NovelApp"Yeah, hook him up to a lie detector and you'd know in a jiffy if he's fibbing," William nodded with a grin.
Nina and Mira, the rookies of the bunch, were perched on the sidelines, eyes as wide as saucers. They were mixed with astonishment and excitement like they'd just discovered a new world.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtKane had tracked Geoffrey's IP address to a city in Southeast Asia after digging through his burner email account.
Kane suspected the message was relayed through a third party and not a direct call from Geoffrey to Skyler. Geoffrey had to be in Elysium.
On New Year's Day, the Stirling family had a cozy family feast at Mossy Rock Retreat. Skyler was there too.
Truth be told, members of the Stirling family, including Fredric, all knew Skyler was the son of Chad's mistress.
Skyler didn't want to claim his birthright or take the role of the oldest son of the Stirling family. So everyone played along, treating Skyler like a cousin, inviting him over for fun and feasting. Skyler was at the kids' table, sharing fruit with the youngsters.
Raines and Lisbeth showed up.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAt the sight of Skyler, Raines quirked up his mouth in a faint smile. "Is Skyler joining the Stirling family feast?" Skyler flashed a toothy grin, his dimples popping out. "Because everyone lovesand wants to hang out with me. I'm the kid everyone wants at their birthday party." "Yep," William nodded. "We all love Skyler." "Skyler is super smart and knows everything," Nina added.
"And he loves snacks just like me!" Mira chimed in, bobbing her head.
Raines' smirk took on a teasing edge, "Kids grow up day by day, but Skyler doesn't seem to age a bit. Soon you'll have a generation gap with the little ones." "No way. | get along with adults just fine," Skyler pouted. "Angel, Leopold, Fredric, and Arnold all enjoy my company." Raines shrugged nonchalantly. "Skyler, living solo in Elysium, don't you miss your parents or siblings?" Skyler responded, "My mom always said when kids grow up, they got to live on their own and can't stick around with parents forever." Raines let out a sigh. "If so, it just means she doesn't love you. Are you even her biological child?" Skyler sensed the provocation with an attempt to unsettle him.
"Back in Eastwood Heights, that's just how families roll. My little brother and sister are all living their lives on their own too." Skyler raised his voice a notch, "Raines, remember | told you about my brother Geoffrey? He looks a lot like you, all lean and lanky." Raines gave another indifferent shrug. "Can't quite recall, you know my memory's a sieve. Trivial stuff just slips through." Skyler figured he remembered just fine, because he might not be Raines, but Geoffrey in disguise.
"Geoffrey was snatched away by baddies when we were kids and turned into a naughty one, always up to no good. | figure no one loved him and that's why he went bad. He's jealous ofbecause everyone lovesand wants to play with me. Geoffrey wishes I'd becan unpopular bad egg like him, but I'm not falling for it." William stood with his arms akimbo, feigning a tough look, "Geoffrey is a big baddie, a real rotten egg, and none of us like him." "He'll get nabbed by the cops sooner or later," Mira nodded vigorously.
Nina piped up, "I bet he's ugly as sin, a real freak show. That's why he's always hiding behind a mask, afraid to show his face and have people laugh at how hideous he is." "Exactly," Skyler nodded like a pecking hen. "He keeps saying we look alike, but I'm positive he's not as handsas me. He's just green with envy to bugbecause I'm such a looker."
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