The girl paused at that.
She stared at him, tilting her head to the side as though confirming that she had really heard the little boy speak.
"Nigel?" she asked, repeating the name.
The little boy nodded, confirming it.
Cora's eyes slowly brightened. "So you aren't mute. You can actually speak. Then why have you been speaking before?"
The boy didn't speak again. His eyes simply remained on Cora as he continued to stay silent.
Seeing him like that, Cora pursed her lips.
"Fine, don't speak if you don't want to. With me, no one will force you to do anything you don't want to. Not even me," she said before tightening her hold on the hand he had placed in hers. "Now come with me. I'll take you home."
With that, she stood up, still holding his little hand in hers.
They weren't that far apart in age. However, Little Nigel was much shorter than her. So, when they stood beside each other, he more or less looked like her little brother.
