Her Rebirth of Retribution novel Chapter 171

Calista was a bit dazed by his words, and it seemed she didn't quite understand. She pursed her lips, insisting on her point, yelling, “You don't like me!”

“You!” Kallum glared at her, only to see her looking back at him defiantly, her eyes red and sparkling, much like a stubborn little beast. Why am I even bothering to argue with a little drunkard?

Kallum let out a sigh, deciding to sidestep the topic. “What did you bring me here for? The house has been burnt down, and there's nothing left. What do we do now?”

With her lower lip caught between her teeth, Calista muttered a few words and led him further up the hill. To their surprise, they stumbled upon a small cave in the hillside, into which she promptly crawled.

Kallum found it amusing. As a child, Calista was raised by her grandparents, a pair of traditional old folks. They brought her up just like an ancient maiden, with rules and expectations for every word and action. It was hard to imagine that she had such a secret hideout when she was little.

Upon entering, a variety of items were scattered on the ground. There were worn-out rag dolls, little dresses adorned with lace, and so on. Meanwhile, Calista was rummaging through the stuff on the floor.

“Is this where you spent your childhood?” he asked.

Without looking back, Calista responded, “Yeah, my grandpa didn't like it when I played with dolls, nor did he approve of me wearing those short dresses...”

Kallum suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for her. As a child, she had to learn so much, her days were filled with exhaustion, and she had little time to herself.

“Well... Do you still like them?” Kallum pondered. If Callie still held affection for them, he could provide her with a room filled with dolls and princess dresses.

“No... I never liked them... Otherwise, they wouldn't be here now.”

The place was filthy, so it couldn't possibly reflect any form of affection. When she was a child, her father would bring over dresses and dolls, all of which her grandfather would throw away. She had to retrieve these items secretly.

“You don't like them? Then why did you hide them here?” Kallum asked.

Suddenly, Calista found something, and her eyes lit up. “Because they're the perfect cover!”

Before Kallum could utter a word, he caught a faint whiff of alcohol. Raising an eyebrow slightly, he walked over. At the narrow end, he had no choice but to crouch down. Both of them were like children, heads together, digging for treasure.

“What is this?”

“Alcohol!” Calista exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction as she carefully unearthed a small bottle. She chuckled and said, “I remember Mrs. Fairchild once mentioned that on your birthday, you would always take the day off to enjoy some alcohol all by yourself. Apparently, you've been doing this since you were young!”

Crouched down, Calista moved a little closer toward Kallum, her face full of caution. Her eyes, however, held a hint of mischief.

“That's why I used these dolls and clothes as a cover. The last time my grandpa found out, he just scolded me a bit and didn't check any further. I successfully managed to keep my alcohol!”

She seemed quite pleased with herself for having managed to deceive her stern grandfather, her voice growing louder as she spoke.

“Do you know what I used to brew my alcohol?” Calista asked, flaunting her knowledge before Kallum.

Kallum really couldn't imagine what a nine-year-old girl could use to brew alcohol. He wanted to respond, but he found himself unable to utter a single word. Instead, he just stared at her with an intense gaze, as if he could see through her to the little girl who used to match wits and courage with her grandfather.

Upon noticing Kallum's gaze fixed on her, Calista felt certain he was dying to know. So, she boasted, “I used fruits! There's a forest behind the hill that's full of fruits. I didn't dare to steal rice because my grandma would notice. Hence, I used fruits instead!”

As she spoke, her eyes grew brighter. Even in the dimly lit cave, it seemed as if her pupils were filled with stars. “Do you know how I discovered the method for brewing alcohol? Back when I was in school, I had my deskmate look it up on their phone for me! I'm pretty sure I didn't mess up the steps and the process. After all this time, it must taste amazing!”

Calista dug out the first bottle of alcohol she had buried, shaking it in anticipation. Hearing the sloshing of liquid inside, she squinted her eyes, eager to uncork the bottle and take a sip.