Sallie's POV
I spoke slowly and clearly, "Because he's truly sincere and pure-hearted. In our old neighborhood, all the elderly folks like him, because he treats everyone with heartfelt sincerity." That was the only genuine sincerity I had ever experienced.
My reasoning was so basic, it hardly qualified as an explanation. Webster couldn't grasp it, assuming I was just fabricating excuses to dismiss him.
He scoffed, "Just because of that? Sallie, you're not a kid anymore. Do you actually buy into such naive nonsense?
"What sincerity? The Noah Family raised you to be cautious of others, yet you're suspicious of your own family while blindly trusting some outsider you've barely known.
"Even if he's genuine with you now, how can you be certain he won't change later? Sallie, you're so immature, it's ridiculous."
His words didn't sting; instead, I nodded and said, "You're absolutely right. I truly am immature, ridiculously so—foolishly thinking that sincerity could be permanent."
