"Not every family lives with love," Adeline replied softly. "Mine wasn't like that. And I'm sure there are many others just like ours. We are all just very good at pretending. However, I'm not denying that genuinely happy families exist."
"Hmm. You're right, but what I've seen around me were always good families with so much love among the siblings," Vivian answered. She took another long sip of her juice, wondering if she had made the atmosphere too gloomy.
"Adeline, will you be my friend?" Vivian asked. "I don't know how much you trust me yet, but I truly need a trustworthy friend—someone who can be there for me whenever I need them."
"I would love to be your friend," Adeline replied with a warm smile.
"The juice is really good," Vivian pronounced, her smile returning as she looked around. "And it seems so peaceful here. There is no constant intervention like at the palace."
