“Miss, how did you end up there? It's such a deserted place, and you're really brave."

Nicole simply replied that she was passing by and didn't share more.

Facing such an innocent Callie, Nicole felt a pang of guilt and found herself at a loss for words.

Nicole recalled how much Callie adored her as a child. Callie used to cling to her, and Nicole always made time to visit.

However, as the school took over Nicole's time, their contact became less frequent. Also, Callie wasn't being treated in a hospital in Ardlens then, so Nicole only saw Callie during Christmas.

Technically, Callie should have recognized Nicole, but the shock and the dim Light in the car probably kept her from realizing who Nicole was.

Nicole was thankful that Callie was in the back seat, making it harder for her to be recognized. If Callie had recognized her, she wouldn't have known what to say. Even though she felt guilty for using Callie, she had no regrets.

Nicole was desperate to uncover the truth about what the last person to see her dad before he died had witnessed and why he had vanished in Ardlens. She needed to know the truth by all means.

Callie gazed at Nicole's reflection in the car window and suddenly asked, “Miss, what's your name?"

Nicole's hand trembled slightly on the steering wheel, and she replied, “My name is Evita."

Nicole lied and spouted a name.

Callie listened and murmured, “Evita, you look like someone I know."

Nicole could tell that Callie was talking about her. With a slight smile, she said, "I have one of those faces that people often confuse with someone else."

Callie fell silent for a moment and then continued looking at Nicole's reflection in the car window. "The nice lady I know was so kind. When I was little, she'd bring me gifts and candies I'd never seen before. My dad wouldn't let me have them because of my health, but she would secretly let me lick them just to taste the sweetness. She told me that if I followed the doctor's advice and got better, I could eat all the sweet candies I wanted when I grew up..."

Nicole's grip on the steering wheel tightened. She was surprised that Callie could recall these things so vividly. She chuckled and asked, "Did you follow her advice and take good care of your health?"

Callie nodded and responded, “I do whatever the doctor says and receive some treatments. Now the doctor says I can live for many years."

“That's wonderful!" Nicole said, genuinely happy for her.

Callie continued to gaze at Nicole's reflection in the car window.

She pressed her lips tightly together and remained silent.

Shortly after, they reached the destination Callie had mentioned.