Chapter 16

When did Lucas start to decay?

Perhaps he was always this kind of person.

In this world, there are too many people who wrap their rotten insides with a glamorous exterior.

As long as there’s no conflict of interest, we’ll never catch a whiff of their true stench.

Lucas was an outstanding student, handsome in appearance, polite and courteous in his dealings.

All of this was a carefully maintained facade.

But when faced with the temptation of profit, he would tear off the mask and reveal his true self.

From the moment he actively requested to join this project, he probably had everything planned.

He wasn’t even afraid of me exposing him.

Because Mr. Yu might very well be an accomplice too.

How much Mr. Yu took, I don’t know. Because before the funds reached me, they might have already been divided by the management.

I walked despondently towards the charity school we partnered with for the project.

School was already out.

The girls, wearing ill-fitting and somewhat shabby clothes, played on the simple playground.

I watched them through the fence, lacking the courage to go inside.

At that moment, a familiar figure appeared at the edge of the playground.

Ethan Sterling, dressed in a well-tailored dark suit, naturally crouched down and opened his arms.

The girls laughed and rushed into his embrace.

“Uncle Sterling! What did you bring us today?”

“Milk, cookies, and some clean new clothes.” His voice was gentle.

A small, timid girl asked, “I… I’ve never had milk. At home, only my brother gets to drink milk. Is this… to take back for him?”

Ethan gently patted her head, his tone soft yet firm:

“The milk is for you, Emily. You have to drink it here before you can go home.”

The girl, curious and delighted, took a carton of milk and carefully inserted the straw.

The summer sunset flowed over Ethan’s sharply defined profile.

His gaze, at this moment, appeared exceptionally clear and tender.