“Have those kids been caught?” Zuko asked.
Jill hesitated briefly, then smiled fawningly and nodded. “Yes, they’ve all been caught, not one missing. They’re
outside.”
“Let them come in,” Zuko said.
“Okay.” Jill gestured outside, and the kids were brought in.
When Desiree saw them, her eyes glinted viciously. She was about to raise her hand to hit them but noticed Zuko
nearby. She held back her impulse and retracted her hand.
Zuko noticed her subtle move.
He then looked at the kids. They appeared around 12 or 13 years old but seemed younger, closer to 8 or 9 years
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtold, due to malnutrition. Their sharp and fierce gazes stunned Zuko.
Children who grew up in a warm and loving environment would never have such a look.
Zuko approached them slowly. The kids eyed him cautiously and stepped back.
“Do you know what you did wrong?” Zuko’s voice was low and husky.
The kids remained silent.
“Regardless of the circumstances, splashing dirty water on others is wrong. You’re still kids. Did someone ask you to
do this?”
“Yes, Zuko!” Desiree exclaimed, “There must be someone behind this. We need to find out who!”
Jill was at a loss. “Mr. Hamerton, well…”
Zuko chuckled. “Do what Ms. Harper says and find out who’s behind this.”
“That’s easier said than done.” Jill chuckled wryly. “How do I do that?”
“Ask the children.”
“Exactly!” Desiree gritted her teeth and said hatefully, “We not only need to find out but also teach them a lesson!
How can we get the truth out of them without giving them a good beating?”
“Ms. Harper, you… Aren’t you going too far?” Jill hesitated. “They’re still children. Do you really want to use
corporal punishment on these kids in my welfare home?
“Besides, they may not necessarily be targeting you with the dirty water.” Jill pulled the kids behind her, lowering
her voice. “Maybe they were just playing around and accidentally splashed water on you.”
“You’re talking nonsense!” Desiree barked, “They did it on purpose! Jill, if you don’t get to the bottom of this today,
we will withdraw the charity fund tomorrow!”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Withdraw it if you want…” Jill mumbled, “We don’t get a single penny from the fund anyway. Do you expect the
welfare institution to worship this fund as an offering?”
“Say that again!?”
Jill trembled, bowing her head and not saying anything.
Desiree was enraged and went up to slap Jill. Just as she was about to strike her again, Zuko caught her wrist.
“Hitting someone is not honorable for a young lady like you.” Zuko frowned, looking at her coldly. “What did Madam
Latymer say wrong that you think treating her like this is appropriate?”
“Zuko, I—”
“Don’t hit innocent people.” A cold voice came from the entrance. “I’m responsible for my actions. If you have
something to say, say it to me.”
Desiree was stunned when she saw a petite figure coming in wearing a cap that looked particularly familiar.
Desiree froze, taking a while to recover. “It’s… you?”
Lena lifted the brim of her cap with an icy smirk. “I instigated these kids. I taught them to seek revenge for
grievances and retribution for enmities. What about it? Have they taken revenge on the wrong person?”