To outsiders, Robert was a winner in life.
In fact, he was indeed a winner in life. His life had been smooth-sailing. He had never suffered or suffered.
Robert was humble and polite. He was also very loving and was never stingy when it came to charity donations.
He had a pair of very magical hands. His hands had saved many neurotic brains.
His hands were affectionately called—
The hand of God.
As Robert’s only son, little Herbert was also very smart. However, unlike Robert’s courage and cheerfulness, little Herbert was gentle and kind by nature and a little timid. He took after his mother.
Young Herbert was almost seven years old this year and in the second grade.
Young Herbert got off the school bus after school and followed the chubby Ian to his house. Herbert’s mother would come to town to buy groceries later. Herbert planned to wait for his mother to come and go back with her.
Ian’s mother was a writer. When she had nothing to do, she opened a coffee shop and ran it as she wrote.
Every day after school, little Herbert would play with Ian in the coffee shop for half an hour before going home.
Recently, this area had been a little restless.
As young Herbert was doing his homework, he heard the adults at the next table discussing something in low voices. He pricked up his ears and eavesdropped on their conversation. He realized that a homeless person had been lost in the next town. The police speculated that the homeless person had probably been killed.
However, because the victim was a homeless person and had no one to rely on, the police only investigated symbolically and did not do any further investigation.
Ian heard it too. He said to little Herbert, “Who would hurt a homeless person?”
Herbert frowned and remained silent. He was panicking.
He was timid and felt that if someone was killed nearby, he would be next.
Actually, this was a common problem for many timid people. They were afraid of everything.
Not long after, Xiao Meng walked into the cafe. She was wearing a red dress, her black hair was tied up, and she wore a pair of white sparkling pearls on her ears.
The moment Xiao Meng appeared, she immediately attracted the attention of many people.
In this town, Xiao Meng was a unique existence.
Firstly, she was an Asian woman. Her skin color was completely different from the people in this small town. Secondly, she was very beautiful. Her facial features were not stunning. Her nose was not tall, and her eyes were not deep. However, she had the gentle temperament of an oriental beauty.
She was very slender and wore a red dress that made her skin look snow-white.
The pair of pearl earrings swayed as Xiao Meng walked, making the men’s hearts itch.
Xiao Meng was the dream lover of many men in this town, but they only dared to think about her in their hearts and did not dare to say it out loud. After all, Xiao Meng’s husband was Mr. Felloyd, a famous neurologist in the entire California. He was a respected and kind person, and his wife naturally received the respect of others.
At this moment, Xiao Meng was holding a vegetable basket in her left hand and an umbrella in her right. She was still dazzlingly beautiful.
Herbert saw his mother and quickly packed his things. After saying goodbye to Ian, he followed Xiao Meng out of the cafe.
On the way, Herbert said to Xiao Meng, “Someone died in the neighboring town.”
Xiao Meng smiled gently and said, “Is this strange? There will always be people who want to die.”
“I heard he’s missing. The police said he might be dead. He’s a homeless person.”
Xiao Meng was a little surprised. “He died from a murder?”
The security in their town had always been good. The local residents were kind-hearted. Occasionally, they would make a fuss, but no one had been harmed.
This was very strange.
Xiao Meng’s expression turned serious. She touched her son’s hair and asked him, “Is Xiao Bao very afraid?”
Herbert nodded. Thinking about what his father had said about boys not being timid, he quickly shook his head and said, “I’m not afraid, really.”
Xiao Meng saw through the child’s bravado.
“You’re still young, so it’s normal for you to be afraid. As you grow up slowly, your courage and knowledge will increase. My Xiao Bao is so smart, he will definitely become a brave person in the future.” Xiao Meng felt that children at this age were usually bold, obedient, and cute.
It was not a big deal to be timid now. He could train his courage in the future.
Herbert was not comforted by his mother’s words.
He asked again, “What are we eating tonight?”
“Roasted chicken wings, fried steak, and crab cakes.”
“I still want to eat prawns.”
“Then can we make spicy prawns?”
“…Okay.”
When Xiao Meng returned home, she put on an apron and cooked.
She was a full-time wife and did not need to work. All she needed to do every day was take care of the child, clean the house, and be responsible for being as beautiful as a flower. Everyone envied Xiao Meng’s relaxed and unrestrained days, but only Xiao Meng knew how tired she was of this life.
Actually, she wanted to go out and work, get into the workforce, interact with more people, and enjoy more fun.
However, Robert did not allow it.
After the marriage, the once romantic and gentle man became domineering. He did not allow her to go out and show her face. He did not allow her to wear a dress that was too tight and short.
But at night, he did not like her to be too rigid.
This was a very contradictory man with extreme control.
In the first two years after their marriage, Xiao Meng had even tried to reason with Robert, wanting to get his permission to let her work.
However, that elegant man cruelly pinched her neck in the silent night and warned her sinisterly, “If you dare to mention it again, I’ll make sure you never leave this room again.”
She could never walk out of this room again.
This was not a romantic sentence between husband and wife, but a threat filled with killing intent.
At that moment, Xiao Meng realized that she did not understand her husband at all. She even thought of getting a divorce, but Herbert was still young and she could not get a divorce.
After so many years, Robert’s desire to control had become even more perverted. Not only did he have to control Xiao Meng’s every word and action, but even Herbert was the same.
Xiao Meng was in a daze and did not even know that Robert had returned. Knowing that her body was being hugged, that person started to kiss her without caring about anything. Only then did Xiao Meng come back to her senses.
“Robert, I’m cooking.” Xiao Meng’s tone of rejection was soft.
Robert smiled gently and took the knife from her hand. “Cooking is not important,” he said in her ear.
Robert said, “Accompany me. That’s the most important thing.”
Hearing this, Xiao Meng felt afraid.
