Chapter 135 Fiorello's Invitation to Adalia
Maggie found herself profoundly touched by Adalia's inquiry. She gently lifted the girl to her feet, her voice tender as she said, "Come, let's find you something delicious to eat." Ignoring the grime that clung to Adalia's clothes, she cradled the child in her arms and guided her towards the car.Upon seeing Adalia, Fiorello was taken aback. He recognized the child from their shared neighborhood.
Fiorello asked, "What was she doing just now? Why was she here all alone?""She was famished, resorting to eating a piece of bread she scavenged from the trash bin," Maggie explained, her fingers gently brushing Adalia's cheek. Her voice held a note of sorrow as she continued, "It's heart-wrenching how Susan and Alan could neglect such a beautiful and innocent child."Adalia nestled comfortably into Maggie's embrace, finding solace in its warmth.Fiorello's gaze lingered on Adalia's vibrant eyes before drifting to her disheveled appearance, her messy hair, and ill-fitted shoes. A pang of sadness struck him."Maggie, do you know this girl?" he asked.
"Yes, I've seen her around the neighborhood," Maggie confirmed. "The last time, she was starving, so I took her in and prepared a meal for her. Her name is Adalia, and she resides in Building 6. I suspect her parents are abusive. I attempted to intervene through the community staff, but to no avail.""I've noticed her in the neighborhood as well," Fiorello admitted, reaching out to lift Adalia's sleeve. However, she quickly withdrew her hand, hiding it behind her back.Maggie softly reassured, "Adalia, this gentleman means you no harm. May he take a look at the bruises on your arm?"Adalia, trusting Maggie, hesitantly rolled up her sleeve to reveal a pair of arms marred with bruises.Adalia was painfully thin, her arms littered with bruises, and her small hands rough and scarred, clear indicators of forced labor.Both Maggie and Fiorello felt a surge of sorrow and anger, but they kept their emotions in check, not wanting to distress the child further.Fiorello said, "Maggie, I'll take you to the company. After that, I'll take Adalia out for a meal and purchase some clothes for her."Maggie yearned to accompany them, to spend more time with Adalia. However, an urgent call from Emily demanding her presence at a meeting thwarted her plans.There was an important meeting scheduled for that day.Reluctantly, Maggie entrusted Adalia to Fiorello's care and made her way to the company alone.After dropping off Maggie, Fiorello took Adalia out for a meal. While she was eating, he placed a call, instructing, "William, bring a few sets of clothes suitable for a little girl to the Royal Taste immediately. Make sure they are full outfits, appropriate for a four or five-year-old, and include a few pairs of shoes."The Royal Taste was the same establishment Fiorello had previously taken Maggie to, a restaurant owned by Benjamin.
The fare served at this establishment was delectable, a fact that Adalia attested to as she devoured her meal with an unbridled fervor. Her hunger was palpable, a gnawing void that had been left unattended for far too long.Observing her from across the table, Fiorello's heart was laden with a profound heaviness. He poured her a glass of water, saying gently, "Adalia, eat slowly, and be careful not to choke."Obliging, Adalia accepted the water, quenching her thirst with large, hurried gulps. Most children her age were known to be fussy eaters, but Adalia had no such luxury. Her meals often consisted of leftovers, and there were times when she was denied even that meager sustenance.Just the previous night, Susan had suffered a loss at poker and had taken out her frustrations on Adalia, denying her dinner as a cruel form of punishment.Even after she had finished her meal, Adalia found herself hesitating to leave the table, her eyes lingering on the remaining food with a longing that was hard to ignore.Fiorello reached out, his hand gently closing around her small one, "Don't eat too much, or your stomach will feel uncomfortable," he advised.Adalia blinked up at him, her memory stirring at the sight of this kind man who had once helped her retrieve her kite."Thank you, Uncle who helped me pick up my kite," Adalia said, her voice polite and soft.This was the first time Fiorello had heard her speak since their journey began. Had she remained silent, he might have begun to suspect that she was mute."You're welcome," he responded, his voice gentle as he broached a sensitive subject, "Adalia, can you tell me how you got those wounds on your body?"Adalia's response was a silent shake of her head, her lips pressed tightly together in a clear refusal to speak. She had been threatened by Susan, warned that speaking out of turn would have dire consequences.As Fiorello reached out to pat her head affectionately, William arrived, his arms laden with clothing. "Mr. Flores, I've brought the clothes you asked for," he announced, his breath coming in short gasps. Fiorello had only given him an hour to complete the task, and time had been of the essence.It was only after he had finished speaking that William noticed Adalia, and the realization of why he had been sent to buy little girl's clothes dawned on him.Fiorello rose from his seat, taking Adalia's hand in his as he led her towards the restaurant's upstairs suite. The suite had been reserved by Benjamin for his personal use, but the restaurant manager was quick to grant Fiorello access.Noting Adalia's grimy appearance, Fiorello realized she was in dire need of a bath. However, he was not in a position to assist her himself, so he turned to William and instructed, "Find a female waitress to give Adalia a bath."
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