Chapter 187: Robertson Meets Irene!

Why was that person going around making all these wild predictions? Irene thought helplessly. She still remembered one time when her teacher, Kelly, saw someone she found interesting on the street and insisted on giving them a prediction. The person thought Kelly was crazy and sent her to a mental hospital. In the end, it was Irene who bailed her out. As for her future marriage partner… Kelly had indeed mentioned that before. But at the time, Irene thought she was just talking nonsense. Kelly had just come out of a bar, holding a big mug of beer, completely drunk. Irene had to drag her back home. As soon as Irene had laid Kelly down and covered her with a blanket, she heard Kelly slurring her words, "Little Irene, I don’t think I’ll live to see you awaken." "You’ve been alone for so long; it breaks my heart to see you without someone close." "I’ve found someone good for you, based on what you used to like. You’ll definitely love him!" "If you like him, keep him; if not, no worries. Early death is just his fate." One moment, Kelly was calling her by a nickname, and the next, using formal terms like "you." She was spouting all sorts of nonsense. Irene recalled how Kelly had been watching all kinds of strange TV shows recently—witches, hunters, vampires—and felt exasperated. She had worried about her for nothing. Who knew Kelly was weaving a soap opera for herself in her dreams? At the time, Irene didn’t take it seriously. But now, looking at Stefan’s serene and flawless face in the light, Irene felt a stir in her heart. She really did like Stefan’s face. With a somewhat peculiar tone, she said, "It’s the information age. We should stick to science—just take it with a grain of salt." Stefan couldn’t help but laugh. It was the first time he had seen Irene show this serious, adorable side. Smiling, he said, "I understand." But now, with their feelings for each other deepening, and this newly discovered engagement connection, Stefan couldn’t help but feel they were truly destined. Irene took a few more bites and then put down her fork and knife, her tone shifting, "I’ve met that adopted daughter of the Norman family before." Stefan looked up, waiting for her to continue. Irene’s tone was calm, almost indifferent, but Stefan could detect a hint of displeasure beneath the surface. "I don’t understand. If they were so desperate to find their biological child, why did they bring another family’s child into their home, almost making her one of their own?" Stefan didn’t take long to respond, "Objectively speaking, she’s just a guest staying with the Norman family because her sister is the eldest daughter-in-law. So it’s not unusual for her to live with the Normans; she’s staying in a property under the eldest son’s name." "As for the others, Itha, the Sixth Young Master Holt, and the Seventh Young Master Palmer, they all miss their sister dearly." "Mr. Robertson is also very keen on finding his biological daughter." "As for the rest of the family, I’m not very familiar, so I can’t say." Irene nodded, "I see." Stefan turned to her and asked, "You seem particularly interested in the Norman family today..." "Boss! Mr. Robertson is here!" Over the years, Robertson had been very kind to him and his sister, so Stefan knew it was only proper to greet him. Just as he reached the door, the room’s door flew open. Stefan was about to speak but was startled by a blur that rushed past him. He turned to look. Robertson had dashed toward Irene, who was sitting by the bedside, with a speed that defied his age. Stefan’s lips curled into a smile. Although he knew Robertson and the other Norman brothers valued Irene, he still couldn’t help but worry for her. But seeing Mr. Robertson so focused on Irene, even ignoring him, Stefan didn’t feel the slightest bit offended. Instead, he was relieved. Now, knowing Irene would return to the Norman family, he felt at ease. Robertson hadn’t even noticed Stefan. The moment he walked in, his eyes were glued to the girl sitting there. When the girl looked up, Robertson’s eyes filled with tears. She looked so much like her! So much like her! Back then, Irene didn’t resemble her father or her mother the most; she looked like Robertson’s mother. Looking at Irene, Robertson was transported back to his childhood, watching his young mother tend to the flowers. With a trembling voice, he said, "Child, I’m your father! We’ve finally found you!" Robertson, overcome with emotion, said, "You’re even better than I imagined. You’ve had such a hard time all these years, being away from home." The more he admired Irene, the more his heart ached. What kind of environment could make a girl, still so young, become so skilled in detective work and fighting? Robertson had heard before that the detective, Miss Irene, didn’t have a good family situation and lived only with her grandmother. Upon learning that Irene was his long-lost daughter, Robertson had carefully reviewed Assistant Barton’s reports, which made him even more heartbroken for his child. First, she was abandoned by her adoptive parents, then drugged and sent to a stranger’s bed by her "biological parents." This child had endured so much suffering. Thinking of all this, Robertson’s tears flowed freely. Looking at Irene, he wiped his tears and said, "When you first went missing, your mother and I couldn’t sleep at night. We had nightmares about you being kidnapped, starving with no food, thirsty with no one to care for you." For all these years, they had kept searching, driven by sheer determination. So much time had passed with no clues. There were even private investigators who suggested that the most likely scenario was that the child had already passed away. Hearing that felt like a knife to Robertson’s heart. He spent the night sitting alone in his study. The next day, he ordered Assistant Barton to include the possibility of identifying deceased children in their search. There were even times when he received calls during meetings, prompting him to go to the scene to check if the child was Irene. Thankfully, none of those children were his daughter. That was the best news—there was no matching body, so the child must still be alive. Robertson optimistically believed back then that as long as she was alive, even if she were crippled or mentally impaired, with the Norman family’s resources, they could still give her a good life. Now, seeing that his child had grown up so well. She had turned into a smart, beautiful, and capable young woman even without their involvement. He had heard she was especially filial and treated her adoptive father’s mother very well. Robertson was also deeply grateful to Madame Kashi. Without her care, the child might have suffered even more at the hands of her adoptive parents.