I managed to enter Mr. Vittori's office without any trouble.
The moment he saw me, he looked slightly surprised, but then he smiled.
"You're quite the mischievous synthoid."
I quickly corrected him. "No, Mr. Vittori, I'm not your synthoid. I'm the shop owner's daughter, Anael."
He let out a quiet laugh. "Of course I know that. But isn't that exactly what your mother wants you to be? My synthoid?"
So he had known everything from the beginning. No wonder he refused to take me away that day.
I looked at him pleadingly and told him everything I had learned, including my mother's strange behavior that day.
"I'm really sorry. I hope you can forgive my mother… and me. I came here because I don't want things to escalate and affect you."
"You're a good girl, Anael," Mr. Vittori said gently.
