Chapter 527 More Than Twenty Years...
"Alaric?"
Sebastian squinted at the man approaching him, his eyes clouded with confusion. "Who did you say?"
The old man's cigarette was bent between his fingers, smoke curling around him. His lips trembled, and the surprise in his eyes faded into disappointment.
"You're not him. Even if he were alive, he wouldn't be this young. You're not him, not..."
The old man muttered to himself, taking a drag from his cigarette and exhaling through his nose. He shook his head, then nodded, then shook his head again. "But how can you look so much like him? How can you resemble him so closely?"
Sebastian was puzzled by the old man's ramblings. He leaned in slightly. "Who is this Alaric you're talking about? Do I really look like him?"
The old man took another deep drag from his cigarette. "Yes, you look a lot like him. No, on closer inspection, your eyes are similar to his. But it's more than that. Your demeanor...your aura...it's very much like his. I can't explain it, but I feel there's a connection between you two.".
His words were disjointed and confusing, as if he were trying to convey something but only ended up confusing himself more.
But...
He couldn't help but look at the face that unsettled him so much. He circled around Sebastian, scrutinizing him from every angle. "You look so much like him..."
Sebastian's brows furrowed. "What are you trying to say? Who is this Alaric?"
The old man looked at him, the cigarette in his fingers almost finished, the ash hanging precariously. "What's your name?"
"Sebastian." He said it plainly, studying the old man with his inscrutable eyes. Both of them were taken aback.
The old man's breath caught. "Sebastian?" He stared at Sebastian's face for a long time before asking, "Are you from the Kingsley family of Aucester MBK Group? Are you one of their children?"
Sebastian was surprised that this seemingly disheveled old man knew about the Kingsley family. He immediately deduced that this must be Brooklyn's mentor, Benedict Harrington. He didn't have a photo of Benedict, but he was almost certain.
"Yes, from the Kingsley family," Sebastian admitted.
Benedict nodded, taking the last drag of his cigarette. He looked around for a place to dispose of it, but ended up holding it. "So, Brian is your father?"
"Yes, he is."
Benedict murmured, "No wonder, no wonder... Now I understand."
Sebastian was confused by the old man's mutterings. What was he trying to say?
"Professor Harrington, please tell me, who is this Alaric? How do I resemble him? Do you have a photo of him?"
"You know who I am? How do you know my name?" Benedict was surprised. He had never met this man before, and he had been out of the medical field for a long time, never participating in any public events. How did he know?
"Your student, Brooklyn, is my wife."
"Oh, Brooklyn... You're her husband..." Benedict nodded, scrutinizing Sebastian as if recognizing something. "Come in."
He pushed open the door with his frail hand and bent down to enter. The wooden door was low, and Sebastian had to stoop to get in.
The interior was simple: a tea set, a wooden bed, a large cabinet filled with books, and bundles of herbs.
Sebastian glanced around the room as Benedict opened a cabinet and pulled out a dusty photo album.
"Come here, look at this."
Sebastian walked over, and Benedict pointed to a small wicker stool. "Sit."
Sebastian looked at the small stool, worried it might break under his weight.
Benedict insisted, "Sit, it won't break. And if it does, you don't have to pay for it."
Sebastian sat down, his tall frame making him look like a student on a tiny chair, and his noble demeanor contrasted sharply with the setting.
Benedict found it amusing and opened the album. "This is the only photo of him, taken over twenty years ago. I can't believe it's been that long."
Sebastian saw a group photo, one young man wearing black-framed glasses. Despite the photo's age and yellowing, the man's noble and elegant demeanor stood out. He was smiling faintly at the camera, standing out in the crowd.
Sebastian was stunned by the eyes behind the glasses, which were so similar to his own. He felt as if his breath and heartbeat were taken away. He pointed at the man in the photo, his lips moving. "Who is he?"
Benedict stroked his chin, as if trying to pull out a beard. "He was Alaric, my good friend and brother from many years ago. But twenty years ago... that accident was so sudden. He was gone just like that."
