The Day I Kissed An Older Man

Chapter 426
“I don’t know about the rest. I only know that she comes from a wealthy family ’cause this one time. Ahem, I happened to see her
going into a very grand mansion and addressing the old couple inside as Mom and Dad.”
Seeing how guilty Marvin looked, Corinne could easily guess that he must have secretly followed Em home so that he could find
out more about her.
Marvin had that faraway look in his eyes as he took a trip down memory lane. “Your mother has always been one of the quieter
ones. Not only is she a straight -A student but she’s kind, doesn’t put on airs, and is popular in the school. Guys and girls alike
worshiped her.”
‘So mom’s kind and gentle,’ Even though Corinne had no clear memory of her mother, she could nonetheless sense she was
always smiling down at her. She remembered that she was already five years old when Marvin adopted her. Logically speaking,
a five-year-old should be able to retain some memories of her childhood and yet, Corinne could not recall anything from before
the age of five, which she found very strange indeed.
“Mister Carew, do you remember where is the mansion where you saw my mom entering?” asked Corinne carefully; she was
trying to get a lead she could follow.
Thalassa
“It was in Thalassa city and the university we studied in shared the same name University. But the city changed to the extent of
being unrecognizable since my university days. I’ll get lost if I go there now. As for the mansion, well, I won’t be surprised if it has
already been demolished to make way for other urban facilities.”
Corinne thought for a while and asked, “Then did my mother ever tell you why she couldn’t go to the hospital to pick me up
herself?”
Marvin hesitated for a while before answering, “The thing is, your mother and I were in the same art club during our university
days so you can say we know each other quite well. Later, the art club organized a reunion dinner for past members and it was
then I ran into your mother again. Everyone at the dinner exchanged phone numbers and after the dinner ended, your mother
suddenly called me and told me that someone was after her life. She begged me to keep you safe and I, being blinded by
emotions, agreed without hesitation. After that, I couldn’t reach her no matter how hard I tried so I thought, maybe the people
who were after her got to her and that she’s not of this world anymore.”

It was obvious Marvin came to regret his overly-emotional response in agreeing to adopt her. Corinne did not hold any
grievances against him. She was not his biological daughter after all so it was understandable that he did not love her. Besides,
she might not even be alive now if he did not take her in then.
Corinne committed everything to memory before asking, “Do you have any other information about my mother?”
Marvin thought about it and answered, “Just one more.”
“And that is?”
“Your mother loves art. She’s quite a well-known painter in the country and the name she used to sign off her paintings is Nellie
Nymphaea.”
“I already know about this.”
“As far as I know, the teacher who taught your mother to paint is the world-famous painter, Michel. If you can get a hold of him,
he might be able to tell you more about your mother.”
Corinne nodded. “Okay, I know what I have to do now. Thank you for telling me all this, Mister Carew.”
She then got up and was heading out of the study when Marvin called out her name.
“Corinne.”
Corinne stopped walking and looked back at him. “Do you have anything else to add, Mister Carew?”
–
Marvin looked at Corinne who looked more and more like Em – with mixed emotions. Corinne was the child of his first love. On
one hand, he wanted to love her as much as he loved Em but on the other, he was at the same time repulsed by the fact that the
child’s father was another man. That was why he did not hesitate to send Corinne to live in the countryside. Out of sight, out of
mind, so to speak.
Marvin frowned and said, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you but it’s best if you don’t look for your mother.”
“Why is that?”

“I don’t know what exactly happened to your mother but she repeatedly told me that no matter what, no one should ever find out
you’re her daughter. ‘Cause otherwise, you’ll be killed.”