Chapter 136 The Pitiful Adalia
In the bustling restaurant, William discovered a seasoned waitress, a married woman named Iris, and entrusted her with the care of the child.
Iris, with a motherly grace, guided the young Adalia to the bathroom for a bath, leaving Fiorello to his thoughts in the solitude of the room.
Adalia, initially frightened by the unfamiliar surroundings, found solace in the warm embrace of the bathwater. The myriad of bubbles, with their pleasant scent and shimmering beauty, captivated her.
As Iris tenderly bathed Adalia, the sight of the child's marred body stirred a profound sadness within her. She was a mother herself, and the sight of such a pitiful child, covered in injuries, was enough to bring her to tears. Yet, she held her tongue, not daring to pry too deeply into the child's past.
Adalia, meanwhile, was engrossed in the novelty of the bath, her small hands playfully poking at the bubbles. A few of them found their way onto her nose, prompting a delighted sniff from the child.
"Smells nice," she murmured, her voice filled with wonder. It was her first realization that a bath could be such a comforting experience, and that water could carry such a pleasant aroma.
Iris, touched by the child's innocence, smiled gently. "This is the fragrance of the shower gel, it's the scent of lilies," she explained.
Adalia offered no response, content to let Iris continue bathing her.
Once the bath was finished, Iris dried Adalia with a soft, fragrant towel. The child marveled at the softness of the fabric, another first in her young life.
After drying her hair, Iris dressed Adalia in a pretty new pink dress. The child, having never worn anything so beautiful, appeared stunned as Iris led her back to the room.
"Mr. Flores, I have already washed Adalia," Iris announced.
Fiorello looked up, his gaze landing on Adalia's golden hair cascading down her shoulders. Her lively eyes and delicate features gave her the appearance of a porcelain doll.
Seeing Adalia in her new dress stirred a sense of familiarity within Fiorello, a feeling he couldn't quite articulate.
"Well, you can go now," he dismissed Iris with a wave of his hand, signaling for her to leave.
With a nod, Iris tactfully exited the room, leaving Fiorello alone with Adalia. He beckoned the child over, and she approached him, clutching his clothes just as she had done before.
"Uncle Fiorello," she greeted him.
Fiorello regarded Adalia with a gentle gaze. "Are you tired?" he asked.
Adalia shook her head in response.
Before Fiorello could continue the conversation, Benjamin burst into the room. "Fiorello, why didn't you greet me when you arrived? That's quite impolite. I heard you brought a little girl with you..."
His words trailed off as his gaze landed on Adalia. He glanced between the child and Fiorello, a speculative look in his eyes.
"Fiorello, who is this girl? She's not your illegitimate daughter, is she? No wonder you brought her here. If Maggie finds out, the consequences will be severe," he commented, noting a vague resemblance between Adalia and Maggie.
Fiorello's brows furrowed slightly at the insinuation. "Stop speculating. I have no connection with this child. I found her by the roadside."
"You found time to pick up a little girl from the street? With all the business matters you deal with every day, you still found time to help this girl?" Benjamin approached Adalia, crouching down to examine her more closely. Upon closer inspection, he realized that she didn't resemble Maggie as much as he initially thought.
'It seems I was mistaken,' he mused to himself.
Fiorello disregarded Benjamin's inquiry, instead addressing William, who was standing nearby. "Prepare the car," he instructed, "I'm taking Adalia to the hospital for a check-up."
The child appeared undernourished, a sight that gnawed at Fiorello's conscience. He wouldn't find peace until he had her examined at the hospital.
In his earlier years, Fiorello had harbored no particular affection for children, viewing them as burdensome and delicate beings. However, whether it was his marriage or a newfound sympathy for Adalia's predicament, he found himself compelled to assist her.
William nodded in affirmation, responding with a simple, "Yes."
As William departed to retrieve the car, Fiorello rose from his seat, guiding Adalia towards the exit. Benjamin watched their retreating figures, murmuring to himself, "To an unknowing eye, it would appear as though he's escorting his own daughter."
Benjamin had only heard rumors of Fiorello's visit and had decided to verify them himself.
Half an hour later, Fiorello had Adalia in the hospital for her check-up. Following a series of tests, it was revealed that she was severely malnourished and anemic.
Fiorello's brow furrowed as he perused the test results, his gaze settling on the silent Adalia. A surge of anger welled up within him, directed towards Adalia's foster parents.
While he couldn't definitively ascertain whether Adalia was adopted, her treatment suggested she wasn't their biological child. No parents would subject their own flesh and blood to such conditions.
In this modern era, it was horrifying to think that a child could be allowed to suffer from severe malnutrition and anemia.
"Uncle Fiorello," Adalia's voice broke through his thoughts. Sensing his anger, she timidly reached out to grasp his hand.
Fiorello gently enveloped Adalia's tiny hand in his own, assuring her, "I'll take you back."
At the mention of returning, Adalia's head shook vehemently, her eyes wide with fear, her resistance palpable.
In the absence of Alan, her home became a place of dread, for Susan would harm her.
"Uncle Fiorello, please don't take me back. Mommy will hurt me. It hurts, it really hurts," Adalia confessed, unable to suppress her fear any longer.
In Adalia's mind, Susan was her biological mother. She couldn't comprehend why her mother showered affection only on her younger brother and not her.
'I've been obedient, but why doesn't mommy love me?' she wondered.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
