Chapter 3 Fostered

The reason Anne grew up in the Moore family is a long story.

She had been weak and sickly since childhood-falling ill twice a year, each time lasting for half a year.

When she was in elementary school, her parents were assigned to remote grassroots hospitals for poverty alleviation, so she lived with her grandmother.

Seeing how frail she was, her grandmother insisted that Anne's fate was meant for nobility, like that of an empress in ancient times. She claimed that an ordinary family couldn't properly raise her and decided that she needed the blessings of a wealthy household. So, she reached out to her longtime friend, Granny Mrs. Moore.

The Moore family was beyond just wealthy-it was a dynasty. This was exactly what Anne's grandmother had in mind. Without hesitation, she packed Anne's bags and sent the sickly girl to live with the Moores.

When her parents returned from their work assignments and learned of this, they were furious. Her mother, Caroline, a firm believer in materialism, bluntly pointed out, "Mom, you're just being biased against girls. You didn't want to take care of Anna, so you sent her off to someone else's home."

Her grandmother was just as indignant. "I swear on my heart, I love Anna dearly! How could this be favoritism? Just look at her-hasn't she gained weight? Doesn't she look healthier? Has she even gotten sick once since she moved in? Her fate is meant for wealth; she simply cannot thrive in an ordinary household."

Caroline scoffed. "That's just because the Moore family has a great diet, with balanced and nutritious meals. Of course, she's healthier now."

Whether it was due to her grandmother's mystical reasoning or her mother's scientific perspective, the fact remained that during the years Anne spent with the Moore family, she rarely fell ill.

Mrs. Old Moore adored Anne, especially after her grandmother passed away. She treated Anne like her own granddaughter, Daisy-sending her to the best schools and giving her the best life.

By the time Anne entered middle school, her parents had returned to Chicago. But with their demanding jobs and the added responsibility of raising Anne's younger brother, they saw that she was thriving at the Moore household and decided to let her stay. Like Austin and Daisy, she had a driver escorting her to and from school daily, only returning to her own home on weekends.

This lifestyle made young Anne feel, for a time, that she was truly part of the Moore family. It wasn't until later that she realized how others viewed her-an outsider, a mere foster child.

The banquet continued. After the conversation about Austin ended, the topic shifted to Arthur-he was the only younger member of the Moore family who had yet to settle down. Recently, Mrs. Old Moore had carefully selected a few wealthy young ladies for him, ensuring a suitable match. "I've arranged for you to meet them this weekend," she said.

Arthur, lounging lazily in his seat, replied, "Unfortunately, I already have plans."

Mrs. Old Moore frowned. "I asked Assistant Donne. He said you have no scheduled engagements this weekend."

Arthur replied indifferently, "It's a personal matter."

Unlike Adam, who was always gentle and considerate toward their grandmother, or Austin, who was sunny and charming, Arthur remained distant-never warm, yet never disrespectful.

As Camilla once put it, "He's emotionally detached-no amount of warmth can thaw him."

Seeing his disinterest, Mrs. Old Moore didn't push further. Instead, she turned toward Anne and called, "Anne, help me back to my room to rest."

"Yes, Grandma." Anne hurried to her side, relieved to escape the tense undercurrents of the banquet.

Arthur's words had been subtle yet sharp-he was not easy to deal with.

By the time Anne returned, the Moore family members were still chatting enthusiastically, showing no signs of leaving. Feeling exhausted, she decided to step out early and walked toward the courtyard.

Just then, she saw Arthur also leaving the banquet hall.