Chapter 426

Pixie continued to ignore Esther, her gaze wary as she looked at her.

Esther pretended to ease the tension by patting her clothes and joking, “Pixie, Mommy is not a bad person.”

“You’re not my mommy!” Pixie’s gaze turned fierce. “You’re a bad person.”

Esther was momentarily taken aback. She chuckled awkwardly and said, “Pixie, how about we have some water? Or juice? Milk? Anything you want.”

“I don’t want any!” Pixie was tightly wrapped in her blanket, and her chubby face was red from the warmth, with hair stuck to it. She resembled a red apple hanging on a tree branch.

“You’re a bad person! Go away!”

Accompanied by bodyguards, the psychologist walked into the room. First, the psychologist looked at Pixie and then at Esther. Speaking softly, the psychologist said, “Hi, Pixie. I’m a doctor. Can we have a chat?”

“Doctor, call the police! She’s a bad person!” Pixie said.

The doctor and Esther exchanged a look. Esther understood and left the room, her steps heavy. Pixie’s response had surprised Esther. Suddenly, she grasped why Pixie had reacted this way.

From Pixie’s view, she had been with her adoptive parents before falling unconscious. Waking up to a stranger must have been scary. It was a natural reaction.

If Pixie were younger and didn’t recall much, Esther might help her forget the couple. But Pixie had grown up and knew of the couple now. If Esther said they had adopted her for her kidneys, would she believe it?

She was so young. Could she understand such complex things?

Esther sat on a bench outside the room, grabbing her hair in pain.

At the same time, Alice called. “Ms. Quill, I heard that Pixie has woken up?”

Esther’s voice was hoarse as she replied, “Yes.”

“Someone reported our program,” Alice briefly told Esther. “The organ trafficking case is complex.

There’s an issue. They’re saying the children donated their organs willingly.”

Esther asked back in shock, “They’re only children. What do they know?”

“Ms. Quill, although they’re children, they have legal guardians. These parents legally adopted them through proper procedures. Moreover, based on our investigation, these parents all claim that they initially didn’t know about their adopted children’s organs matching with their own children’s…”

Esther sarcastically retorted, “Alice, you’re a reporter. Do you actually believe that?”

“Ms. Quill, I’m a reporter, not a judge,” Alice reminded Esther. “This case got a lot of attention, but one thing is clear. According to the law, if Pixie isn’t your biological daughter, you can’t legally take her away as a single woman.”

“Why?” Esther’s voice was heavy with suppressed anger. “Should Pixie go back to her adoptive parents?”

“Legally, Pixie’s adoptive parents are her legal guardians.”

That’s all Alice said. Esther held the phone, feeling lost and confused as the call ended.

At that moment, the psychologist emerged, having soothed Pixie’s distress. Esther got up and asked with worry, “Doctor, can I…”

“She’s feeling a lot better now, but she mentioned wanting to meet her adoptive parents. It’s best if you don’t meet her right now. Seeing you might upset her feelings.” The psychologist stopped briefly, then said, “Considering Pixie’s emotional condition, I’ll reach out to her legal guardians.”