Benton stood quietly and did not speak for a long time.
Elsie was not sure what Benton was thinking now. She was very sure that Benton was wavering because of her words, so Elsie thought for a while and spoke again.
"I know you are hesitating right now. You are worried that speaking up about these things will hurt your family and your parents who love you. But your dad brought you here because he considered all the possibilities. Besides, we are not on our own. My plan to escape by myself back then obviously wasn't appropriate. I want to save them, but it won't work with just the two of us. There are a lot more people I can rely on now. You know that those people are powerful, but the people who have my back are also powerful. They aren't much less powerful and may even be more powerful. It's just that we need enough evidence to capture them in one fell swoop. I hope that you join us."
Benton was silent again for a long time. Finally, he turned his head and looked at Elsie seriously.
"Chase-Lawson-and-Millie-Lawson-both bullied-me..."
This was the first time that Benton spoke. He hasn't spoken for too long. What he said popped out word by word. Even his voice sounded very dry and hoarse.
Elsie was suddenly excited and hugged Benton tightly in her arms.
"We've both been bullied by him. I should've understood from a long ago that you can speak... Then do you know the truth about the fire back then? I know you left a few days before the fire, but I think maybe you vaguely know why."
"... Before I left, a person named Sean Poole often came to the orphanage. At that time, this person was in his thirties. He was perverted and cruel. Many children were injured because of him. There was even a girl who I wasn't close to that became sick and passed away after she went to his place once. After my father took me away, I wanted to go back to see them. At that time, I planned to go on the weekend. However, after I arrived that day, the guards outside the orphanage didn't let me enter. They said that Sean was inside, and no one was allowed to enter. Later I learned that there was a fire that night. After that, I never talked again."
Benton stuttered. After all, he has not spoken for many years. Although he spoke clearly now, his voice sounded hoarse and uncomfortable.
After Elsie listened to him finish his words, she helped Benton sit down on the sofa.
"So he's named Sean Poole. When I left, this person wasn't there yet. Don't worry, our meetings with you and your dad are all kept secret. You just need to tell us everything you know. I'll have someone investigate the rest of it. I'll take you to see him the day he is punished. The wheels of justice turn slowly but grind exceedingly fine. The malefactor will not escape from receiving his full punishment."
"The way you are... it's nice..."
Benton watched Elsie say such words. There were a lot of things he did not know how to talk about. He was very envious of Elsie because she was still lively as if she was not traumatized. This was what he envied the most.
Although he was only about twenty years old, he felt dead inside like a corpse. If it weren't for Elsie's words that ignited hope in his heart.
Benton thought that he would probably live like a walking dead for the rest of his life. He would not hesitate to leave this world the day his parents pass away because there was nothing in this world that he loved. Other than his parents who worked hard to find him and take him home. They were his only reason for living.
But now it was different. He seemed to have found hope and a reason to live. He wanted those evil people to receive punishment. He did not want children to live a life as hopeless as his, just like those children who had similar experiences as he had.
Elsie talked about her experiences again with Benton. Benton rarely spoke but listened intently most of the time. He was a good listener.
Later, Elsie went out and asked Robert, Georgia, and Freddie to come in. Benton already made a decision. Freddie walked to his son's side worriedly, and Benton looked at his father seriously.
"Dad, I want to do what I want to do. I want to be alive."
As soon as he said so, Freddie burst into tears with his son in his arms.
There were many things that none of them made clear the moment the fire broke out at the orphanage, but they both understood. Years of pain and suppressed emotions seemed to disappear as tears rolled down.
Freddie hugged his son and cried silently for a while. He finally looked up at Elsie, who was standing by the side.
"Thank you."
After speaking, Robert asked his men to escort Freddie and his son back.
A while later, Georgia thought that Robert would leave and that she would leave with Elsie afterwards. But Robert spoke to Georgia.
"Let's get some food. There's something I want to talk to you about. Elsie, come with us."
Elsie shook her head right away.
"If you want to invite Georgia, you don't need to have me come along. I'd be third-wheeling if I went. Just have someone give me a ride back... Georgia, you should go with him. I'll be fine leaving by myself. I'm going to meet Wilson later. I want to tell him what happened today."
Georgia nodded and was also curious about what Robert wanted to say to her.
