chapter 3 It's you

“Pervert!”
“Stalker!”
“Freak!”
The girl reacted quickly, picking up a vase nearby and hurling it at Delfina Dawson.
Bang!
Delfina Dawson dodged, and the vase shattered against the wall, pieces flying everywhere.
“I’m not…”
Before Delfina Dawson could explain, the girl turned and ran.
She fled the bathroom and ran into Gardenia Adler, who was carrying water. Gardenia's face turned even paler. “Mom, run…”
But Gardenia Adler smiled warmly and said, “Ah, Delfina, you look even more handsome in that outfit.”
“Come, Delfina, do you remember? This is my daughter, Nagnoloa Harper.”
“Nagnoloa, this is your brother Delfina.”
Gardenia Adler introduced them with a beaming smile.
Nagnoloa Harper froze in her tracks.
“Brother... Delfina?”
Memories flickered in Nagnoloa Harper’s eyes.
Delfina Dawson hadn't expected that this girl, who kept calling him a “beggar,” was Gardenia's daughter.
Nagnoloa Harper? Right, Gardenia Adler’s daughter. He had met her as a child.
Back then, Nagnoloa Harper was only seven, wearing a red dress and pigtails, chin held high with pride and beauty when she saw Delfina Dawson.
Ten years later, she had become even more beautiful and prouder.
But Delfina Dawson didn’t mind. He nodded slightly in greeting.
By then, Nagnoloa Harper remembered – this “beggar” was Delfina Dawson, who had stayed at her house for a month ten years ago. “So it’s you.”
She sized up Delfina Dawson.
In clean clothes, Delfina Dawson seemed quite handsome.
But his previous ragged appearance was etched in her memory. Knowing he was the homeless child from ten years ago, Nagnoloa Harper sneered, “What, can’t make it on your own and came to ask for money?”
“What are you saying, Nagnoloa!” Gardenia Adler pulled her daughter’s arm.
Delfina Dawson calmly took out a black card from his pocket and placed it on the table. “Aunt Gardenia, this is a small token. I just wanted to see you and ensure you’re well. I’ll leave now.”
As he turned to leave, Gardenia Adler hurriedly stopped him. “Delfina, no need for any token. We haven’t seen each other in ten years. You should stay a few days.”
“Also see your Uncle Harper and Nagnoloa. You're all of the same generation, you should get along well.”
Clearly, Gardenia Adler thought Delfina Dawson was struggling and wanted to offer a place to stay, subtly to avoid offense.
Delfina Dawson was somewhat amused – indeed, his previous attire made him look destitute. “No need, Aunt Gardenia.”
“Why bother with him, Mom!” Nagnoloa Harper was clearly dissatisfied with the idea of Delfina Dawson staying.
She picked up the card, its black surface unadorned. Frowning, she said, “What’s this? Don’t tell me it’s some bank’s black card?”
Delfina Dawson nodded. “Citibank’s black card.”
Nagnoloa Harper laughed louder. “What a joke! Do you think I’m a three-year-old? Citibank’s black card requires a net worth of 100 million to obtain. Even my dad doesn’t qualify. How could a beggar like you have one?”
She tossed the card into the trash and crossed her arms. “If you want to give a gift, even a bag of fruit would be better than this! If you can’t afford it, don’t pretend.”
“You’re just a beggar who can’t make it outside and remembers my family has money, hoping to freeload.”
“You’re able-bodied; why not support yourself?”
She ranted as if she was on a moral high ground.
Gardenia Adler’s face changed. “Nagnoloa, apologize to Delfina!”
“I won’t! Am I not telling the truth?”
“He’s an adult, using a fake item to deceive you! Isn’t it just to freeload?”
“Such a person, without dignity or honesty, I despise!”
“Mom, letting him stay is impossible. I don’t accept!”
“At most, I’ll help find him a job. It might not pay much, but enough for food and shelter. Isn’t that enough?”
Gardenia Adler opened her mouth but couldn’t find a rebuttal. Indeed, Delfina Dawson didn’t seem likely to possess a black card.
Yet, she still believed Delfina Dawson was a good kid, perhaps resorting to deceit due to hardship.
She turned to Delfina Dawson, “Don’t listen to Nagnoloa, stay…”
“No need.”
Delfina Dawson smiled. “I came to give a gift. If Aunt Gardenia doesn’t like it, I’ll choose another next time. I will leave now.”
With that, he left.
Nagnoloa Harper mocked loudly, “See, he’s guilty and ran!”
Delfina Dawson’s expression didn’t change much. Who was he to stoop to Nagnoloa Harper’s level?
For him, she was just Gardenia Adler’s daughter. Without this connection, he wouldn’t have spoken a word to her.
Gardenia Adler wanted to follow, but Delfina Dawson walked further away, leaving only a proud silhouette.
She sighed and picked up the black card from the trash.
Nagnoloa Harper scoffed, “Mom, why pick it up? It’s just a fake.”
Gardenia Adler shook her head. “Real or fake, it’s Delfina Dawson’s sentiment."
“Nagnoloa, sometimes sentiment is more important than money.”
Nagnoloa Harper didn’t listen, checking the time. “Mom, I have plans with friends, I must go.”
She hurriedly left.
…
Meanwhile, Delfina Dawson left the villa and got into a taxi.
“Where to, young man?” the driver asked enthusiastically.
“To the residential community!” Delfina Dawson said.
Having repaid Gardenia Adler’s kindness, his next visit was to Aunt Trixie.
Years ago, when he was homeless and starving, Trixie Lawrence found him and brought him a bowl of steaming wontons.
Although it was Delfina Dawson who first stood up for her daughter, he was as destitute as a beggar then, and everyone avoided him, except Trixie Lawrence, who offered him the wontons without disdain.
Small as the wontons were, the kindness was significant. Now, it was time to repay Trixie Lawrence’s kindness.
“I wonder how Aunt Trixie is doing?”