Eastville, known for its simplicity and natural beauty, was a thriving town nestled within a smaller city in Norvania.
It was where Sienna grew up, and life there was quieter and more affordable compared to bustling cities like Phoenicia, making it a popular choice for retirees.
Sienna's family resided in Eastville, and her mother, Shelly, owned a corner store in the local market.Contents belong to NovelDrama.Org
After Sienna's father passed away, Shelly took charge of the family business by herself, with Sienna helping out occasionally. Felix never helped out at all. Instead, he often took money from Shelly. Sienna prepared dinner, packed it into a thermos, and headed to the corner store to deliver it to Shelly. Upon entering, she noticed Shelly discreetly wiping away tears.
"Mom, what's the matter?" Sienna hurriedly placed the thermos down and approached the checkout counter. She crouched beside Shelly and gently took her arms. "Why are you crying?"
Shelly swiftly brushed away her tears and forced a smile. "It's nothing, I wasn't crying."
"You're clearly lying," Sienna bluntly stated, her displeasure evident in her tone.
Sienna wasn't oblivious. It was clear that Shelly had been crying. Even when Sienna's father passed away, Shelly didn't cry much.
Shelly was obsessed with money and her tears were undoubtedly linked to financial concerns. Whether driven by a fear of poverty or rooted in insecurity, her fixation on wealth had become concerning. "Is Felix back to steal from you again?" Sienna asked angrily.
With tears in her eyes, Shelly nodded. She opened the drawer and pulled out some loose change. "He took all the hundred-dollar bills. He's taken away several thousand. This is all that's left. I won't even have enough for the next time I need to buy supplies."
Trying to keep her frustration in check, Sienna got up and patted the thermos. "Mom, please have your dinner first. I'll go find him. Where did he say he was going?"
"He said he was meeting friends to talk about business and asked for money to buy them drinks."
After saying this, Shelly suddenly slammed her hands on the table and sank to her knees, crying out in anguish. "Why is everything so difficult for me? My husband passed away too soon. My son seems lost. "And just when my daughter was about to get married and receive wedding gifts... she found out her partner is gay. Oh, my life is just one struggle after another!"
Sienna furrowed her brow, feeling uncomfortable as she watched Shelly. It seemed like every time Shelly was upset, it revolved around money, and every time she was upset, she would cry sorrowfully. "Stop crying. I'll go find Felix," Sienna said before rushing out of the corner store.
Transportation in town wasn't very convenient. Buses arrived only every half hour, and taxis were hard to come by often needing to be booked in advance through ride-hailing apps. The most convenient choice was an electric
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Scooter.
Sienna zipped through town on her electric scooter until she reached a bustling bar, a hotspot for Eastville's youth. It was a melting pot of diverse people.
The venue pulsed with vibrant lights and booming music that seemed to electrify the air. Inside, young men and women were dressed in trendy and alluring attire. They sipped drinks, swayed to the music, and engaged in flirtatious exchanges.
Sienna navigated her way through the bustling bar. Unable to locate Felix amidst the dancers on the dance floor, she hurriedly moved from one room to another, peeking into each one.
At last, she caught sight of Felix in a secluded private room. However, the sight that greeted her inside the room was distressing.
Around four or five men and seven
or eight women were present, engaged in drinking and singing. Some women were seated on men's laps, being touched inappropriately by them. They were kissing, playing drinking games, and engaging in various other unsightly activities.
Sienna pushed the door open and shouted, "Felix, get out!"
Startled, Felix stood up and glanced nervously at Sienna. He then sheepishly whispered to a few of his friends, "I-It's my sister."