene Violet described vividly appeared in her mind, and her gaze lingered on the rabbit figurine.


    For some reason, her chest felt tight. It was as if something were stuck there, making her ufortable.


    Darin couldn''t help but ask, "Ms. Spencer, is this a rabbit figurine?"


    Violet nodded, a smile still gracing her lips. "Yes, this is a gift from my brother. One year after I fell from the apple tree, my mother grounded me, and I couldn''t go out to watch thentern show during the Starlight Harvest Festival. So my brother made this little rabbit for me with his own hands. Isn''t it ugly? I didn''t like it at the time, and I even threw it. Do you see the ear? That''s where it broke when I threw it on the ground in my anger."


    She pushed the rabbit figurine toward Darin. "Here, take a look."


    Darin stared at the rather unsightly rabbit figurine that had been thrust into her view, and it felt as if a voice echoed in her ears.


    "You''re a youngdy! Why are you climbing trees? Who taught you that? It hurt when you fell, right? Why are you crying? You''re grounded! You won''te with us to the Starlight Harvest Festival to watch thentern show!" "Don''t cry. Didn''t you want a rabbit figurine? I''ll make you one."


    "I don''t want it! It''s too ugly! This isn''t even a rabbit! I don''t want it! I don''t want it..."


    Crash!


    "Jaina, I made it myself..."


    "I don''t want it! I don''t want it..."


    The little girl''s cries echoed in Darin''s ears, and Darin was filled with immense grievance. She instinctively recoiled her hand, realizing toote that her face was streaked with tears.


    Taking advantage of the fact that Tamara hadn''t noticed, Darin quickly wiped her cheeks. But inside, it felt as if her heart was being pricked by a thousand needles, each sharp sting of pain slowly building up.


    Violet watched her, then reached out to reim the rabbit figurine. Darin instinctively clutched it close, her voice thick with emotion as she protested, "It''s mine."


    Darin stood and moved toward the window, which faced the southern river port. The wind was fierce, sending waves crashing against the boats in the harbor. Taking a deep breath memories flooded back to her like the tide. The rabbit figurine and Violet''s words had torn open a wound, releasing buried memories deep within her heart.


    She didn''t recall much, but she remembered the day the performance troupe leader, Lucas, found her. She had been on the brink of death, and had been abandoned on a small hill outside Stonebridge County. Even though it was pouring rain, her body felt as if it were being consumed by fire.


    The only clear memory she had was


    of Lucas'' voice, telling her that as long as she still had breath, it was up to her whether she would survive. In the end, Darin did survive, but a high fever caused her to forget much. She only vaguely


    remembered being tossed off a cart when she fell ill.


    She had thought it was her family who had abandoned her, so she never considered looking for them. Anyway, she also forgot everything.


    Now, she recalled being taken from


    the alley where she had been


    ying. Her memories of being snatched away and tossed onto a cart came back to her. There had been another child with her-she couldn''t remember their name, but she distinctly remembered being pped twice upon getting on the cart.


    The pain had been excruciating. But beyond that, everything was a blur.


    However, there were some hazy memories before her abduction that she could grasp, flickering just out of reach.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.