Chapter 142 Adopting Adalia
Susan had always wanted to get rid of Adalia. Their financial situation was middling at best, and the addition of another mouth to feed only served to exacerbate their predicament. This discomfort was a constant presence in Susan's life.
She was no saint, just an ordinary woman.
When Adalia was born, she had asked Alan to send Adalia back to the orphanage. However, the institution had ceased accepting new wards.
Adoption was a process bound by rules in those days.
As Adalia's legal guardians, Susan and Alan were prohibited from simply discarding her. Such an act would be deemed abandonment, a crime in the eyes of the law.
Susan had, on multiple occasions, deliberately taken Adalia to bustling train stations with the intention of leaving her behind. Each time, however, Alan had discovered them and returned Adalia to their home.
Susan's frustration was palpable. Each year, countless children were snatched away, yet no one seemed interested in taking Adalia.
Fiorello cast a stern glance at Susan before turning to Adalia with a gentle inquiry, "Would you like to come home with me?"
Adalia remained silent, her eyes brimming with unshed tears as she looked towards Susan.
She still didn't understand why her mother didn't love her.
Susan returned Adalia's gaze with a glare of her own, spitting out, "You useless child, go with him and never come back."
Adalia recoiled, her body trembling, tears welling in her eyes. She shyly averted her gaze from Susan and sought refuge in Fiorello's arms.
At that moment, Susan's son began to wail. Susan promptly turned her attention away from Adalia, addressing Fiorello with a sarcastic remark, "Take her away quickly. You seem to enjoy interfering in others' affairs. Raise her, educate her, then I might actually respect you."
In Susan's mind, raising another's child was the epitome of foolishness.
Had she not been barren, and had the augur not prophesied that she would only conceive after adopting a child, she would never have brought such a worthless child into her home.
Susan retreated to her room to tend to her son, displaying complete indifference towards Adalia's fate.
This was Fiorello's first encounter with a woman so devoid of maternal warmth. He scooped up Adalia, offering, "Come home with me."
Fiorello wasn't certain if he would have intervened had it been any other child. But with Adalia, he found himself unable to look the other way.
Once home, Fiorello wiped away Adalia's tears and examined her for injuries.
Adalia's body was marred with red welts from a mop's harsh blows, some areas swollen and tender.
Fiorello's brow furrowed as he retrieved a first aid kit and began treating Adalia's wounds.
Despite her tender age, Adalia was not as delicate as other children her age. She bore the pain of Fiorello's ministrations stoically.
Yet, the more Adalia endured, the more Fiorello's heart ached for her.
Upon returning home after tending to her own wounds, Maggie was surprised to find Adalia still there. She asked Fiorello, "Didn't you say you would take Adalia back to her home?"
Fiorello fetched some fruit from the kitchen for Adalia, explaining, "Adalia was beaten again, so I brought her back."
Maggie set down her bag with a nervous air, examining the marks on Adalia's body before addressing Fiorello, "Did Susan do this?"
She couldn't fathom how Susan could be so heartless, almost murderous, towards such a young child.
"Yes," Fiorello confirmed, sinking into the couch, "Maggie, what do you think about letting Adalia stay with us for a few days?"
"Of course," Maggie enveloped Adalia in a warm embrace, "I really hope Adalia can live here permanently."
Maggie was a woman of great compassion. Had she been unaware of Adalia's circumstances, she might not have given it much thought. But knowing the abuse Adalia suffered at Susan's hands, and the community's inability to intervene, she felt a deep sympathy for the child and a desire to help.
Fiorello nodded in agreement. "It's getting late, Maggie. You should take Adalia to bed."
Children needed ample sleep for their growth.
Adalia was a girl, and it wouldn't be appropriate for Fiorello to accompany her to bed.
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