Chapter 536 - 545: Complaint
Chapter 536: Chapter 545: Complaint
Stella Sterling turned her head and saw a little boy, about four or five years old, staring at her with a look of pure complaint.
He was a little thin, and though he was clearly a child, the expression on his face was just like an adult’s.
Stella Sterling stared for a moment before it hit her. This was Andrew Shaw.
It was just that he looked so different from when she had left him.
He was much thinner than before. The bit of healthy weight he’d finally put on while with her was gone, and he was much more tanned.
It had only been a few days—not even two weeks—and Andrew Shaw had changed so much that Stella Sterling hadn’t recognized him at first.
In fact, he looked a lot like he did when she’d first met him.
Stella Sterling asked suspiciously, "What have you been doing, working in a mine?"
’How did he get so thin and tan in just a few days?’
The moment he heard that, Andrew Shaw cried out pitifully, "And whose fault is that? You cruel woman! You just abandoned me here all by myself and didn’t care one bit. Do you have any idea what my life has been like?"
His face was a mask of misery. His eyes were even red-rimmed, making him look utterly pathetic.
Standing beside him, Felix Lawrence looked awkward and shot Stella Sterling an apologetic glance.
’Miss Sterling faced those people from Sanctyr Base alone so she wouldn’t be a burden to us.’
’She entrusted her charge to us, and we really haven’t treated him well. I feel like I’ve failed Miss Sterling.’
’It’s all our fault for being too weak. We didn’t have much food, so he had to suffer with us.’
Hearing his whining, Stella Sterling raised an eyebrow. He might have looked pitiful, but she didn’t buy it for a second.
’I have some faith in Felix Lawrence’s character. After how much I helped him, there’s no way he’d mistreat someone I left with him.’
’As for why Andrew Shaw ended up like this...’
She narrowed her eyes. "Did they not feed you?"
Andrew Shaw shook his head. "That’s not it!"
’They’ve treated me pretty well here. They never skimped on my food. They gave me whatever they were eating, and sometimes, for whatever reason, they even gave me better stuff.’
’I won’t lie about that.’
With Stella Sterling just staring at him, Andrew Shaw began to feel a little guilty. He tilted his chin up and said, "It’s because you were gone for so long! I was worried about you, so I lost my appetite and couldn’t eat. See? It’s all your fault, isn’t it?"
He looked completely sincere as he said it.
But Stella Sterling saw right through his little act. "I bet you were just being a picky eater and refused to eat, weren’t you?"
Stella had hit the nail on the head. The self-righteous Andrew Shaw instantly lost his nerve, his eyes darting away. "N-No! I just had a poor appetite!"
’Fine, he admitted it. He was being a picky eater. Back when there was nothing to eat, he would have eaten anything just to fill his stomach.’
’Everything tasted delicious back then!’
’But ever since he started following that woman, Stella Sterling, he’d been eating and drinking like a king. Life had been good.’
’So when he suddenly had to go back to eating bland soups and simple fare, he couldn’t adjust.’
’He knew Felix Lawrence and his men were already treating him very well. They always tried to give him the best of what they had, and they even increased his portions after getting a new supply of food a few days ago.’
’It was his own fault. Once you get used to the good life, going back to hardship feels unbearable.’
’Besides, he knew there was food and he wouldn’t actually starve, so he grew complacent and just ate a little bit each day.’
’Now that he saw Stella Sterling again, he had wanted to complain and get her to make it up to him, but he never expected her to see right through his act. For a moment, Andrew Shaw felt a little embarrassed.’
Stella Sterling shot him a dangerous look. "It seems you’ve forgotten what real hunger feels like. You don’t want to eat, is that it? Fine. A few days of starving should fix that. You’ll be eating whatever you’re given then!"
"Nooo—"
Andrew Shaw shrieked. He just wanted better food, that didn’t mean he wanted to stop eating entirely and actually starve!
Meanwhile, the people from Caeluna Base watched Sterling talk with the little boy, already whispering among themselves.
’Who is this kid? He seems awfully close to Sterling.’
’It’s the first time we’ve seen a child this young since the apocalypse began.’
’It’s not easy for anyone to survive this long in the apocalypse, so children are rare.’
’When did Sterling pick up a kid like this?’
’If it were anyone else, we wouldn’t be surprised. It’d probably just be another one of Miss Sterling’s subordinates.’
’But a five-year-old? Surely Sterling wouldn’t take him on as a subordinate, right? What could a five-year-old even do?’
’Maybe he’s some poor kid Sterling rescued on the road?’
They scratched their heads, thinking that was unlikely too.
’Knowing Sterling’s personality, she doesn’t seem like the type to take on such a huge burden.’
’At most, she’d save him and then find a safe place to leave him. She wouldn’t keep him with her.’
’And the kid’s got a lot of nerve, judging by the way he talks.’
Their minds filled with questions. Some even wondered if the boy could be Sterling’s son.
’After all, the age isn’t out of the question.’
All sorts of theories flew around, but no one dared to go up and ask Stella Sterling directly.
"It’s good to see everyone is all right!"
Stella Sterling glanced around, seeing only familiar faces. Not a single one of Felix Lawrence’s men was missing.
Hearing this, a flicker of a smile crossed Felix Lawrence’s eyes. "We have Miss Sterling’s young charge to thank for that. If he hadn’t warned us, I’m afraid we..."
’He still felt a pang of fear just thinking about it. At the time, he hadn’t believed the boy’s words. But when the boy ran off without a second thought, he knew he had to follow. He was Miss Sterling’s responsibility, after all. If anything happened to him, he’d have a hard time explaining it to her.’
’So he’d taken his men and chased after him. Later, thinking it over, he’d realized that believing the boy’s warning wouldn’t cost them anything. Better safe than sorry.’
’So he’d had his men move all the food supplies they had recently acquired.’
’He never imagined that decision would end up saving all their lives.’
’If they hadn’t done it, wouldn’t they all have died back there?’
Felix Lawrence looked at Stella Sterling, his heart filled with emotion. ’Miss Sterling is truly my benefactor. She’s helped me so much. The last time, she went out of her way to cover for me just to solve my problems.’
’I can never repay the debt I owe her. And now, even the boy she left in my care has saved my life and the lives of all my brothers.’