Chapter 5

Chapter 5

In the deafeningly silent room, Laura wiped the tears on her face and gathered her strength to smile again, saying,,“I can take care of myself. I can cook pasta.”

After speaking, she hopped off Angie’s lap and bowed to her, saying, “Thank you, Madam! I’ll be going home now!”

“Wait!” Angie instinctively called out to her, “You’ve forgotten your snacks!”

The minute she uttered those words, she felt like banging her head against the wall in frustration.

“That’s not the point!” thought Angie.

Hearing that, Laura looked at the snacks seriously, and with caution, she picked out the smallest. lollipop. She said in an ingratiating tone, “Madam, I’ll only take this. Mommy told me these things are expensive and she’ll have to sleep on the streets after buying them. Thank you so much. Please keep the rest.”

Then, she bowed to Angie, saying, “I’m going home to wait for Mommy.”

Laura turned around and was taken aback to see a group of people at the entrance of the police. station, appearing out of nowhere.

They wore formal suits and looked like those powerful adults she saw in television dramas.

Laura looked up and met a man’s sharp gaze.

With one hand casually in his pocket, he exuded an undeniable air of authority as he gazed coldly at her in silence.

The atmosphere suddenly became so tense.

The onlookers couldn’t help but swallow nervously as they watched the father and daughter

reunite.

Laura widened her eyes in astonishment as she gazed at Antonio’s features. Suddenly, tears began. forming in her eyes, and she took small steps toward him. She continued to look up at him before glancing at the three young men behind him.

Antonio had mixed feelings.

His daughter was in front of him right now.

Surprisingly, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with this young girl, possibly because she was his blood relative.

Yet, as this sensation intensified, his countenance grew increasingly grave, and he remained silent.

Chapter 5

The stiff atmosphere continued until Laura held up the bag of dried pasta timidly. This is for you,

Sir.”

Antonio was stunned. Looking at the unfamiliar and obviously cheap food, he furrowed his brows and asked, “What is this?”

“Pasta. The little girl smiled brightly as tears trickled down her face. “It’s delicious!”

She recognized her dad, for he looked exactly like her.

Regrettably, she also recalled Lilian’s words about how her dad would dislike her the moment he saw her.

However, Laura still yearned to be near her father, even if it was just for a single moment.

Laura mustered her courage and stuffed the dried pasta in Antonio’s hand. She gently pinched his fingertips with her dainty hands and looked up at him with admiration, saying, “Sir, your hands are huge.”

“Just like the other children’s daddies. I’ve finally held my daddy’s hand,‘ she secretly added in her

heart.

Satisfied, Laura took a step back and bowed to them. “Goodbye, Misters. Goodbye, Sir.”

After speaking, she toddled away on her tiny legs, her departing figure exuding an air of premature innocence and vulnerability.

Antonio couldn’t help but feel a trace of compassion for her. “Laura Yale.”

Laura turned around and saw the man standing at the door with an air of elegance, his expression icy. “I suspect you are my daughter. Come with me for a paternity test. If you are…”

His gaze grew somber, and in the presence of everyone’s attention, he said in a low voice, “I will take care of you.”

Laura’s eyes widened in astonishment, tears instantly streaming down her face. She remained speechless for a long time.

“Mommy, you might not know this. After you turn into Queen Giselle, Daddy came to meet me. He’s really handsome, just like a prince. He came to take me with him. Would you be happy for me?” Laura thought..

Following Antonio, Laura approached a stylish black car with a dazzling exterior.

Laura pursed her lips timidly.

Antonio got into the car first, followed by the three young men. The car felt a bit cramped with everyone inside.

After considerable hesitation, she finally lowered her gaze to her dirt–stained dress and shoes,

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Chapter 5

which bore the marks of accumulated dirt from being unwashed.

This was the first time she felt self–conscious about being dirty.

Hesitating, Laura stood by the car door and remained silent.

