Jonathan asked with a hint of curiosity, “Why doesn’t Mr. Quintin’s daughter come back?”
Old Mr. Jarvis’s face darkened with the weight of memory. “She misunderstood her father, Mr. Quintin. When she
was younger, she fell for a poor student, and her father didn’t approve. It caused quite the uproar.”
“Eventually, Georgia Quintin got pregnant and gave birth to the baby in secret. When Mr. Quintin found that out, he
was so furious that he disowned her.”
“Her beloved turned out to be a cad, who got a scholarship abroad and chose his career over Georgia. She was
heartbroken, took the baby, and left J City.”
“About three years later, Mr. Quintin missed his daughter; he was worried sick about her raising a child on her own,
so he reached out and brought her back.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“She had a beautiful little girl, who looked just like Georgia. Mr. Quintin eventually softened; he doted on that
grandchild, and even hired a nanny for her.”
“But then, tragedy struck. The nanny took the child out one day and lost her.”
“Georgia was beside herself, searching the city high and low, but her daughter was nowhere to be found. She was
convinced that it was Mr. Quintin who had taken the child away out of spite.”
“After that, she left the country, never to return.”
Old Mr. Jarvis sighed heavily when recounting the past. “Twenty years have flown by. Mr. Quintin’s been searching
for that child ever since, but to no avail. I think he won’t rest in peace until he finds her.”
Estelle had heard from rumors bits and pieces of Mr. Quintin’s daughter’s tale, about her falling-out over a man.
She didn’t see the full story was so much more complicated.
Jonathan inquired, “Is there a photo of the child? Or any distinguishing marks? I could help look for her.”
“I remember the granddaughter had a small red birthmark near her shoulder,” Mr. Jarvis replied, but then shook his
head, his gaze lost to the scenery outside the car window. “No need to search. I fear she’s no longer with us.”
Given the Quintin family’s extensive connections, the child would have been found by now if she was still alive. Mr.
Quintin was likely to cling to hope more than anything else.
The conversation was too somber to continue.
Reaching the airport, they passed through the VIP lane and drove towards the private hangar.
The plane was prepped and waiting. Mr. Jarvis, supported by his bodyguard, headed to the aircraft. Having checked
the time, he smiled at Jonathan, “Just a few minutes left. I’ll wait for Estelle on board. If you’ve got something to
say, now’s the time.”
Jonathan responded with a warm smile, “Thanks, Granddad!”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
As the others stepped back, Estelle moved in close, wrapping her arms around Jonathan’s waist, burying her face in
his chest, and whispered, “I’m going to miss you.”
Jonathan held her tight, with a surge of unease in his heart, and kissed her hair and cheek repeatedly, “Remember,
I’ll be waiting. Come back soon.”
“Mhm,” Estelle’s voice was thick with emotion, “I will.”
He stroked her soft hair and enveloped her in his coat, his voice laced with reluctance, “I’ll come see you this
weekend!”
Estelle looked down, “It’s just two days away. Don’t bother. Granddad will just use it as an excuse to send me away
sooner.”
Jonathan’s dark eyes were locked onto hers, “Just be good, and remember what I told you.”
Estelle stepped back, buttoning up his coat and looking up at him, “I should go. We’ll talk more over video tonight.”
“Go on,” Jonathan kissed her forehead one last time, pressing down the sadness in his heart, “Message me when
you get to C City.”