Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Regardless of the director and Jasper beside her, Esther hurried to the girl and crouched slowly. She was so nervous that her voice was shaking. “Why… Why are you crying?” Esther saw the girl’s teary eyes right away. Her heart clenched, and she wanted nothing more than to hug her and coax her into smiling. The girl had her guard up and ignored Esther. She scurried to Camila like a nimble little bunny and hugged her hand as she called her softly. “Mama Madam.” Camila put an arm around the girl’s shoulder and asked gently, “Tinkerbell, why are you crying?” “I miss my sister…” Tinkerbell felt like crying again once she thought of her sister, Pixie. Camila patted her softly and told her, “Don’t cry. Your sister’s having a good time now.” “Mama Madam, can I go see her in the future?” asked Tinkerbell.

Camila comforted her. “Sure. Maybe you’ll be living with her not too long later?” “Really?” Tinkerbell was delighted. Camila nodded and wiped Tinkerbell’s tears, saying with a smile, “Of course. When have I lied to you?” “You never lie to us,” Tinkerbell said and hid back behind Camila timidly after she turned to look at Esther and Jasper, who stood at the side. Camila noticed her reaction and told her, “Tinkerbell, read some books first. I have things to talk to them about.” Tinkerbell waved at Camila understandingly and said cutely, “Bye-bye, Mama Madam.” She picked out a book and went to read it in a corner obediently. Only then did Camila take the uncontrollably emotional Esther to a side and tell her, “Tinkerbell and Pixie are twins. Pixie was adopted just a few hours ago.” “Only Pixie?” Esther asked in shock. “Yes.” Camila looked at her and explained, “They’ve only adopted Pixie because Tinkerbell’s ill. You both know how much it costs to raise a child nowadays. What’s more, Tinkerbell’s a sick child…” Esther, who had always been well-mannered, couldn’t care less and asked nervously, “What does she have?” “Acute leukemia.” Camila explained patiently, “They wanted to adopt both of them, but they only adopted Pixie when they found out that Tinkerbell has acute leukemia. Acute leukemia requires a bone marrow transplant. We’ve registered with the National Bone Marrow Bank and will go on with the transplant surgery once there’s a bone marrow that matches Tinkerbell.” Never in Esther’s mind had she expected to receive such bad news just as she found Tinkerbell. “I’m her birth mother. My bone marrow might work.” Jasper, who stood on the side, expressed his initiative as well. “I can go for the test too.” “It’s best if you’re willing to test if you match.” Camila took a long look at Esther and said, “Ms. Quill, you can spend half an hour with Tinkerbell, but I don’t recommend telling her you’re her birth mother before the maternity test result is out. The children here are sensitive. I don’t want you to give her hope and let her down.” Esther’s eyes were filled with tears. “Okay.” Jasper looked at Esther and said gently, “Esther, go spend some time with Tinkerbell. I’ll ask Madam Jenner about the family who adopted Pixie.” “Thanks, Jasper.” After Camila and Jasper left, Esther went to Tinkerbell.

Perhaps because Esther had come with Camila, Tinkerbell no longer hid from her when she saw Esther sit down next to her. She blinked and asked, “Ma’am, are you here to pick a child too?” Esther had a lump in her throat upon hearing the genuine question. “Ma’am, pick other kids as your child.

Don’t choose me.” Tinkerbell was around four years old. She was adorable and good with words.

“Because I’m sick.” Tinkerbell’s voice was soft and cute. “I hear Mama Madam say that my sickness needs a lot, a lot, and a lot of money…” Tinkerbell’s sensible opinion broke the dam in Esther, and her tears fell. Tinkerbell pulled out her own handkerchief and softly wiped her tears for her. “Does it hurt?”

Tinkerbell shook her head and said bravely, “Nope. I’m super brave.” Esther could not help but pull Tinkerbell into her arms. “Tinkerbell, you’re so brave!” How could she not know that her daughter had suffered so much? How could Bradley be so cruel that he had bought the doctor and made up such a lie? He had made her daughters lose their mother just as they were born! He had made their daughters lose their carefree childhood at their young age! Did he know that they were his daughters!? Tinkerbell heard Esther’s restrained sobs and patted her back. “Ma’am, are you feeling sick?” Esther let go of the girl and held her face, sobbing. “My heart hurts.” Her heart felt like a thousand arrows had pierced through it. Bradley could come at her for any grudge and resentment he had. Why… Why did he not let go of such little children? “Ma’am, let’s read together.” Tinkerbell pushed the storybook in her hands in front of Esther. “This is my favorite book.” Esther sat on the small chair and read Tinkerbell’s favorite book with her. The book was about a brave girl catching a star after going through many challenges.

Rather than Esther reading with Tinkerbell, it was more like Tinkerbell was keeping Esther company while she read. Tinkerbell talked about the book seriously, and her bright eyes looked like the whole universe was in them. Esther was comforted by the fact that Tinkerbell had grown up so well and behaved despite her not being around. However, her heart ached that the little girl had to be in pain from the illness at this young age. Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye. Tinkerbell kept the book on the book rack and approached Esther to remind her softly, “Ma’am, remember, don’t pick me.”