RETURN OF DON' CARA FROM USELESS TO GREATNESS

Chapter 13

Without hesitation, Joshua continued to the exit where Mr. Softee and Lily were waiting. 

“What do you mean you’re going to stay with him?!” Joshua heard Lily’s voice from a distance. Mr. Sottee, speaking in a hushed tone, cast a sad expression at her.

“The young master isn’t just someone close to me; he is like a son to me. I have been with him since he was ten,” Mr. Sottee replied.

Lily's face was a mix of sadness and annoyance as she scoffed in disbelief. “What about me? Are you really going to leave for someone who isn’t blood-related?!”

Mr. Sottee, hearing his niece's words, felt a twitch in his heart. He heaved a sigh, but Lily's words beat him to it. 

“Families stick together! They don't go running to take care of someone else!” Lily barked, tears streaming down her. When Mr. Sotter reached out to her, she brushed him off and slid into the car, slamming the door shut.

Meanwhile, Joshua, who had been slowly counting his steps, arrived at the car. Mr. Sottee, who couldn't tell if he had witnessed their argument, glanced at him. “Did you get what you came for, Young Master?” 

Joshua nodded before sliding into the passenger seat. Inside the car he could still feel the heat of their argument, and Lily, sitting beside him, panned her gaze out the other side of the window. Her body twitched with anger, but her eyes burned with tears.

“I can't remember telling the staff to stack the mansion with female clothes,” Joshua muttered, prompting Mr. Sottee glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

“Young master, why do you need female clothes? Are you expecting someone?” He asked, taking a turn.

Joshua met his gaze and said,. “They are not for me but for Lily, since she didn't get the time to park her things.”

Lily, hearing his words, narrowed her gaze at him. Though the stream of tears still lingered on her face, she wiped her face and cleared her throat. “Y…you mean you want me to live with you and my uncle?” 

Mason glanced at her. “Why do you sound surprised?” He asked, and when Lily could not think of a reason, he added. “Mr. Sottee is family, which makes you one too, so yeah, you can stay at the mansion,” he replied, averting his gaze to the night view.

Lily, wiping away her tears, glanced at her uncle before small smile crawled into her lips. “Yes! Of course I will be happy to live close to him; he is the only family I have left,” she muttered. Joshua witnessed her moody expression transit into happiness and wore a smile.

“Then it’s settled then,” he replied.

Mr. Sottee cast a grateful glance at Joshua before shifting his focus back to the road ahead.

As they drove on, the route Joshua had provided seemed unfamiliar. He glanced over his shoulder. “Young Master,” he called. “ I’m not familiar with any of your properties in the South District,” he said, taking a second glance at the address.

“Well, neither do I, and to be honest, I have never been to the mansion,” Joshua replied.

Everyone glanced at him in surprise. He shrugged his shoulders, staring at the windshield. “Among several properties I moved out of my name before my marriage, I instructed my secretary to buy a mansion as a gift to my in-law,” Joshua announced, shaking his head. “Today is the first time I will be seeing it for myself,” he explained.

Mr.Sottee, who was aware Joshua moved 98% of his wealth to a different name, nodded his head. It was a adviy Joshua had listened to, and he was thankful he did.

Lily, who was confused, glanced at their faces but remained silent as they continued to the destination.

The drive from the church to the South District of the city was short and quiet. As they approached their destination, the change in terrain became evident through the smooth flow of movement, assisted by the few mundane activities.

Lily gazed out the windshield, marveling at every sight. Her heart began to beat louder as the structure gradually came into view. The mansion glowed brightly from a distance, its light shining from the bottom to the peak. It was a view that made her mouth water in awe.

As they arrived at the location, Joshua cast a lazy gaze at the mansion that loomed through the landscape, adorned in its full glory. Security cameras were scattered across the property, and several security guards were stationed outside. When they approached the entrance, they found it blocked by a gigantic gate that separated them from the mansion. The security personnel at their posts wore surprised expressions as they stared curiously at the vehicle.

“Who is that?” One of the security men muttered to his colleagues, who were busy with something else. 

When he finally pulled his gaze from his business to the car in front of their post. He quickly rose to his feet, reaching for his firearm.

All the staff at the mansion were aware of the strict rules governing movement within the compound. No one was permitted to leave or enter the premises casually except for the staff who go to town for restocking, and that only happens during the daytime. The scanning could know it couldn't be a staff member.

“Stop right there!” one of the security guards commanded. When the car slowly came to a halt, the guard pulled out his flashlight and pointed it at the windshield. “Identify yourself!”

Mr. Sottee, resting his hands on the steering wheel, glanced at Joshua, who muttered a few instructions to him. With a nod, Mr. Sottee turned his attention back to the security guard.

“Tell Mrs. Cicilia Don Cara is here,” Mr.Sottee replied.

After those words, a quick silence enveloped the area as the guards exchanged a surprise glance. They were all familiar with the name but none had seen his face. One of the guards quickly reached for the telephone hanging on the wall to make a call to the compound. As he spoke into the receiver, his voice was low.

When he hung up a moment later, his face turned pale as he nervously shifted his gaze from his colleagues to the car parked just beyond the gate.