Chapter 8 She Has Been Clinging to Arthur Ever Since She Was a Child

• Erin had just reached the door to the Harrison Residence’s living room when she heard Carol Fowler’s loving voice coming from inside. “Look at you, Mandy; you’ve lost weight. Didn’t you eat well while you were alone abroad?”
• Carol was Arthur’s mother. She had two sons and two daughters; her eldest son was Jacob, followed by Jenn, her second daughter. Arthur was her third child, whereas Mandy was her youngest.
• Of the four children, Mandy was born when Carol and Arnold, Arthur’s father, were almost fifty. Therefore, Carol and Arnold were especially fond of Mandy to the point that they satisfied nearly all of her demands.
• The worst thing was that Mandy was only two years older than Erin, so Arthur’s insistence on keeping Erin back then was unanimously opposed by Carol and Arnold.
• As if that wasn’t bad enough, Mandy hated Erin and picked on her for no reason since the first day she came to the Harrison Residence, causing Carol and Arnold’s dislike for Erin to grow.
• When Mandy graduated high school two years ago, Arthur arranged for her to study abroad. As a result, Carol and Arnold became less prejudiced against Erin.
• But now, Mandy was back…
• Erin shook her head before looking up at the sky; she felt that the weather had gotten worse.
• Instead of choosing to go inside, Erin made a turn and headed for the back garden of the residence. She decided to wait until Arthur arrived before going inside.
• It was almost 6.00 PM when Arthur arrived at the Harrison Residence. The instant he showed up in the living room, Mandy immediately rose from the sofa, lifted the hem of her dress, and happily threw herself at him. “You’re finally here, Arthur.”
• Arthur quietly glanced around the living room, but he didn’t see a certain little girl. His cold eyes slightly darkened as he grabbed Mandy’s shoulders and pushed her away from him before looking at Frank Harrison, who was sitting on the main sofa. “Grandpa, where’s Erie?”
• Mandy walked back to the sofa and sat down with a long face before grumbling in displeasure, “How could you ask for Erie as soon as you’re here? Who exactly is your biological younger sister?”
• Arthur gave Mandy a look, but that was all he gave her; he then turned to look at Frank.
• “Wasn’t Erin with you?” asked an astounded Frank.
• Arthur frowned without saying a word. Then, he turned around and walked out of the living room.
• “Arthur…” called Mandy indignantly while clenching her fists. Seeing that Arthur ignored her, she gritted her teeth, got up, and went out after him.
• Carol anxiously got up from the sofa and watched as Mandy ran out after Arthur. “Mandy, where are you going?” she shouted.
• “Don’t worry about her. She’s been clinging to Arthur ever since she was a child, so she probably ran out after him for fear that he would leave,” assured Arnold.
• Carol sat back down upon hearing Arnold’s words. Taking a glance at Frank, she then pressed her lips together. “I just worry that Mandy and Erin will get on each other’s nerves as soon as they meet. Their zodiac signs are probably incompatible, since they quarrel whenever they meet,” she said. After pausing for a moment, she continued, “I still don’t quite understand why Arthur would adopt—”
• Before she could finish her sentence, Frank knitted his brows commandingly and interrupted in an authoritative voice, “That’s enough! Didn’t I say before that this matter mustn’t be brought up again? Erin doesn’t carry our surname, but she’s a member of the Harrison Family. To me, she’s the same as everyone in this family.”
• The corner of Carol’s mouth twitched. “I got it.”
• Jacob and Jenn—who were sitting together on the sofa—glanced silently at Carol, who looked a little aggrieved despite her response.
• Meanwhile, in the back garden, Arthur’s cold eyes fell precisely on Erin, who was reclining in the swing chair. However, she seemed to be asleep at this moment as her eyes were closed.
• “Wait for me, Arthur! Art—”
• Arthur knitted his brows and looked back to glare at Mandy, who was hastily running up to him. His sharp and stern gaze successfully silenced her, and she stopped right then and there, not daring to move closer to him.
• Even though Arthur stopped Mandy in time from speaking, Erin was awakened from her light sleep; she rubbed her eyes before looking back to see Arthur standing not far behind her. Her mouth curved in a smile, and she greeted sweetly, “Uncle Arthur.”
• Upon hearing her voice, Arthur turned to look at her. “Come over here.”
• Erin nodded as she got up from the sofa and walked toward him. After walking up to him, he looked up at him with a smile, asking, “When did you arrive?”
• “Just a moment ago,” answered Arthur as he reached out and held her hand before turning back. When they walked past Mandy, he said flatly, “Go back.”
• “Okay.” Mandy pouted and tried to reach for his hand, only to grab at nothing.
• Grinding her teeth sulkily, she glared at Arthur’s hand—which was holding Erin’s—and stamped her foot hard. Then, lifting the hem of her dress, she hastily caught up to them and forcibly took Arthur by the arm before throwing Erin a provocative look.
• Erin had decided to ignore Mandy from the very beginning, so she chose to continue ignoring the look she threw at her.
• Mandy narrowed her eyes angrily as she felt an unusually strong desire to strangle Erin to death. However, she couldn’t do so, as she would have one foot in the grave if she did. After all, she had a brother who was biased in favor of someone else instead of his own kin!
• The trio walked for a while before Mandy’s eyes suddenly lit up. Looking up sharply at Erin, she said abruptly in an especially loud voice, “Erin, why don’t you call me Aunt Mandy?”
• Erin was utterly speechless.