Chapter 218

Lunch was soon ready, so Laura stopped arguing with Hanzel and led Pearl by her hand into the house, leaving Hanzel there looking annoyed. At the dining table, Allan kept zoning out as he looked at Pearl's familiar face. He finally spoke up, saying, "May I ask you a question?" Pearl smiled and replied, "Your curiosity is showing. Go ahead, I'll do my best to answer." Allan nodded. "What's your father's name?" "My father…" Pearl's mind briefly wandered before she answered, "Max Leighton." An awkward silence hung over the table. Puzzled by Allan's lack of response, Pearl inquired further, "Is something wrong? Do you know my dad?" "More than that, Pearl. Do you remember your mother's name?" Pearl was silent for a moment, then said, "Beah." Hearing that name, Allan's eyes welled up with tears. He wanted to say more but refrained, considering the presence of a child and Hanzel, to avoid making Pearl feel uncomfortable. "That's a nice name. I might have remembered wrongly."