Chapter 495: "Goodbye, Ducky.

Chapter 495: Chapter 495: "Goodbye, Ducky.

The traffic flowed endlessly down the road. Renee Jennings leaned her head against the glass, gazing at the world outside. A stone seemed to have settled in her heart, heavy and sinking.

Raleigh gripped the steering wheel and couldn’t help but exclaim, "My God, I can’t believe Addie Sutton wasn’t their biological daughter."

Director Leto, sitting in the passenger seat, heaved a long sigh. "I suspected the family might favor the son, but I never imagined the truth was that Addie wasn’t their biological child."

"Their second kid looks like a real handful," Raleigh said. "You can tell he’s spoiled rotten."

"You can only imagine how much that poor girl suffered in that house." Director Leto was a parent himself, with a son about the same age as Addie Sutton. The thought hit close to home, and his eyes grew a little misty.

"She must have tried so hard to pretend she didn’t know," Renee Jennings said softly, stroking Ducky’s feathers. "She wanted so badly to stay with that family, but they just kept pushing her away."

Ducky quacked sorrowfully. "QUACK~ That’s right. Dee said, ’I really love Mom and Dad. My brother bullies me sometimes, but he’s just little and doesn’t know any better. He’ll be better when he’s a little older.’"

A bitter feeling welled up in Renee Jennings’s chest. "Director Leto, were you able to find out where Addie went from the traffic cameras?"

"No," Director Leto said, slowly shaking his head. A soft sigh escaped his throat. "The cameras at several key intersections were down. They weren’t reported for maintenance in time..."

And because the cameras had caught nothing, their hands were tied.

"We sent people over there last night to ask around, but no one noticed Addie."

"I see." Renee Jennings lowered her gaze to the adorable, snow-white Ducky. "Ducky, before Dee left, besides saying she was sorry, did she say anything else?"

"QUACK~ Anything else..." Ducky tilted its head, deep in thought. "Before Dee left..."

That day, Addie Sutton had been beaten by her grandmother again.

What for?

Because Sunny had called out to her, but she was busy mopping the floor and lost in thought, so she hadn’t answered right away. Her grandmother had flown into a rage, stormed over, snatched the mop from her hands, and started beating her with it over and over.

"You wretched girl, learned to give us attitude, have you? Sunny called for you, and you acted like you were deaf!"

Addie Sutton was stunned by the blows. Raising her hands to shield her face, she explained frantically, "Grandma, I wasn’t giving anyone attitude! I didn’t hear Sunny call for me..."

"He was shouting so loud! You’re not deaf, so how could you not have heard him? I heard him all the way from the kitchen while I was cooking!" the grandmother shrieked, her voice growing louder and her blows landing harder.

Felix Sutton and Helen Lockwood got home from work just in time to see this.

"What’s going on?"

Sunny immediately ran up to them to tattle. "Mom, Dad, I tried to talk to my sister, but she completely ignored me! Then Grandma got mad!"

Beaten and cowering in the corner, Addie Sutton looked at her parents. Her lips moved slightly, as if to explain, but she was cut off by the sound of Helen Lockwood’s displeased, scolding voice.

"Addie, what in the world has gotten into you lately?" Helen Lockwood asked, pulling her son into her arms, her brow deeply furrowed. "How many times have your grandmother and your brother complained about you? Can’t you just give your father and me a moment’s peace?"

Addie Sutton opened her mouth, but her throat felt as if it were stuffed with a clump of wet cotton, making it difficult to even breathe.

A dull ache bloomed in her chest. She lowered her gaze, digging her fingernails into her skin, and said in a faint, hollow voice, "I’m sorry for causing you trouble. It won’t happen again."

Sunny gloated, "She should be punished with no dinner tonight!"

The grandmother chimed in, "Sunny’s right. No dinner for her tonight. Grandma will give all the big chicken drumsticks to Sunny."

Addie Sutton picked herself up off the floor and walked silently into her room.

The click of the lock was like a barrier descending, splitting the house into two separate worlds: her room and the living room.

The cheerful laughter and warm harmony from outside the door had nothing to do with her.

Inside the room, it was utterly silent, as if the very air had frozen. The weight of the world seemed to press down on her, making it hard to breathe.

Addie Sutton sat on the floor beside her bed, knees drawn to her chest. Ducky came waddling over to her side.

Sensing its owner’s sorrow, it nudged its little round head against her.

"QUACK QUACK~~"

’You can pet my head, Dee. Don’t be sad!’

Addie Sutton gathered Ducky into her arms, trying to draw a sliver of warmth from its small body.

"Ducky," she said, her voice low and muffled. "I’m so tired."

"QUACK~"

’I’ll stay with you, Dee.’

"Ducky, what should I do? I don’t think I can hold on much longer."

"QUACK~"

’You can do it, Dee! You’re the best!’

"Ducky."

"QUACK~"

’I’m here!’

Addie Sutton pressed her cheek against Ducky’s feathers and suddenly let out a small laugh. "Ducky, every time I say something, you quack. It’s like you’re really talking to me."

"QUACK QUACK QUACK~"

’But I am! I really can understand you! I love hearing you talk, Dee.’

Leaning against the bed, Addie Sutton fell asleep.

She awoke late in the night, her stomach growling.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she got up and left the room.

As if to confirm something, she went to the dining room. The table had been cleared and wiped clean.

She went into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator door, and quickly shut it again.

In this family, she was nothing more than an outsider.

At that moment, Addie Sutton found she had no more tears left to cry.

She had been disappointed so many times. Now, finally, she was in complete despair.

She returned to her room, grabbed a set of clean clothes, and took a shower. When she came back, she looked at the little white fluffball sitting on her quilt, her expression set with a new resolve.

"Ducky." Addie Sutton went over and stroked its head, a faint smile on her face. "It was nice knowing you."

"QUACK~"

’You too!’

"Thank you," Addie Sutton said, "for being with me when I needed you most."

"QUACK~"

’You’re welcome! Dee keeps Ducky company, and Ducky keeps Dee company!’

"Ducky, what will you do when I’m not here to take care of you?"

"QUACK QUACK~"

’Then you just have to stay with me forever! You can even take me to college!’

Hearing its earnest reply, Addie Sutton began to laugh through her tears. "Oh, Ducky, I’m going to miss you so much."

"QUACK?"

’What are you talking about, Dee?’

"Ducky, I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I can’t take care of you anymore."

"QUACK QUACK QUACK?"

’What? What are you saying? Dee, you’re scaring me! What are you talking about?’

Addie Sutton leaned in and gave it a small kiss. "Goodbye, Ducky."

"QUACK QUACK QUACK!"

’Dee, wait for me!’

Ducky flapped its wings clumsily and tumbled off the bed. It staggered to the doorway, but the room door was already shut.

"Dee left," Ducky said, its voice filled with sorrow. "Dee doesn’t want me anymore."

After hearing all this, Renee Jennings’s chest felt tight and achy. Her throat constricted, and her eyes began to burn.

"Director Leto." She paused, clearing her throat before continuing. "Where was Addie last seen on camera? Take me there."

"Right." Director Leto agreed, then said to Raleigh, "Head to Leondis Street."