Cruel Questions


    Hana looked at her and asked her something in Cirencester''snguage, which I didn''t understand. Anya lowered her gaze. "My home used to be here in Trestlewood."


    In that instant, Anya''s face darkened. I looked to Hana, who tranted their conversation for me.


    I gently patted Anya''s hand and said, "I''m sorry."


    Though Anya shook her head, her emotions seemed affected. She spoke softly and rapidly.


    Hana tranted swiftly, rying Anya''s words almost as soon as she spoke them.


    "She says, ''My family used to live in this city, and my parents ran a small business. My mother sold souvenirs and other items, while my father sold amulets. Though the business was small, we livedfortably. My father loved us and often took us on outings."


    I kept my eyes on Anya''s beautiful, innocent face, now tinged with a hint of sorrow.


    Anya''s recounting seemed somewhat pitiful, and she waspletely immersed in her memories. Her ability to recall everything from her childhood made me envious, as she remembered everything vividly, while I couldn''t.


    "We also did business from a young age, selling items to tourists. Later, my father met an employer who supplied us with cosmetics to wholesale. We became distributors, responsible for delivering goods to various vendors."


    I immediately understood what she meant by ''cosmetics'' business. The image of those ''cosmetics'' appeared in my mind-the ones Navi built his wealth with.


    He had also deceived my adoptive father with the same strategy, and my father turned out to be the source of it all.


    It appeared that Navi had deceived quite a few people. Even around me, two families had fallen victim to him.


    I shook my head lightly, admitting that fate was an inexplicable miracle.


    "At that time, our family was very grateful to him. Just delivering goods could earn us a lot of money, and it was much easier than street peddling." Anya''s eyes widened as she looked at me, twirling her fingers around.


    "The business grewrge, and people from neighboring countries came to my father for goods. One time, my dad got drunk and identally broke a bottle of cosmetics, revealing what was inside.


    "My father was scared, but my mother was greedy. My brother and I didn''t understand what it was then."


    As Anya recounted the situation, the scene yed out vividly in my mind.


    "My father said, ''We can''t continue this business. But my mother dragged him to the storage room for a big argument. After they made up, my father resumed deliveries as usual. But I noticed he wasn''t as cheerful as before, and he became cautious.


    "But the more he feared something would happen, the more it did. Once, he was robbed while delivering goods, losing a whole crate of


    products, which led to big trouble. After that, there was no peace in our lives, with peopleing after us."


    Anya''s eyes were red, and her tears were falling freely now.


    "My mother finally realized the danger of the business and suggested we flee. We were all in agony over this. Our home was really nice, but several groups were after us, and my father chose to run.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    "But we were caught and brought to a tribal settlement in the mountains. There was a small town there, which was the big boss''s base. He brought our family of four there.


    "He said running away was a betrayal to him, and we needed to pay a price for doing that. Then, he made us stay there and work asborers. My brother and I never went to school again, as we became his servants."


    "What happenedter? Why did you say your parents died at Navi''s hands?" I asked Anya.


    I knew my question was somewhat cruel. Her eyes met mine, and then she quickly looked away again.


    I could see the fear in her eyes.