A Beauty With Multiple Masks

Peering through the windows, Arielle saw Malorie Thisdale’s wrinkled face illuminated by a single yellow lightbulb. Her expression was exceedingly pitiful as she pleaded, “Please, I’m just an old woman. I’m begging you to please let me go. I swear if I had any money at all, I would have given some to you all!”

A shabbily dressed man stood before her. Arielle caught sight of multiple patches on his trousers with her sharp vision.

Beside him stood a little boy who looked about ten years old. Clad in similarly ragged and filthy clothes, he gazed at the adults with big, bright eyes.

The man sighed wearily. “I don’t mean to force you either, Mrs. Southall, but we’re really at our wits’ end! It’s the rainy season now, and once the rain pours, my house turns into a lake! It’s completely uninhabitable!”

Hearing that, Malorie fished around in her pocket and retrieved some cash. She handed it to him, stating, “Here’s two hundred. It’s all I have on me now. Take it and fix your roof. Now, please leave. At least let me have a moment’s peace before I attend my granddaughter’s funeral tomorrow!”

A blush quickly spread across the man’s cheeks when he heard those words. Embarrassed, he quickly tugged at the boy’s hand and left the house.

They walked out of the front door only to see Henrick and Arielle standing outside.

“Henrick?” The man’s eyes lit up at once as if he had just found a glimmer of hope.

himself for his untimely appearance, Henrick cleared his throat and put on a

the man, deliberately dabbing at

devastated, the man, Dileon Lowe, could only swallow the rest

the shoulder, he said instead, “My

1

gave him a slight nod. “Give me some time. Once Shandie’s burial is over and the coal mine’s business picks up, I’ll definitely look into renovating your houses. You’ve all been working with me for years. I

worry about this for the moment. Just carry on with the funeral first.

stretched out his arms and gave the man a hug. Then he bent down toward the little boy. “Hey, it’s Teddy, isn’t it? Do

Teddy Lowe, gazed at him innocently with his large

you living in Jadeborough, Mr. Southall? Do you not have any money as well? I haven’t been to school

Henrick’s face. He was just about to answer the child when Dileon hurriedly slapped his hand over Teddy’s mouth and apologized, “I’m terribly sorry, Henrick. He didn’t mean it. We’ll make a move first.

hastily turned and left,

fall upon Teddy’s hands that were entirely covered with coal ash. Even his fingernails had been stained black. Clearly, he had been spending his days working in the coal

that instant, everything