Chapter 225

Gladys's voice was hoarse from crying. She pursed her little cherry lips and asked, "Where's Mommy?" Alston pretended not to hear. How would he know? Cecilia could hold her liquor; she couldn't still be at the hotel, right? He didn't believe it, no matter what. "She left," Alston replied and turned away. There was no sound behind him. Alston, with one hand in his pocket, glanced back and saw Gladys still standing there, tearfully looking at him. "What's wrong?" He looked down at himself, confused. "What? You like being here alone? You don't want to leave?" "Daddy, are you going to take me away and play hide and seek with Mommy again?" Gladys choked out, stepping back. Her chubby body bumped into the fountain, and she fell to the ground. Alston's body stiffened. She clumsily got up on her own and even bent halfway to pat the dust off her clothes. "Daddy, Gladys won't leave. Gladys won't hide. Gladys won't run away." "I'll stay where Mommy can find me," she said stubbornly, her eyes dark