Antonio gradually lost his patience. “Get in.”

His annoyed tone caused her to shudder, and she looked down, tugging at her dress and saying hesitantly, “I’m dirty…”

The three boys looked at her in astonishment as she lowered her head even more.

Jasper sneered and said sarcastically, “Why don’t you stay in the trunk then? It’s the perfect place for

you.

Hearing this, Laura looked at the trunk with a hint of interest and said, “Well, that works too.”

Jasper was rendered speechless.

Chapter 6

He thought to himself, “Sure? What does that even mean?”

He got angry. “Don’t try to act pitiful in front of us. You think we can’t see through it?!”

Laura trembled, not understanding why he suddenly got angry. Her eyes turned red, and she shook her head helplessly. “I–I didn’t mean to. My mom says I’m dirty, and she doesn’t let me sleep on the bed. She says I’ll dirty her bed. I didn’t mean anything else. Mister, please don’t be angry.”

All four of them were taken aback.

Antonio’s expression turned even uglier. “Your mom doesn’t let you sleep on the bed?”

Laura nodded in fear.

He suddenly felt very angry.

Lilian took his money, didn’t have an abortion, gave birth to his child, and she was mistreating the

child?

Why did she have to give birth and cause trouble for him if she didn’t like the child?

His tone became lower. “Get in here! Don’t let me say it a second time!”

Laura hesitated for a moment and then hurriedly climbed into the car. Her steps were awkward and difficult, and she cautiously sat down on the seat.

Once she sat down, a sour stench filled the air.

Jasper wrinkled his nose in disgust. “Ms. Yale, don’t you take a bath? You smell terrible!”

Laura trembled, her voice tinged with self–doubt. “There’s no hot water at home. I can only wash my face.”

Her mom didn’t care about her.

She only knew how to wash her face and hands.

Jasper sneered, “A person like you shouldn’t even be alive! Your mom isn’t a good person, and neither are you!”

The other two boys also smirked.

Laura felt a pang of sadness, but she was used to it. She clutched her dress nervously and didn’t dare to speak, stealing glances at them.

Antonio, annoyed, picked up his phone. He felt her eyes on him, and he cast a cold glance her way.

Laura trembled under his gaze and quickly lowered her head, feeling like an unwanted little puppy.

gaze

Chapter 6

His frustration grew.

Once they reached the hospital, the blood test was done swiftly. He didn’t want to continue being with her, so he sent her directly to the orphanage where she had stayed before.

“When the results come out, I’ll find you.”

Laura felt anxious, looking up at the tall man.

Her intuition told her that her dad didn’t like her.

Just like what her mom said, he would only dislike her, not like her, when he saw her.

Jasper looked even more annoyed with his arms crossed. He glanced down at her and said coldly, “Laura, don’t get too proud now. Don’t go around saying he’s your dad just because you think he is. The results aren’t out yet. Got it?”

Laura obediently nodded. “Got it.“,

She complied so easily that all four of them exchanged glances.

Did she have some tricks up her sleeve?

But Antonio was too fed up to bother with her. He turned and got back into the car.

Laura stood there in the fading light and suddenly spoke up. “Mr. Smith!”

All four of them turned to look at her. Their delicate features had an air of aloofness and coldness.

She stood under the dim street lamp, looking similar to them, but her worn dress was incompatible with their attire.

Between sophistication and destitution, an invisible chasm lay.

She gazed at him hopefully. “If I’m not your daughter, will I ever see you again? I want to give you a gift; is that okay?”

Antonio looked at her pleading eyes, didn’t say anything, and got into the car.

The paternity test would take seven days.

During those seven days, Laura’s situation garnered widespread attention. Many childless couples online wanted to adopt her. The buzz surrounding her only grew stronger.

But the orphanage indicated that given Laura’s relationship with her potential father; they needed to wait for the results of the paternity test to determine whether or not she could be up for adoption.

Yet, she believed that the man was her dad.