Chapter 281 Mary, Have You Not Been Doing Well Lately?
Mary furrowed her brow. "Orphanage?"
"Can we change the place? I don't want to go back," she asked.
David was surprised. "Mary, don't worry. Ms. Inome isn't there. You won't feel uncomfortable."
He thought Mary didn't want to go back because of Barbara, but she wasn't attached to the orphanage either.
"Does it have to be at the orphanage?" Mary asked, standing up slowly.
David paused. "I just thought, since we grew up there, it holds our memories."
"Okay," Mary replied.
"So you agree?" David asked.
"Yeah, I'll be there."
Mary thought, 'It's just a meal; what could go wrong?'
Plus, David said Barbara wouldn't be there.
Without Barbara, she'd feel more at ease.
David smiled. "Great, just come over. I've got everything ready."
"Okay," Mary agreed.
After hanging up, she quickly freshened up and checked her phone for train tickets. She found one for the afternoon and booked it.
Even though David was treating her, she didn't want to go empty-handed. She went to the supermarket, bought some fruits and snacks, and headed to the orphanage.
Mary knocked on the door, and a girl about twelve or thirteen answered.
The girl, dressed simply, looked at her cautiously. "Are you Mary?"
"Yes, it's me," Mary smiled.
The girl stepped aside to let her in.
"Go call the kids and share these fruits and snacks," Mary said.
But the girl replied, "These need to go to Ms. Inome. She rewards good behavior."
Mary's expression froze. After all these years, Barbara was still doing that?
When Mary was young, she often went hungry because of this rule. Barbara decided who behaved well, and she always favored Rebecca over Mary.
Mary's expression became more reserved. She was just an outsider now and had no right to interfere.
"Alright, give them to Ms. Inome," Mary said faintly.
"Mary's here," David greeted her, taking the things she was carrying. "I told you not to bring anything, but you still did?"
"These are for the kids," Mary smiled.
"Then I'll thank you on behalf of the kids," David said.
Mary raised her eyebrows and didn't say much.
She followed David into the room, where the table was set with steaming hot food, a faint aroma wafting out.
"You're a surprisingly good cook," Mary said in surprise.
"I like cooking, so I studied it a bit. Help me taste it later," David replied.
"Sure," Mary nodded.
She put down her bag, rolled up her sleeves, and helped set the table.
"That's it, come over and eat," David said.
"Okay," Mary nodded, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
David sat across from her, observing her. "Mary, have you not been doing well lately? You look slimmer."
