Sorry, I'm the Final Boss Now novel Chapter 102

A heavy silence fell inside the car.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, but Marguerite felt a chill.

She stared at Aaron, her eyes turning red, but instinct kept the tears at bay. She never cried in front of her brothers.

Nancy, however, burst into sobs. “Those damn traffickers… I’ll see them in hell!”

As Aaron recounted his story, he methodically tore a tissue into tiny pieces in his hands.

He was seven when he was taken, and ten by the time he finally managed to escape.

“We ran all night just to get out of that isolated village. I had to teach Jenny how to act like a normal adult, as if she were just a woman out for a walk with her kid. We stumbled our way through it all and finally made it back to Northpine.”

Marguerite had always known Aaron was brilliant; his IQ was actually higher than Theobald’s and Simon’s. It wasn’t surprising that he’d been able to engineer his own rescue with such composure.

Taking a deep breath, Marguerite said, “Once you were back in Northpine, you should have gone to Theobald. He would have taken care of you and Jenny.” Her tone wasn’t accusatory. Of course, she couldn't blame herself for Aaron’s suffering—she had been dead at the time, completely powerless. And could she blame Theobald? No, it wasn't his fault either. The blame lay squarely with the heartless traffickers and the people who bought them.

“I didn’t want Jenny and me to be a burden on Theobald and Simon,” Aaron said, his voice low. He had gotten Jenny out; she was his responsibility, not theirs. “Luckily, the cost of living in the slums was low. I could apply for student aid, and I picked up odd jobs here and there. It was enough to support us.” He tried to sound casual.

Marguerite’s long, dark lashes swept down, casting a shadow on her cheeks. She had George’s charitable foundation to thank for that. Otherwise, she couldn’t imagine how Aaron would have survived while caring for a mentally fragile Jenny.

“I found you, so why did you run again?” Marguerite asked, a hint of anger creeping back into her voice. “Is there something you can’t tell me?” If he had just come home with her two days ago, they wouldn't have been attacked last night.

Aaron looked up at the passenger seat. “The man who bought us never stopped looking for me and Jenny. I ran into him once in Northpine before I saw you. I got away, but I knew he wouldn’t give up.”

“He’s a vicious man, capable of anything. I was afraid he’d come after you, Marguerite. I couldn’t risk it.”

Nancy frowned. “That A-lister, Joshua, followed us!”

Marguerite had been so focused on Aaron that she hadn’t noticed.

Joshua parked his car, put on sunglasses and a mask, and walked over to them. “I can help you with registration, anything you need. I just want to do something for you, Marguerite. Please don’t refuse me.”

The man cut a handsome figure in the sunlight, his voice laced with a deep, theatrical affection.

Nancy and Aaron both scowled. There was something undeniably moving about a huge movie star acting so humbly.

Marguerite, however, just rolled her eyes, planted her hands on her hips, and shrieked, “Oh my God! Isn’t that Joshua? Joshua is here!”