Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red

Adrienne and Myrtle had to leave early the next morning for school. Given Samantha's condition, they both agreed to let the girl stay at Myrtle's place for the time being and allow her to sleep more. They left a note and food at the table, hoping the girl wouldn't run away while they were out.

Adrienne also gave Gavin a call and informed him of Samantha's condition. They agreed to meet at the coffee shop where Myrtle works to discuss their next plans. Her thoughts occasionally turned to Samantha, but Adrienne did her best to focus on her classes. She frequently glanced at the time on her phone, eager to leave the school to meet Gavin and see Samantha.

By afternoon, she and Myrtle were seen leaving the campus in a hurry. With Uncle Mo's assistance, they reached the coffee shop before their meeting time. This gave Adrienne enough time to consider her next options and Samantha's welfare for the first time.

What Myrtle asked last night were valid points. Was she blindingly trusting Lennox, believing he won't harm Samantha? Adrienne knew she shouldn't let herself get deeply involved with those children, but she supposed it was impossible now, given she'd made a promise to Samantha last night.

She was deep in her thoughts when Gavin suddenly sat across from her. She blinked twice before greeting him with a slight bow. The man was wearing a gray shirt and black pants today, unlike their previous meetings where he was wearing business suits.

"I'm sorry for calling you out so suddenly. I wasn't sure what to do with Samantha." She said, watching Myrtle, now dressed in her work clothes, walk towards them with a menu in one hand.

"It's fine. I should apologize to you for the inconvenience Lennox brought you."

Adrienne smiled. "Then he better make sure he compensates me well after this."

Myrtle was surprised to see Gavin with Adrienne.

"Addie, you know each other?" She asked with widened eyes.

"Myrtle, this is Gavin Si. He's Lennox Qin's right hand man. He's here to help us with Samantha. Mr. Si, this is Myrtle Han, my best friend. Samantha is temporarily staying in her place as we speak."

"Uhmm… Gavin and I are already acquainted, Addie. He's a regular here at the coffee shop." Myrtle said with an awkward smile and hurriedly placed the menu on their table. "Call me when you are ready to place your order."

Adrienne's brows shot up, her eyes following her best friend's retreating form. Myrtle and Gavin knew each other? How come Myrtle never mentioned him in her previous life? Now that she paid attention, there were signs that Myrtle was infatuated with someone before.

Was Gavin Si the bastard who impregnated Myrtle in her past life and abandoned her and Dylan? What were the odds that he was that person?

She turned her cold gaze to Gavin. "Mr. Si doesn't seem surprised that Myrtle and I know each other. Lennox Qin must have asked you to investigate me thoroughly. I hope you didn't try to approach her just to get close to me."

"I assure you, Miss Jiang. I was equally surprised when I learned that you are Ms. Han's best friend. I've been a regular here even before we met, Miss Jiang." Gavin responded without an ounce of hesitation.

Adrienne sized him up, giving him a good look for the first time. She then froze in her seat as she realized that Gavin had some resemblance to her nephew, Dylan. She raised the child for six years like her own since Myrtle's death, so how did she miss the similarities between them before?

Although Dylan got the same smile Myrtle had, the shape of his face, his brows, and eyes were almost the same as Gavin's. Even their complexion was almost the same.

Adrienne lowered her eyes and tapped lightly on the table with her fingers out of habit when deep in thought. When Myrtle saved her and ended up being addicted to the drug injected into her, it had been hell for Adrienne and Myrtle's mother. Myrtle slowly lost herself and occasionally begged everyone to give her some drugs for months that followed.

Then one day, Myrtle escaped from her mother's watch and was never seen again for two years. When Adrienne found her in the countryside, Myrtle was already round with the child and was in labor that took over sixteen hours before she could give birth to Dylan. She refused to name the father of her child and begged Adrienne to keep the child instead.

However, though Myrtle's system was already cleared from drugs, its adverse effects left her extremely weak. She died from heart failure, leaving her premature baby to Adrienne. Alistair allowed Adrienne to keep the child and raise Dylan, but he never cared about nor had ever put in any effort into finding out who Dylan's father was.

It didn't make sense why she and Myrtle's mother couldn't find Myrtle despite the number of investigators they hired. If Gavin had kept Myrtle somewhere safe, it would be impossible for anyone to find her.

He must have helped her to get cleaned, but Adrienne couldn't understand why he would abandon her best friend if he knew she was pregnant. Adrienne didn't take Gavin Si as an irresponsible person. He would surely take responsibility in some way.

'Unless he's not aware of it…' Adrienne thought and glanced at Gavin, who pulled a few papers from the envelope he brought. As she looked at him, she didn't think he and Myrtle were in a relationship.

It was possible that Myrtle had run away yet again and hid her pregnancy from Gavin. Adrienne wasn't aware of the Si family's circumstances in her previous life, aside from Gavin's older brother's involvement in an embezzlement case. Still, with his resources, Gavin should be able to locate Myrtle's whereabouts, unless something stopped him from doing so.

"Miss Jiang?" Gavin called her attention.

Adrienne snapped out of her thoughts. She would need some answers from Myrtle later.