Chapter 389
Tomorrow was moving day, and some things need to be packed up.
Anastasia said to Salma, âMom, letâs pack some stuff now while we have time. Weâre moving tomorrow.â The new house had everything, so they needed to pack only daily
essentials and important items..
Salma said, âOh right, I almost forgot about that. You rest, Iâll pack. Pattie, pack the things you want to take with you.â
Pattie nodded, âOkay grandma.â
Anastasia didnât rest either and began packing some important items. Pattie packed her favorite toys and clothes. Taking advantage of Salma and Anastasia being busy, Layna sneaked into the childrenâs room and tried to persuade Pattie.
âPattie, do you want to go out and play? Iâll take you downstairs to play on the slide,â Layna said.
Children have a strong desire to play. Layna took the initiative to invite Pattie, who naively thought she really wanted to be friends with her. Pattie nodded and said, âOkay, Iâll go tell grandma and mom first.â
âThey are both busy. Weâll go down and play for a while and come back up,â Layna said, pulling Pattie along.
Anastasia and Salma were both packing in their rooms. They thought the kids were playing in the childrenâs room, and didnât pay attention. Layna, despite her young age, had many tricks up her sleeve. When they got to the playground downstairs, she tried to persuade Pattie to go outside.
Pattie remembered her motherâs warning not to run around, so she shook her head, âLayna, letâs just play here.â
Layna put her hands on her hips and threatened, âYou scaredy-cat, what are you afraid of? I know a really fun place to go. If you donât come with me, I wonât be your friend anymore.â Pattie agreed, âOkay, but letâs just play for a while and then go back.â
Layna often followed Duncan to drive taxis illegally outside. Duncan would scare her to be obedient, warning her about the many human traffickers at the station. If Pattie got lost and was caught, he wouldnât be able to save her. Layna remembered this and, holding the bill she stole from a drawer at home, hailed a taxi. Just like that, she brought Pattie to the bustling station.
Darkness was gradually falling. Pattie had never been to such a crowded place before. With so many people around, she felt scared and clung to Laynaâs clothes, âIâm scared. Letâs go back. I donât want to play anymore.â
1/3
09:24
Chapter 389
Pattie had previously been abused by Penny and only became more cheerful with
Anastasia. She was naive and not as cunning as Layna, and had never seen such a scene before, causing fear to grow in her heart.
Layna felt satisfied. She stuck out her tongue, You wait here for me, Iâm going to buy something.â
âI want to come too,â Pattie said, not letting go of Laynaâs hand.
âYou wait here,â Layna said harshly, threatening Pattie with a fist.
Back in the neighborhood, Layna was the child ruler and a big sister. She was really good at fighting, and even boys were afraid of her.
Pattie stood still, not daring to move. Layna walked a few steps, stopped, looked at Pattieâs beautiful dress, and thought of the compliments people had given Pattie. She walked back over to Pattie again, âI like your dress. Take it off and give it to me.â
âNo, my dad bought it for me. I like it too,â Pattie said, unwilling to part with her beloved dress!
Layna threatened, âIf you donât give it to me, Iâll leave you here to be taken by a kidnapper, and Iâll go home and tell mom so you will be left here.â
Insecured, Pattie was most afraid of her mother abandoning her. She compromised again,
âOkay.â
Layna took Pattie to the restroom. They exchanged clothes there. Layna wore Pattieâs pretty dress and admired herself in the mirror in front of the restroom entrance. âI look so much better in this than you do.â
The dress was custom-made for Pattie by Herman. When Layna wore it, the size was smaller and tighter, but she didnât care. She just wanted to wear the dress.
The pale blue dress on Layna instantly looked ordinary, dull, and lacking luster. Laynaâs skin didnât look good against the dress.
Pattie didnât argue with Layna. After showing off, Layna told her to wait and then slipped
away on some excuse.
Layna left Pattie at the station and took a cab back to Harmony Meadows, excited that she was now the only child in the house, with no one else to share her motherâs attention. She got off the taxi and entered the neighborhood happily.
Meanwhile, Penny was hiding behind a tree next to Anastasiaâs building. She saw Layna coming and clutched the burlap sack in her hand. Because of the darkness, she couldnât see the girlâs face clearly, but she recognized the dress Layna was wearing as the one Pattie had been wearing during the day.
2/3
09.24
Penny mistakenly identified Layna as Pattie.