The Rabbit Girl Who Shook the Walker Family Chapter 11
Back then, Old Mr. Walker did not investigate. Rachel Coleman handed over the transfer record. He said Emma was greedy. When Emma left, she did not even take an umbrella. Old Mr. WalkerÂ
closed the visitor log.Â
“Tomorrow morning, check the five–million–dollarÂ
transfer trail from that year.”Â
Rachel drew in a breath.Â
Ethan said, “No need to wait until morning.”Â
He turned the tablet to another page.Â
“I have already had finance pull the full moneyÂ
trail.”Â
Rachel glanced at him. Ethan did not look back.Â
“The money did leave an account linked to theÂ
Walker family trust.”Â
“But the receiving account was only under EmmaÂ
Reed’s name.”Â
“Three minutes after the funds arrived, they wereÂ
split into four transfers.”Â
He tapped open the details.Â
“Three of them went into related companies underÂ
John’s control.”Â
“The last one went into a shell account owned byÂ
the Coleman family.”Â
John’s face changed.Â
“You’re lying!”Â
Ethan placed the tablet on the table.Â
“Bank records, tax IDs, corporate filings,Â
ownership changes.”Â
“They’re all here.”Â
Rachel could not stand steadily and had to hold the door frame. Sophie hid behind her and began to cry softly. Lily turned to Sophie. She hesitated, then pulled the unfinished little cake from her small backpack. It was wrapped in a napkin and had been flattened a little. She walked over andÂ
handed it to Sophie.Â
“Don’t cry.”Â
Sophie froze. Rachel pulled the child back at once.Â
“Who wants your thing?”Â
The cake fell to the floor. Cream smeared acrossÂ
the old wooden boards. Lily looked down at it. She did not cry. She crouched and tried to wipe it with the napkin. Lucas picked her up first.Â
It was the first time he had held a child. HisÂ
movement was stiff. Lily’s little body stiffened too.Â
Then she carefully tucked her dirty hand into her own arms. She was afraid of staining his suit.Â
Lucas looked down at her.Â
“Don’t wipe it.”Â
Lily whispered, “But it’s dirty.”Â
Lucas turned to Rachel.Â
“The person who should wipe it isn’t her.”Â
Rachel’s face turned green. Old Mr. Walker handed the visitor log to Ethan Walker.Â
“Seal it.”Â
“Starting tomorrow, the collateral branches are suspended from accessing the Walker familyÂ
trust.”Â
John snapped his head up.Â
“Dad!”Â
Old Mr. Walker did not look at him.Â
“I said suspended.”Â
“It was not a discussion.”Â
The estate did not quiet down until the second half of the night. Lily was brought back to the guest room. After her bath, she changed into little pajamas. The pajamas were new too. There wereÂ
two small rabbits on the cuffs. She sat on the bed and studied the rabbit the butler had repaired.Â
There was a new seam across the stuffed rabbit’sÂ
belly. The stitches were neater than before. SheÂ
touched it.Â
“Bunny doesn’t hurt anymore.”Â
The butler said softly, “It doesn’t hurt.”Â
Lucas stood at the door. He held a cup of warmÂ
milk. He entered and placed the cup by the bed.Â
Lily glanced at him.Â
“Daddy, can you sing?”Â
Lucas was silent. Lily understood.Â
“It’s okay if you can’t.”Â
“Mommy also had things she couldn’t do.”Â
Lucas sat by the bed.Â
“What did she sing?”Â
Lily hugged the stuffed rabbit and thought.Â
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”Â
Lucas took out his phone and prepared to search.Â
The screen had just lit up when a wrinkled handÂ
reached in from the side. Old Mr. Walker stood atÂ
the door. He held a tablet. The screen was on aÂ
search page.Â
The search bar said:Â
How to comfort a crying child.Â
The line below said:Â
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star lyrics. Old Mr. WalkerÂ
cleared his throat.Â
“Passing by.”Â
Ethan happened to pass through the hallway. HeÂ
saw the tablet, then turned to Old Mr. Walker. HeÂ
said nothing. Old Mr. Walker glared at him. Ethan turned around calmly.Â
“I was passing by too.”Â
Lily sat on the bed and studied the three adults at the door. Suddenly, she smiled. A small dimpleÂ
sank into her cheek.Â
“Then when you pass by, can you sing a little quietly?”Â
Old Mr. Walker turned to Lucas. Lucas turned to Ethan. Ethan looked away. In the end, Old Mr. Walker turned the tablet volume to the lowest setting. A child’s voice came from it.Â
“Twinkle, twinkle, little star…”Â
Lily hugged the stuffed rabbit and lay down. She soon fell asleep. None of the three people at the door left first. The small bedside lamp shone over the rabbit with the repaired belly. Old Mr. WalkerÂ
studied it for a long time.Â
Suddenly, he said in a low voice, “Back then, sheÂ
told me not to investigate only her.”Â
Lucas stood in the shadows.Â
“You didn’t investigate.”Â
Old Mr. Walker’s fingers pressed against his cane.Â
“Yes.”Â
“I didn’t.”

