The restroom was filled with highly concentrated aromatherapy. The pungent scent permeated the narrow space around the sink.
The lighting was dim and blurry.
In this oppressive atmosphere stood a goofy-looking woman. She had the stout figure of a middle-aged woman and a large, round doll-like face that was somehow both childish and aged.
In her arms, she held a little girl as delicate as a porcelain doll.
The girl's large eyes, clear as a spring, stared fixedly at the men's restroom.
It was Celeste and Annelise.
“Ahem!” Larissa cleared her throat.
Hearing the sound, Celeste turned her head. The four of them locked eyes.
Larissa chuckled. "Hehehe! Celeste, we came to apologize to you."
Celeste raised an eyebrow and glared, just as she was about to speak, Seth's youthful voice echoed from inside the men's restroom.
"Celeste, I need some tissue."
"Oh!"
Celeste was badly startled, her exaggerated reaction perfectly displaying her extreme anxiety over the children.
Her chubby hands patted her pockets.
Empty.
Larissa immediately offered, "Celeste, we'll watch Seth for you. You go get the tissues."
Celeste's eyes flashed sharply as she stared at them with vigilance.
Larissa smiled. "Oh! We are all family. Family conflicts are perfectly normal, but let's keep things separate. Seth and Annelise are our cousins. There's no way we'd ever harm our own family."
Celeste relaxed.
"Then don't wander off. Watch Seth carefully."
"Okay, don't worry."
Larissa smoothly reached out to take Annelise. "Leave Annie here too. We'll watch her, so you can run faster."
Celeste nodded and set Annelise on the ground.
She patted her little curly hair. "Baby, I’m going to get tissues. Watch your brother, I'll be right back."
Annelise was very obedient. "I won't run around."
As she spoke, she kept inching closer.
Annelise was squeezed into the corner of the wall.
Being so small, she curled up in the tight space, with nowhere left to hide.
She pouted her little lips. "I... I'll listen to Seth."
Coaxing Seth was insanely difficult. Larissa grew irritated.
"Just tell me first, will you promise to persuade your mom to make up with my uncle?"
"I won't promise."
"Annelise!" Larissa threatened.
Celeste would be back soon, and they didn't have much time to waste.
This little brat absolutely refused to listen to reason.
So annoying~
"I'm telling you, if you don't cry and demand that your mom take you home tonight, my uncle will never let you go back. He's only giving you one chance. If you miss it, you can never return to our house."

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