Chapter 10 We’re Here to Adopt Chloe!
Finished
The caretaker’s heart ached as she watched Chloe cry. Tears welled in her eyes as she tried to soothe her. “Sweetheart, don’t cry. You’ll have a new daddy one day; that one was a bad daddy! The next one will be a good one! Okay!”
But Chloe wasn’t comforted at all; she sobbed until she was nearly gasping for breath. “But… but I really liked him…”
Andres clenched his fists, silently holding back.
The caretaker sighed as she heard that.
She was an adult, she could tell. Those two looked like they came from the same mold. And the guy drove a luxury car. dressed in clothes that could feed and clothe a child for a whole year. How could he not be the real dad? He just didn’t want to admit it. He even had three sous standing right behind him. The girl’s mother must be really sinned. Giving birth to a child she didn’t want from a man she didn’t love, wasn’t that just a punishment for the kid?
“Alright, no more tears. I’ll tuck you in for a nap and start looking for a new dad! I’ll call him and ask him to come pick your up, how about that?”
Chloe was taken back inside.
Andres stood there, his face stormy. Suddenly, a shadow flashed by and struck his shoulder.
He frowned and looked over. A boy with delicate features stood there, gripping a small rock. “You lied to her, didn’t you? She’s your real daughter, isn’t she?”
Andres froze, saying nothing.
Merrick’s eyes were far too mature for his age. He glanced disdainfully at the three boys behind Andres. “You clearly don’t lack the food it’d take to feed her, even if you gave her the cheapest stuff, it’d be enough. So why let her keep living as an orphan?”
Andres stared at him, then lowered his gaze, asking himself the same thing. Yeah. Why am I letting her stay an orphan?
Because of how she came into this world–because he hadn’t allowed it. Because he hadn’t wanted her.
Marvin stepped forward angrily. “This has nothing to do with you!”
“Yeah, it doesn’t. But Chloe’s under my protection.” Merrick weighed the stone in his hand, shooting Andres a fierce glare. “She’s so pretty: don’t you worry that something bad might happen to her when she grows up?”
He had known since he was a child, if someone looked good but didn’t have enough strength, the danger they’d face could be immense.
The adults understood that too.
Andres expression shifted, as if Merrick had just reminded him of something important. Yeah. Chloe was an exceptionally beautiful child.
Her potential as an adult would be enormous.
But if she remained an orphan, then she’d face danger from adoptive families and every man she met as she grew up.
The more he thought about it, the darker his face became.
Merrick sneered. “Still not moved? You rich people really are all the same.”
He tossed the stone to the ground and walked off proudly. “Then don’t bother. Chloe is under me now; from now on, I’m protecting her. If you ever come back-
He glanced back coldly. “I won’t let you off.”
Marvin’s expression darkened as he stared at Merrick’s retreating figure. “Honestly, I think the biggest danger Chloe’s going to face growing up is him.”
Just as he finished speaking, a car suddenly pulled up at the orphanage entrance.
12:26 AM P P
Chapter 10 We’re Here to Adopt Chloe!
Finished
A man hopped out, holding up his phone excitedly. “Hey, everyone in the livestream! I’m right outside the orphanage now Keep smashing that like button–once we hit 100,000, I’m going in to adopt Chloe!”
The stream was trending hard; Chloe had become a bit of a viral sensation lately, and a lot of people were following this poor kid’s story.
Andres face darkened instantly: he frowned at the man holding the phone.
But then, one car after another pulled up outside. Several strange people–men and women alike–got out, holding up their phones and grinning into the camera. “I’m here today to adopt Chloe!”
One woman waved her phone enthusiastically. “Look! I even brought my son and daughter. We’re planning to make Chloe our third child! Kids, what do we say–do we want Chloe to be your new little sister?”
She gave them a cue with her eyes.
The two kids beamed. “Welcome, little sister! We’re here to bring you home!”
