Chapter 771 Come With Me
“Were you following me, little girl?” Natalie asked.
“I like you. You’ve been good to me.” The little girl bit her lip. “I wanted to see you again.”
Some children within the orphanage were unassuming schemers. In order to guarantee their adoption, they pretended to be well-behaved. However, Natalie could tell that the child standing before her was sincere and genuine.
Upon Natalie’s unexpected appearance, the little girl became flustered as she did not intend to be seen.
Natalie found it hard to explain the desire to protect that girl. “Would you like to come home with me?”
The little girl was surprised. “Really?”
Natalie stroked her braid. “Yes, I mean that. Would you like to?”
The little girl nodded vigorously. “I would love to.”
“I’ll go through the formalities with the director then. With any luck, you’ll be coming home with me by evening.” Natalie clutched the little girl’s hand in hers. “I will be your Mommy from today onwards. I promise to protect you and care for you.”
The little girl could not speak. Tears of gratitude welled up in her eyes.
Diane saw Natalie holding the little girl’s hand when she emerged from the theater with a bouquet of flowers in her hand.
“Who is this child, Natalie?”
“I’m attached to this child, Lady Diane,” Natalie explained with a smile, “and I plan to adopt her.”
Diane leaned forward to examine the girl. Being a frequent patron of the orphanage, she was familiar with who amongst the children were schemers. After a while, she was sure that the little girl was not one of them.
“She’s a sweet girl.” Diane patted the girl’s head in approval as she looked up at Natalie. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Natalie, but you need to hear this. I hope that you have thought it through instead of rushing impulsively into this adoption.”
Natalie did not take offense. Instead, she nodded firmly. “I’ve given it much thought.”
A smile spread across Diane’s lips. “That’s good.”
The director had the adoption procedures arranged at once when he heard of Natalie’s intention in adopting the little girl.
Diane kept the little girl company while Natalie made the final confirmations with the director in his office.
Natalie was busy perusing the document she was about to sign as the director sighed. “This child is a little withdrawn as she barely speaks to anybody. Have you considered the extra effort on your part to draw her out of her shell?”
“I assure you that she is quite capable,” Natalie said lightly after glancing up from her document. “And she is most definitely not withdrawn.”
The director was visibly incredulous before he composed himself. “She can talk? But she has never even- You know what, Mrs. Bowers? I’m sure that you two are destined to meet. I believe that you are just what she needs.”
After Natalie signed her name for the last time, the procedure was successfully completed without a hitch.
Natalie opened the door and had Diane bring the little girl in.
Diane looked at her companion reluctantly. “I’m sorry, Natalie, but I’m afraid I have to go. Loang has been very chaotic recently with riots in some places. There are matters that need my attention.”
“You are one of the women I admire from the bottom of my heart,” Natalie said solemnly. “If you need the money, Dream will support you.”
“I’ll be sure to ask if I ever need it.”
Natalie left with the little girl after saying goodbye to Diane.
“The director told me that he doesn’t know your name as you’ve never spoken in front of him.” Natalie gazed down to meet her ward’s eyes. “Can you tell me what your name is?”
The little girl . “My name is Yumi.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Yumi.” Natalie smiled and shook her tiny hand. “My name is Natalie.”
