Let Me Go, Mr.Lancaster!

Hearing this, Hope paced, almost ready to leave, but someone barged in and mentioned her name.

"Hope? Is that you?"

She was aware it was Auntie Jade—the head nanny of the Lancaster Family. Hope turned around and smiled at her. She then sprinted toward her, wrapping her in a gentle and warm embrace.

"Where have you been in the past days? I can't contact you on the phone. You got us worried."

"I'm sorry for making you worried. I'm not that important, so there's no need to fuss."

Hope pulled out from her arms and awkwardly made a sideways glance. She was itching to leave because she wouldn't want Stan to see her in this state. She was not in shape to explain or create idle conversations. She wanted to lay against the sheets and rest.

"Why are you here? It's not that I don't want to see you, but your grandpa won't allow you to come in."

"I am very much aware of that, Auntie Jade. So, yeah, I'm heading out now. Goodbye."

"Wait! Do you know that Ella and Robert are back?"

Auntie Jade was referring to her half-siblings. Truth be told, she was shocked to hear about their comeback.

Sure, she understood what the old lady meant. They were a harmonious family, and as an illegitimate child, it was best for her to hide in their shadows. She had no intention of ruining their happiness.

Eventually, she politely excused herself and trudged back to her room in the east wing of the villa. She lay on the bed but couldn't fall asleep. She was sulking when her stomach crumbled. Without hesitation, she walked out of her room and went to the kitchen to find something to eat. She reached the dining room, wherein she found the brat Ella having tantrums.

"I don't understand why you let her set foot here again! Dad, we're already here, me and my brother, so there's no use for that outsider to stay here. Can't we celebrate Mom's birthday in peace?"

In a stern voice, Richard replied, "Hope had nowhere to go. Let her stay for a while."

Ella snorted with a laugh. "And you think Mom would be glad on her big day having that bitch around? Or maybe you also wanted to invite her mother to celebrate with us?"

"Watch your mouth, lady," her father warned.

But Ella wouldn't stop. "Oh, I almost forgot, her mother who made my mom depressed before, had already died."

"Ella!" Elizabeth's voice wafted in the air. She's Richard's wife and Ella and Robert's mother. She turned her head and noticed Hope was there. Her expression changed that instant.

"Hope?" Her voice sounded gentle and serene.

Hope acknowledged Elizabeth's presence with a polite nod. "My classmate is celebrating her birthday this week, so I'd be staying at her house for a while."

Richard's forehead hunkered but didn't comment.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, followed her.

'Hope, don't go. Please stay with us for another day. You don't have to leave at this hour."

"It's okay, Auntie."

Hope readied her things and went out, only to realize that it was too late to travel back. It was not safe for her age to roam the streets at that ungodly hour. With her backpack on, she filled her lungs with air and hopped on. She wanted to call Sydney, however, Sydney was also not in a good state, she had a violent father and a sick mother. So it was not ok for her to sleep at Sydney's house.

She wandered around that wealthy road for almost an hour. It's an exclusive village for prominent people, and taxis were very random to pass by. Aside from that, she doesn't have much money with her. Over the years, the Lancaster family seldom gave her money, that was also why she needed to work as a

Waitress to earn some money.

Hope felt hapless. She looked up at the dark sky and smiled bitterly. How many times would she have to experience this nightmare? She waited for hours, yet there was no cab passing by. Then out of nowhere, a familiar vehicle suddenly appeared. The auto was black and fast like a phantom in the night.

It drifted, tires screeching against the road before halting in front of her. The window in the driver's seat rolled down, giving her a good view of his gorgeous aura. With the help of lights from the lamp posts, Hope saw his grim and serious face.

"Uncle Stan," she mumbled.

“Where are you going at this hour?”

Hope swallowed the lump in her throat and spoke, “I’ll just visit a classmate.”

“Tell me the truth,” Stan uttered in a strong and demanding voice.

“I’m telling you the truth,” she answered despite feeling constricted and oppressed with her uncle’s mad aura encircled around her.

“What are you going to do there, then?”

Hope stood still as she kept her mouth shut.

Stan looked intently at Hope before speaking, “Which classmate’s house are you going to? I’ll take you there.”

“I already called a taxi. The driver’s on his way here.”

“Get in the car.” Stan’s tone remained calm and steady, but Hope knew the opposite was underneath his facade. “You can’t get a taxi so late.”

Hope gripped her backpack tightly, refusing to obey her uncle.

“Get in the car, Hope,” Stan repeated with finality in his voice.

Feeling defeated, Hope walked towards the passenger seat and opened its door. She stood there momentarily, staring at the parked black cheetah with the phone in one hand and the backpack draped over her shoulders.

Hope finally climbed into the passenger seat. As they drove silently, Hope waited for him to vocalize his question about where she was going, but none came.

To break the deafening silence, Hope spoke softly, “Uncle, I’ll go to my classmate’s house. You can just drop me off Sycamore Way.”

Hope’s plead met a deaf ear as Stan ignored her. The car’s interior was eerily silent, but Hope’s eyes traveled between her uncle and the road as she saw Stan was deep in his thoughts as if he was contemplating something.

She wanted to ask whether Stan had informed her grandfather about her trip to Sybarite, but nothing came out of her lips.

She could see her uncle’s side profile as she thought about asking her question or not. His face was sharp and sleek, like a chisel that could cut fingers. His right hand clutched the steering wheel while he stretched the other out of the window.

The silence ended when they reached the crossroads where Stan suddenly whispered, “I was drunk that night….”