Chapter 114 Disappointment
In the evening, Susan was leaning against the headboard, thinking about how to find out which orphanage Hayden was adopted from, when her phone rang.
She saw it was Isabella calling and answered right away. "Hey?"
"Susan, I've had the worst day ever!" Isabella sounded super frustrated.
"Who ticked you off this time?" Susan asked, not too worried since Isabella often complained.
"Who else? Cynthia, the homewrecker between you and Seb!" Isabella was still fuming.
"Did she give you trouble?" Susan asked, suddenly tense.
Isabella snapped, "I was half an hour late to work, got caught, lost my whole bonus for the month, and now I have to write a report!"
"Did Cynthia report you to Prosperity Group?" Susan couldn't believe it.
Isabella sighed, "No, she's now the inspector sent by headquarters to Prosperity Group to fix work discipline. She started today and caught me red-handed. It felt like she did it on purpose, arguing with me to delay me."
Susan thought for a moment. "An inspector from headquarters? Did Seb assign her?"
"Apparently, it was a sudden assignment from headquarters, not Prosperity Group. Cynthia must be pretty capable. Isn't the chairman of headquarters Seb's mom, Carol Mitchell? Cynthia must have her approval to get this position," Isabella explained.
"Just follow the rules. If she can't catch you doing anything wrong, she can't do anything to you," Susan advised.
"I guess. But if she keeps targeting me, I might not last at Prosperity Group," Isabella lamented.
"Take it one step at a time. No point in worrying too much," Susan said.
Susan thought, 'If Cynthia has the Anderson family's approval, her wedding with Seb is probably near.' Though it made her a bit sad, it was ultimately good. Once Seb got married, he should leave her alone.
"By the way, did you visit Hayden today? Any info from the nanny?" Isabella asked.
"Mary said she didn't know," Susan replied, frowning.
Isabella hesitated, then said, "Susan, you can't rush this. You'll have to ask slowly."
"I know. But Hayden was so happy to see me. He really likes me." Susan smiled, thinking of Hayden.
"You've transferred your feelings for your own child onto Hayden. Liking him is fine, but don't get too emotionally involved. It's not good for you," Isabella warned.
"I understand," Susan said with a smile and hung up.
Looking at her phone, Susan knew Isabella was right and meant well, but she couldn't help missing Hayden. She couldn't resist these feelings.
A week later, Susan missed Hayden so much that she visited him again on a weekday afternoon.
This time, she got lucky. Mary casually mentioned that Hayden was adopted from Angel Orphanage in Maple Valley.
Susan was so excited she couldn't sleep all night. The next morning, she skipped work and went straight to Angel Orphanage.
At the orphanage, things went smoothly. Susan met the director, Kathleen Hernandez, just as she hoped.
Susan explained her situation to Kathleen: she once had a child whose fate was unknown, and she wanted to check the adoption records from last winter.
Kathleen, a woman in her fifties with gold-rimmed glasses, dressed neatly and professionally, was kind and approachable.
Hearing Susan's request, Kathleen agreed and asked someone to bring the records of babies admitted and adopted last winter.
When Kathleen handed the record book to Susan, her hands trembled slightly.
"Ms. Wilson, please take a look," Kathleen said with a smile.
Susan flipped through the records. Only two babies were adopted last winter: a boy and a girl. The boy was Hayden.
The records clearly stated that Hayden was abandoned at the orphanage's entrance, with the time, place, and discoverer noted. The adopter's name was indeed Seb.
Seeing this, Susan immediately ruled out the possibility that Hayden was her son. She gently closed the record book, feeling empty inside because her child had indeed passed away. Hayden was not her child.
"I'm sorry that I couldn't help," Kathleen said, seeing the disappointment in Susan's eyes.
Susan handed the record book back to Kathleen, forcing a smile. "No, you have helped me. Thank you!"
"Goodbye," Kathleen said, taking the record book.
"Goodbye," Susan said, leaving Angel Orphanage with a heavy heart.
Feeling down, Susan returned to the firm. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, her phone rang.
She saw it was Isabella calling. She had been so excited last night that she had told Isabella about her plan to visit the orphanage today.
"Did you find out anything?" Isabella's eager voice came through as soon as the call connected.
"Hayden is not my child," Susan replied, disappointed.
Isabella paused for a moment, then said, "Since he's not, you can start to let go."
"I just can't let go of Hayden," Susan said, her nose tingling as she thought of Hayden's chubby little face.
"You have to let go. Cynthia has been all over Prosperity Group these days. She must have the Anderson family's approval, and her marriage to Seb is probably a done deal. If you keep visiting Hayden, you'll get entangled with Seb again, and that's no good for you!" Isabella said, making sense with every word.
"I understand. Let's talk after work," Susan said and hung up.
Looking up, her eyes met Amelia's.
Seeing Amelia, Susan was a bit surprised. Why was she at George and Vivian Law Firm?