Chapter 1090 He Has Been Waiting For You A look of realization flashed across Natalieâs eyes. It turns out she repeated the same mistake. That sc*mbag, Caleb, was like that. Even her biological father, the famous Varre Appleby, was no different.
With tears in her eyes, Anna said, âThis matter has always troubled me. I vowed to find someone who was nothing like my father.
However, I never expected Iâd still end up treading the same path...â
Natalie raised her hand to wipe away the tears on Annaâs face. âIâm sorry, Anna. Iâve made things difficult for you by asking you to accompany me and forcing you to face the demons that scarred you in the past.â
Anna looked at Natalie and said earnestly, âYou donât have to apologize because you havenât done anything wrong. Saving Yumiâs life is much more important. Iâm the one who trapped myself inside a cage and refused to step out of it. Donât worry. Iâll pull myself together and do my best to persuade him to carve that jade key so you can bring Yumi back safely.â
Natalie nodded gratefully.
Itâs not easy for her to take that step for me. If I get a chance in the future, Iâll have to treat her better. Way, way better!
The bus continued swaying gently as it continued on its way to a remote area halfway up a mountain.
Once the bus reached the station, the two women alighted from the vehicle.
âThis is where Mr. Appleby is staying now?â Natalie asked.
Anna nodded. âMm-hmm. Follow me. Iâll take you to him.â
After getting off the bus, the pair had to walk for around forty minutes before reaching an old monastery.
âHe lives here?â Natalie was so shocked that the question just slipped out.
No wonder everyone looking for him couldnât find him. I didnât expect him to be living in seclusion and at such a remote monastery at that! Who wouldâve expected the master craftsman who loved carving would become a monk?
Anna bit her lip and gave no reply. Instead, she stepped forward and knocked using the iron ring affixed to the wooden door.
Clang! Clang!
The sound rang out crisp and clear. Soon, a monk wearing robes came out.
He greeted them and enquired politely, âAre you here to offer your tithes?â
âNo, thatâs not why weâre here. Weâre here to look for... Father Benedict,â Anna said, her voice hoarse.
As soon as the monk heard who she wanted to meet, his expression shifted. âFather Benedict is...â
Anna furrowed her brows and asked, âWhatâs the matter? Didnât he join this monastery over twenty years ago? Do you mean to tell me heâs no longer here and has gone elsewhere?â
Natalie tensed upon hearing Annaâs questions.
Two days isnât a lot of time. If he has gone someplace far away and we have to spend more time on the road, thereâll be no time left to create a duplicate of the jade key.
The monk shook his head. âOh, thatâs not what I meant. Heâs here. Itâs just that heâs not feeling too well, so itâs inconvenient for him to meet visitors.â
âHeâs not feeling too well?â
âThatâs right.â
Anna asked worriedly, âWhy is he unwell?â
The monk was startled by how agitated she was. He answered hesitantly, âYouâre not a member of this monastery, so I canât divulge such information.â
âWell, what if I told you Iâm his daughter? Will you tell me then?â Anna demanded, revealing her identity.
The monkâs eyes reddened as soon as he heard that. He murmured, âAre you really his daughter? Iâm so glad youâre here. He has been waiting for you. However, he dared not contact you and forbade me to get in touch.â
Annaâs heart lurched, and dread surged through her.
âWhat do you mean heâs waiting for me? I donât understand what youâre saying. What on earth happened to him?â Her voice was no longer as steady as before. Instead, it quavered slightly with emotion.
The monk wiped the tears from his eyes, then moved aside slightly to let them through. âCome with me. Iâll take you to him. Youâll roughly understand when you see him.â