172 The Butterfly That Cannot Fly

Masking her discomfort, Xia Ling continued with the third line. "Like the irises by the road, lost in time. Unable to differentiate if the gentle you is reality or a dream…"

Her tears fell without warning. Snippets of her memories flashed across her mind. A random summer, there were huge bushes of irises by the roadside, blooming splendidly in the summer breeze. A young, tall man was standing against the light, smiling at the little girl in front of him with his hand outstretched — Xiao Ling, come home with me.

Xiao Ling, come home with me.

That voice was low and mesmerizing, like a curse, making her voice choked up.

More images flowed into her mind — the luxurious bungalows in the mountains, that man holding the girl's hand and announcing to his family. "This is Xia Ling, the girl I adopted. I hope you welcome her into the family and treat her well."