Rachel took a deep breath, a gentle smile spreading across her face.


    "Your name''s Marvin, right? When did you get here?"


    Marvin replied honestly, "Been here for a while. I heard everything you guys were talking about."


    "So, Ms. Pearce, it was you who told Keen that we stopped the doctor from


    helping him, and that Mr. O''Brien was lying. I need to ask Mr. O''Brien why he lied, don''t you think?"


    "No!" Rachel quickly stopped Marvin. "Marvin, you heard wrong. Sweetheart, that''s not what she said."


    Marvin tilted his head, looking at her, then turned to Keen. "She didn''t say that? Then what did she tell you? Did she mention that Ste and I tried to help you, but she interfered, almost costing you your life?"


    Rachel''s face changed, just as she was about to speak, Keen burst out angrily. "You''re lying! It was you who stopped the doctor from helping me!"


    Marvin chimed in, "So, the sun really did rise in the west, pigs really have wings, and they can climb trees, huh?"


    Keen froze.


    Marvin seemed to think of something else, grinning at Keen. "Is Ste really Mr. O''Brien''s father?"


    Keen''s face flushed with anger as he stepped closer, "You two-faced little brat!"


    Marvinughed and shrugged nonchntly, "Yep, that''s me. What are you gonna do about it, bite me?"


    Rachel was almost dumbfounded, staring at Marvin. This kid was just full of surprises. He was... a little trickster too!


    Keen, furious, started to lunge forward.


    Rachel quickly held him back, "Keen, calm down. He''s trying to rile you up on purpose."


    Keen looked confused, "On purpose?"


    "Yeah..." Rachel was about to exin the pros and cons when Marvin


    nonchntly started speaking again.


    "That''s right, I''m trying to make you mad so Ste will feel sorry for me, take my side, and make you apologize."


    Keen looked at Marvin in disbelief. "You..."


    Even Rachel had a flicker of surprise in her eyes.


    As someone familiar with maniption herself, she could easily spot the tactics of a little schemer.


    But why wasn''t he being more secretive?


    But why wasn''t he hiding it? Why would he openly admit it? Could it be... because he''s still a kid and not as patient as adults can be?


    With that thought, Rachel felt a bit more at ease.


    Just then, Marvin continued, "Keen, you saw it, right? How Ste felt so bad for me when I was upset."


    "And you... Ste didn''t even nce your way."


    Marvin didn''t hide his intentions at all, staring Keen straight in the eyes with a bit of a smug expression.


    "Keen, you got it right. I''m going to win your mom over, make her my mom. Ste''s already started to dislike you and like me more. And you, in Ste''s eyes now, you''re nothing."


    If Rachel hadn''t been holding Keen back, he would''ve charged at Marvin again. Marvin was just asking for it!


    Keen was on the verge of tears. "Rachel, let me go, I want to hit him!"


    Rachel looked at Marvin, "Kiddo, aren''t you afraid I''ll tell Ste and Keen''s dad what you''re up to?"


    Marvin seemed unfazed, "Go ahead, tell them. Let''s see if Ste believes you or me. And as for Mr. O''Brien..."