Gina caught her snicker and rushed to exin, “Your father and I are out working the fields from dawn till dusk. We couldn’t leave Bobby alone all day, so we got someone to mind the house and


    watch over him.”


    Olivia gave a nomittal nod, her gaze lingering on the boy. “He’s my brother?”


    “That’s right,” Gina replied, her smile bright at first, but then fading into a look of sadness. “He has good days and bad days–sometimes he’s clear, sometimes confused. When it’s bad, he doesn’t recognize anyone.”


    He was born that way?” Olivia asked.


    Gina shook her head. “He was normal as a child. One day, he went out to y and came homete. We never found out what happened, but after that, he changed.


    “Now, if a girles to the town, he throws tantrums and tries to drive them away. He causes so much trouble that we have to keep him home.”


    Olivia nodded thoughtfully.


    ‘Don’t just stand around,” Donald called out with a grin. “Dinner’s ready. Come and eat. Olivia, you must be hungry.”


    With that, Gina gently nudged Olivia toward the house.


    The dining room was sparsely upied–just the woman they called Olivia’s “grandma,” a gray- haired man well past sixty, and a heavily pregnant young woman.


    Olivia estimated the girl was around eight months pregnant. Her unkempt hair and hollow stare gave her a vacant look as she sat motionless in silence.


    “This is your grandma, and this is Devin, the town head. And that’s his daughter, Sophie,” Donald introduced them one by one.


    Olivia greeted each of them politely.


    Once <i>everyone </i>was seated, Olivia made her way over and sat down beside the pregnant girl, striking up a conversation. How far along are you?” she asked, her medical instincts kicking in as she showed concern for Sophie


    Sopdie didn’t answer until Olivia repeated her question several times. ‘Oh about five months, she murmured, her face flickering with unreadable emotions as she met Olivia’s gaze.


    “But you look nearly eight months along! Olivia said, instinctively reaching for Sophie’s wrist to check her pulse, her forehead creasing


    11:50 pm


    E55 vouchers


    Sophie was telling the truth. She truly wasn’t quite five months pregnant. Her unusuallyrge belly was due to carrying triplets.


    “You…” Olivia started, but Gina cut her off before she could finish.


    Gina quickly dropped some food onto Olivia’s te, shing a smile. “Olivia, try this. Devin raised these chickens himself.” Clearly, Gina just wanted to shut Olivia up and steer the conversation away.


    Noticing Gina’s stare, Sophie immediately ducked her head, mumbling to herself, “Right, let’s eat.”


    Olivia shot Sophie a puzzled look. “What happened to her?”


    “Poor girl. She was a college student,” Gina said quietly. “Some guy got her pregnant, and she once tried to kill herself. After they saved her, she lost her mind. Just stay away. You don’t want her problems.”


    Olivia felt the pendant on her chest start to warm up. She pressed it lightly, a faint smile curling on her lips. “I really feel sorry for her.”


    “She’s actually been doing bettertely. Two months ago, when she found out she was pregnant, she was desperate to end it all. She even tried to get rid of the babies,” Gina said, watching Olivia’s face carefully. “You’re not freaked out, are you?”


    “Not at all.” Olivia shook her head, her sharp gaze fixed on Sophie. “If she isn’t afraid of death, why would life frighten her?”


    Sophie’s eyes shed with surprise at Olivia’s words, but she quickly looked down and went back to eating.


    Throughout the meal, Sally kept bustling in and out with dishes, stealing concerned nces at Olivia whenever she passed.


    Meanwhile, Devin sat beside Sophie, relentlessly adding food to her te. “Eat properly. The baby needs nutrients, and you’re barely touching your food.” His cold stare suggested he viewed her not as a daughter, but as some failing investment.


    The whole dinner had this weird, unsettling vibe from start to finish.


    田


    AD