Chapter 6: Adoption

"Auntie, can you please tell me about her first?" Lomesa urged the director of the orphanage while blinking her eyes cutely while hugging her arm in a coquettish manner. Seeing this, how could Mrs Anastasia bear to let her down? she sighed helplessly and began her narration.

"At that time, we had just come from the mall to buy the necessities for the children in the orphanage when we heard a commotion on the other side of the road so we decided to go and find out what was happening. When we reached the place, we found out that it was a dumpsite and people were pointing at a bundle in the dumpsite. It turned out to be a new born that had been discarded off by its mother. At that time, it wasn't even crying so people assumed that it was dead. However, I decided to go and check if it was really dead. Fortunately, it was just unconscious, from the cold and the bumping it suffered when it was thrown away. Since no one wanted it, I picked it up and went with it to the orphanage and treated it till it grew up. That's also the moment i named her Valeria after finding out the gender." Mrs Anastasia summarised the story of Valeria who was now three years old.

Listening to it, Ariel felt pity for her. She couldn't help but curse the parents in her heart.How could they bear the thought of throwing their own kid away? How heartless could they be? Even a tiger wouldn't eat its cubs.

"Auntie, is there a procedure for adoption ?" Lomesa asked after pondering for a while.

"You mean?" Mrs Anastasia asked in shock

Lomesa just nodded nonchalantly. She began reading the procedures, fortunately, she always walked around with her documents so it didn't prove to be hard.

"However, I must remind you of some things first." Mrs Anastasia suddenly said seriously while looking at Lomesa.

"Sure. What is it?" Lomesa asked amiably.

"That kid, from the shock of being thrown ,she became autistic, she's trying but she still is abnormal to other people thus her introverted nature. She also has chronic pneumonia as she was thrown away when it was snowing in winter. It wad actually just a miracle that she survived to see the next day."Mrs Anastasia said solemnly.

"Alright don't worry. " Lomesa agreed outrightly and assured Mrs Anastasia. After all, Lomesa wouldn't let her people suffer or die while she was watching. Since she chose to be her guardian, she naturally had to make sure that the kid was okay and comfortable. Moreover, she liked the kid the moment she saw her, the more reason she would do everything she could to make sure she was well brought up and healthy too.

"Then Auntie, can you take me to where she is?" Lomesa glanced at the phone in her hand and saw that it was time to go back, after all, they had chatted for a long time that they almost lost count of the time. Lomesa had school to attend the following day, so she had to go back.

"Sure." Mrs Anastasia said while leading the way. They walked through the corridors until they reached the kid's room and knocked on the door.

The person who opened the door wasn't Valeria but a slightly chubby gir that looked to be about eight years old in age.

"Auntie, welcome." The girl said and moved to the side to allow the two visitors to enter.When they arrived, they saw that the girl was sound asleep. However, Lomesa was determined to leave with her today since she wasn't sure the day she would visit the orphanage once again. When Mrs Anastavia saw the sleeping girl, she went over and shook her gently while calling her name. When the girl heard someone calling her name, she frowned first before she opened her eyes.

"Auntie?" The little girl asked groggily in confusion.

"Yes it's me." Mrs Anastasia pinched her cheek gently and said. By now, the little girl had already woken up fully when she heard that Auntie had come. However, she froze when she saw Lomesa. Wasn't she the girl that rescued her today from the bullies?

"Little girl, remember me?" Lomesa flashed Valeria a smile and asked.

Valeria nodded her head since she didn't like talking.

"I've come to take you home with me?" Lomesa said again.

Home? When the kid heard the term, her eyes lit up. However, her gaze dimmed the next moment as she looked at Mrs Anastasia in askance. Seeing this, Mrs Anastasia took her time in explaining.

"She's cone to take home. You will be living with her at her place. She will be your big sister from now on, listen to her and don't misbehave, okay?" Mrs Anastasia soul advised Valeria.

Valeria nodded obediently, which was the same as saying that she would be obedient to Lomesa.

"Okay, come let's go." Lomesa extended her hand and beckoned Valeria to go over to where she was.

Valeria put on her boots and a baby pink jacket . She wore a pair of blue demin shorts and a white singlet. She looked so adorable, just like a barbie doll. She looked at her wardrobe and then at Lomesa, her question was obvious.

"You don't need to come with anything." Lomesa answered her patiently.

Hearing that, the little girl stopped worrying and went over and stood next to Lomesa. The chubby gir who heard that Valeria was going to be adopted, was so mad that she wished she could swallow her alive. If valeria left, who would be fetching food for her from the cafeteria? what about washing her socks? Who would be her punching bag if Valeria left? She wanted to protest about it openly but she feared that her dirty linen would be exposed to the public suppose she caused a ruckus. She could only viciously glare at Valeria secretly. Valeria, who was glared at, immediately flinched and shrank back to Lomesa's side. Lomesa naturally saw the changes and the little movements the girl made. She immediately held her hand, to stop her from being restless and to assure her that she was safe.

Ariel then turned back to the chubby girl and squinted. She seemed to realize something. This chubby girl also bullied Valeria, this little girl? Judging from the girl's fearful expression, Lomesa was very sure of her guess. She only felt bitterness in her heart. Why did this little gir have to undergo such torture at her young age? Wouldn't she be traumatised for life because of it? Lomesa planned on asking the girl of she would Nedd a psychologist once they reached her place.

"Alright, let's go Auntie. " Lomesa snapped out of her reverie and said to Mrs Anastasia.

This, they walked out. Lomesa was still holding the little girl's hand when they got out of the room. They didn't even bother to say goodbye to the chubby girl who had opened the door for them earlier. Who would entertain someone that liked a bully kids? Absolutely no one!

When they reached the gate, Lomesa turned and said to Mrs Anastasia.

"Auntie, when I get time one of these fine days, I will visit your International lab research , alright? I've not forgotten about it." Lomesa told Mrs Anastasia.

"It's good that you haven't forgotten. Alright, you guys should go, it's getting late." Mrs Anastasia waved her hand and urged them. They waved goodbye at her and left through the gates after bidding their farewell to the uncle at the gate.

Mrs Anastasia squinted as she watched Lomesa's back. Why did she have a feeling that this girl had changed? or was she thinking too much? Forget it, maybe it was because she was becoming old that she began overthinking things? Mrs Anastasia didn't think much about it and went back to her office.

On the other side, the Cab that Lomesa had called arrived. Lomesa carried Valeria into the car first and then followed by boarding. She then helped the little girl faster her seat belt. The atmosphere in the car was silent but comfortable, unknowingly, the little girl fell asleep on Lomesa's shoulders. After all, she was a kid and kids tended to sleep most of the time so it wasn't abnormal to see her sleep at such a time.

Lomesa glanced at the kid and frowned. She had so many marks on her neck, was she bullied to the extent of getting strangled? Lomesa felt extremely stifled just thinking about it. How many marks were on her whole body? she chose to take a look at Valeria when they arrived at her place. While watching the girl sleep, Lomesa ordered clothes according to her the kid's size. She ordered alot of them. She was sure they would be delivered the moment she arrived at her place. While Lomesa was busy scrollingbthrigh her phone and ordering, the cab she was in suddenly came to a screeching halt. Where it not for the seat belts that they had on, they would have been thrown forward due to impact.

"What's wrong?" Lomesa frowned and asked sharply, but she made sure not to wake the sleeping kid up.

"I'm sorry miss, there seems to be people blocking our cab. I'll go and take a look." the cab driver said and got out of the car. He wanted to know what the guys really wanted.