The Rabbit Girl Who Shook the Walker Family Chapter 06
“Can it buy carrots for Bunny?”
Ethan glanced at the toy in her arms.
“It eats carrots?”
Lily nodded.
“It used to.”
“Then Mommy ran out of money, so it stopped eating.”
No one in the hallway spoke. The stuffed rabbit was old. The edge of the fabric was frayed. Lucas studied that rabbit. For the first time, Lucas looked at the ragged rabbit and felt as if it, too, had gone hungry for three years. The introduction dinner was set for three days later.
It was supposed to be a small family dinner to introduce Lily, but many members of the Walker collateral branches came anyway. The hall was redecorated. Flowers, champagne, and a dessert table were arranged with polished care. Lily changed into a new dress. It was pale yellow. She stood in front of the mirror, looked down, and touched the hem.
“Do I have to give this back?”
The butler crouched beside her and adjusted her sock.
“Miss Lily, Mr. Lucas bought this for you.”
Lily asked again, “Then if I get it dirty, do I have to pay?”
The butler’s hand paused.
“No.”
Lily remembered it seriously.
“Then I won’t pay.”
She picked up the rabbit and followed the butler downstairs. Lucas waited for her at the stairs. He was not reading contracts today. He held a tiny hair clip in his hand. When Lily saw him, her face lit up.
“Daddy, is my hair messy?”
Lucas studied the little tuft of hair sticking up on top of her head.
“Yes.”
Lily grew nervous.
“Will that be rude?”
Lucas raised his hand and tried to put the clip on. He tried twice. The first time, he clipped empty air. The second time, he clipped it crooked. Lily tilted her head up and stayed perfectly still. Ethan passed by downstairs.
His steps stopped.
He watched for three seconds and said, “Lucas, you clipped the rabbit’s ear.”
Lucas looked down. Sure enough, the hair clip was on the stuffed rabbit’s ear. Lily looked down too.
Then she said in a small voice, “Bunny wants to look pretty too.”
Ethan turned his face away. Lucas removed the clip. This time, he moved more carefully. He clipped it into the little girl’s hair. It was still crooked, but it stayed put.
Lily touched it. She looked satisfied.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
Lucas’s fingers paused. Ethan looked up. The stairway fell silent. Lily’s little face turned red. Many people had already arrived in the hall. Old Mr. Walker sat in the seat of honor.
John’s family stood beside him. Sophie wore a pink gown and a diamond headband. When she saw Lily, she smiled.
“Lily, you look so pretty today.”
Lily hugged the stuffed rabbit tight.
“Thank you, Sophie.”
Sophie bent down.
“You’ve never attended this kind of family gathering before, have you?”
Lily shook her head.
“No.”
Sophie softened her voice.
“Then don’t touch things carelessly.”
“These glasses are expensive.”
Lily put her hands behind her back at once.
“I won’t touch them.”
Sophie’s smile grew sweeter.
“And don’t talk carelessly.”
“Everyone here is grown-up.”
Lily nodded.
“I’ll speak quietly.”
Several wives from the collateral branches saw this from nearby.
Someone whispered, “Is this child really Lucas’s?”
“I heard the DNA result isn’t fully confirmed yet.”
“Didn’t Emma take money and leave back then?”
“Sending a child back now. The timing is a little too convenient, isn’t it?”
The voices were not loud. But Lily heard her own name. She also heard her mother’s name. She lifted her head and looked for Lucas. Lucas was speaking with Old Mr. Walker. He was a few steps away.
She took one step toward him. Rachel happened to block her.
“Lily, why don’t you go to the dessert table?”
Lily said softly, “I’m looking for Lucas.”
Rachel looked her over.
“There are so many people today. He is busy.”
“You need to behave.”
Lily looked at her.
“But Mommy said when there are many people, I have to stay close to an adult.”
Rachel smiled.
“Your mother taught you quite a lot.”
Just as she finished speaking, the lights in the banquet hall dimmed for a second. The large screen in front lit up. It was supposed to play the Walker Charitable Foundation introduction. But the next second, a transfer screenshot appeared on the screen. Amount: five million. Recipient: Emma Reed.
Payment account: an account linked to the Walker family trust. The hall went still first. Then murmurs spread like water. Old Mr. Walker’s face darkened. Lucas turned to the large screen.
Rachel seemed to have just noticed it. She covered her mouth.
“Who put this up?”
John frowned.
“What’s wrong with the staff?”
Sophie stood beside Lily. Her voice was soft, carrying the sweetness of an older cousin and just enough volume for the people around them to hear.
“So your mom really did take the money.”
Lily lifted her head.
“Mommy didn’t!”