"What accident?" Sebastian's fingers gripped the corner of the album, almost crushing it.
Benedict leaned back in his chair. "It was a long time ago—a fire...a fire that burned for a day and a night. Everyone died. Not a single person made it out. The Pemberton family was gone in one night. The youngest child was only nine, the oldest over seventy."
Benedict's face was filled with sorrow as he recalled the past, his withered hand rubbing his face.
"Who did it? Was it ever found out?" Sebastian's voice trembled.
"No, no one ever found out who did it. A prominent family in the business world was destroyed in one night. It's been over twenty years. Who remembers now?"
Benedict sighed deeply. "Young man, give me the photo."
"Can I take a picture of it?"
"What? Oh, sure, go ahead."
Sebastian took a photo with his phone. Alaric? The Pemberton family?
Destroyed in one night, and he looked so much like him. There had to be something more to this.
"It's getting late. You should go." Benedict's mood had recovered, and he was ready to send Sebastian away.
"Professor Harrington, I came to ask for your help. I hope you can assist me."
Benedict lit another cigarette. "What is it?"
Sebastian explained the situation. Surprisingly, Benedict agreed without hesitation.
"Alright, I haven't been back to Libertya in years. This is a good chance to see my student. I'll help."
Benedict looked at Sebastian, hesitated, then nodded.
"Thank you, Professor Harrington."
"Wait, don't thank me yet. I have one condition."
"Anything, Professor Harrington. I'll do my best."
Benedict's wrinkled face turned sly. "Young man, you seem capable and impressive. How about being my assistant when we return?"
What?
Sebastian as his assistant?
If Dario and the others heard this, they'd be shocked!
But Sebastian remained calm. "Alright, I agree."
"Good, good. A young man who can adapt. Good! Then it's settled. When we return, you take care of me. I'm not in the best health, and if something happens to me, that girl's life can't be saved!"
Sebastian nodded. "Don't worry, I'll do my best."
"Ha ha, good, good. That makes this old man happy."
Sebastian tightened his grip on his phone, his gaze darkening.
The next morning, Brooklyn woke up feeling refreshed.
"Amarantha, Donny, good morning! Donny, is your stomach feeling better?" Brooklyn greeted them warmly, seeing Donny's pale face and knowing he had a rough night.
Donny gritted his teeth. "Better!"
"That's good. I'm relieved to see you're improving. Remember to take your medicine and let me know if anything changes."
"Brooklyn, stop pretending to care. We don't need your help. Get lost!"
Brooklyn calmly went downstairs. "Donny, Amarantha, be safe. I'll check on breakfast."
The mention of food almost made Donny vomit again.
Before breakfast, a delivery truck arrived, followed by an MBK company car.
"What's going on? Who's here so early?" Quinn walked to the door, leaning against the frame, and saw Dario step out.
"Good morning. I'm here to deliver something on behalf of the boss."
"What is it?"
Dario pointed to the truck. "It's in there."
Quinn looked. "What?"
Workers opened the truck, revealing a large double bed.
Quinn almost spat out his drink. "What? Sebastian sent a bed?"
Dario smiled. "The boss personally ordered this bed for Donny. It's stable, shock-absorbing, and comfortable."
Brooklyn chuckled. Sebastian was being mischievous.
Donny's face turned dark. "You..."
"Where should we put the bed?"
Amarantha and Donny exchanged awkward glances.
The workers carried the bed upstairs, and Dario presented Brooklyn with fresh white camellias. "Mrs. Brooklyn Kingsley, these are from the boss. He hopes you like them."
Brooklyn smiled. "They're beautiful. I love them!"
Brian and the others were silent.
Quinn coughed. "Sebastian is so thoughtful, even from Averlake."
Dario continued, "Mrs. Brooklyn Kingsley, I'll be driving you to and from work these days. Please enjoy your breakfast and then come to the car."
Quinn blinked, envious of the flowers and the car. "Wow! Sebastian is so thorough!"
How could single people compete with that?
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