After Elsie left, only Robert and Georgia were left in the apartment.
"Where shall we eat?"
Georgia asked curiously. Robert smiled and shook his head.
"This apartment has everything. There are vegetables in the fridge that I had someone buy. How about I cook a meal for you?"
Georgia looked at Robert as if she was looking at an alien. Before Robert lost his memory, he had never cooked in front of her. Did he know how to cook now? Georgia followed Robert to the kitchen with curiosity and surprise.
She watched Robert take food out from the fridge and then skillfully wash it in the kitchen.
After that, she watched Robert cut meat and vegetables. Based on how he held the knife, he looked a lot more skilled.
She glanced at the food that Robert cooked - stewed pork ribs with lotus root, stir-fried shredded pork with green pepper, spicy and sour shredded potatoes, and scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Georgia could not help but smile.
They were home-cooked meals, all of which she liked, none of which she disliked. Georgia stood at the kitchen door and smiled as she asked.
"Did you ask around about what I like to eat?"
Although she was fancying herself by thinking this way, Georgia intuitively believed that he cooked all that because she liked them.
"I want to cook a meal you like."
Robert admitted to her surprise. Georgia looked at the man with a complicated gaze. As she watched Robert skillfully cook in the kitchen and looked at the delicious food, Georgia spoke next to him.
"Did you learn this in the past year? I can't even imagine how many things had happened to you in the past year."
Robert did not explain the reason behind his cooking, so it probably had something to do with Sierra.
At that time, he was being hunted down and was trying to flee while Sierra was seriously ill. His whole body was wounded, and he had no money on him, so he could only work as a labourer and move bricks on construction sites for a little bit of pay every day. It was then that he learned how to cook.
But those times were not meaningless now that he came to think of them. At least he could cook a meal in front of this woman now and make her look at him with admiration and surprise.
After preparing all the food, Georgia helped place them on the dining table.
They each scooped a bowl of rice and then sat by the table, prepared to eat. Georgia tasted the food and found it to be quite delicious.
"You asked me to stay and cooked a meal just so I can have a taste of your cooking?"
Georgia asked curiously. Generally, Robert must have looked for her because something was up.
This time, Robert did not take the initiative to speak but instead cooked a meal, which made Georgia wonder if Robert needed her help for something.
"I heard that Travis often goes over to your place and occasionally cooks for you."
Robert's answer immediately amused Georgia.
"You didn't make this meal because of him, right? Did you think that I'll fall in love with Travis? Robert, I still can't find a reason to abandon you. Although you haven't chosen me decisively, I've set a timer for myself. Before time's up, I won't choose to give up on you."
Georgia's words made Robert a little happy that a smile lifted the corners of his lips without his realizing it.
"But there are some things that if you don't take the initiative to fight for and don't take the initiative to maintain, anyone's heart can grow cold. I believe in your feelings for me, but he is your first love. He treats you so well. Nothing is set in stone in this world. If I don't treat you well, maybe one day, he'll really steal you away. I can do everything he can."
Robert looked at Georgia and spoke seriously.
Georgia was a little moved for a while. She thought that Robert only trusted her, but now she found that the way Robert looked at her gradually became the same as how he looked at her a year ago.
"Georgia, I'll probably do something big recently. No matter what, you have to believe me. As for the issue with Sierra, I'll handle it well."
"You should think about it carefully. Didn't you once say that you want to repay your debt of gratitude?"
Georgia also asked seriously. She remembered that Robert had once mentioned what happened to Sierra before. Even Georgia felt this kind of gratitude was difficult to handle, so she did not blame Robert. She just wanted to find out Sierra's true nature, so that Robert would no longer be bound down.
"I thought about it carefully. I've already made a decision."
Robert only said this much to Georgia. Georgia did not ask more questions and instead was focused on finishing the food that Robert cooked.
After that, neither of them left at the same time. Georgia left first.
The next day, when Georgia went to work, she suddenly found that some people around her looked strangely at her.
Georgia originally planned to go to the laboratory to do experiments, but her colleagues at work kept staring at her, so Georgia had to ask Simon.
"Simon, did something happen? Why is everyone looking at me strangely?"
Simon looked at Georgia with a complicated expression in his eyes. He took out his phone and opened a web page.
Georgia looked at his phone and suddenly felt uneasy.