Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Antonio lifted his head with a gloomy expression just as Jasper got out of the car and hurried toward Laura.

Along the road–lined with sycamore trees, Laura ran while crying and wiping her tears, but suddenly tripped and fell to the ground.

Jasper’s breath caught, and he rushed to her side. He was about to help her up, but Laura had. already gotten up on her own.

Her hands and knees were scraped and bloody in an instant.

But she didn’t cry out in pain. Standing on tiptoe and blinking back tears, she handed the greeting card to him with trembling hands. “Mister, this is my gift for you.”

The other brothers and Antonio got out of the car, looking at her with mixed emotions.

Sniffling, Laura pointed to the flowers on the pink card. “This is a ribbon bow, and this is a little. star. It’s a beautiful card that I got for doing work for Ms. Mitchell. Isn’t it pretty?”

No, it wasn’t beautiful. In fact, it was quite tacky.

This was the worst gift Jasper had ever received in his life.

He didn’t know what to say, but she earnestly urged, “Open it, Mister”

Jasper opened the card, and what he saw made him pause.

It was a drawing.

The drawing depicted a blue sky, white clouds, and four people standing in order of height.

Antonio and the other two sons walked over, listening intently as Laura softly introduced, “This is Mr. Smith, this is Big Mister, Second Mister, and Third Mister.”

She pointed to the little dog on the ground. “This is the dog that protects all of you.”

“I even drew crowns for you!”

Laura was beaming. “Mr. Smith, you’re the king, and you boys are the princes!”

Her wound was still bleeding, yet her smile remained radiant. “It’s just that the space is too small, and there’s no space to draw a castle.”

Antonio’s heart held a whirlwind of emotions, and there was a heavy stone weighing on his chest. “Laura, you’re not my daughter. Aren’t you sad?”

“No.” Laura smiled, shaking her head. Her beautiful eyes gazed at him eagerly. “I know that my

Chapter 9

daddy won’t come, but Mr. Smith, you came. I’m happy. It’s just that we’re not fated for each other. I’m not your daughter, and I’ve wasted your time.”

Antonio inexplicably felt a pang

in his heart. “Do you really understand fates

“Yep!” Laura nodded. “Ms. Mitchell said that as long as there’s fate, our new mommy and daddy will come. So we just have to wait for our new mommy and daddy to come. They’re on their way!”

Just then, Grace stormed out of the orphanage, her anger evident. “Laura! Who allowed you to leave? Aren’t you afraid of getting hit by a car?”

Only then did Grace notice the Smith family.

Antonio’s face turned dark in an instant. “How dare you scold–her?”

Grace was taken aback and didn’t know how to respond. Laura quickly spoke up. “Don’t blame Ms. Mitchell! Ms. Mitchell gave me the card!”

With that, she limped over to Grace, “Ms. Mitchell, let’s back.”

Grace turned pale with fright and held onto Laura, not daring to look back.

Laura waved to them. “Goodbye, Mr. Smith! Goodbye, Misters!”

She smiled brightly, but as she turned her head, her face fell, and she bit her lip to hold back her

tears..

Frowning, Grace asked, “Why are you crying?”

Laura didn’t respond, allowing herself to be led away by Grace.

Almost involuntarily, Antonio followed.

Just as they were about to step into the orphanage, the other kids swarmed around Laura and ran

circles around Grace.

“Laura doesn’t have a daddy anymore! She doesn’t have a daddy anymore!”

Laura’s lips trembled. Unable to hold back any longer, she broke into loud sobs.

Grace looked helpless. “Does your wound hurt a lot?”

Laura shook her head, crying out, “Mr. Smith isn’t my daddy! I’ll never have a daddy again!”