Chapter 17
Extelle looked at the little boy and asked tentatively, “Do you want me to take you to the hospital?”
The boy hesitated for a few seconds, then gave a small nod.
She followed up, “should we call your parents first?”
This time, the boy shook his head firmly without even thinking about it. The resistance in his reaction was
Estelle frowned slightly. Could it be that this child was being mistreated at home? Was that why he didn’t want to contact his family?
It would be a good idea to take him to the hospital first. If she found any serious injuries, she’d call the police immediately. With that thought, she softened her
“Alright,” she said gently. “Let me tell my friend first, and then I’ll take you to the hospital.”
As she spoke, she reached out and took his hand. His small palm was cold, reminding her of how Tobias used to be when his health was weak
The doctors had said that his condition had been present since birth. It was something that couldn’t be fixed overnight and required long–term care. Back then, watching Tobias suffer had been agonizing. She had felt helpless, guilty, and desperate to take his pain away.
But she couldn’t. So, she did the only thing she could. She learned alternative medicine, studied acupuncture and massage therapy, spent hours making medicinal meals, carefully crafted his diet plan.
Perhaps it was just a mother’s instinct.
(Seeing such a young child hit her soft spot even if she was disappointed in Tobias.
The little boy stiffened slightly when Estelle held his hand. Her touch was soft and warm, a kind of warmth he wasn’t used to. He instinctively tightened his grip around her fingers and followed her without a word.
Estelle glanced down at him, surprised that he wasn’t resisting. She smiled at him gently.
the boy immediatel
gently. For some reason, the
She didn’t think much of it and simply led him back to Zara’s private roomni
Zara had finished singing and was taking a break, sipping on wine. When she saw Estelle retum, she waved her over.
“Essie, you’re back! Come on, let’s have a drink.. Wait a minute. Is that Tobias?”
immediately lowered his head.
The lighting near the doorway was dim, and Zara could only make out a small child standing beside Estelle. She hadn’t gotten a clear look at his face and assumed it
“No,” Estelle corrected. “I accidentally bumped into him in the hallway. He doesn’t seem to be feeling well, so I’m taking him to the hospital to get checked ”
As the boy stepped into the brighter light, Zara finally got a good look at him. “Whoa! This kid is gorgeous! His looks are almost on par with Tobias!” Zara quickly stepped forward, reaching out to pinch, the boy’s check
But before she could, the little boy turned his face away with an icy expression and dated behind Estelle. He was clearly unwilling to be touched
Zara blinked in surprise, then burst into laughter. “Well, isn’t he an interesting one?”
Estelle chuckled “Let it go, Zara. He probably doesn’t like people touching him.
Zara sizrugged, deciding not to force the loy
“But what about his patents? Are you sure it’s okay to take him? We don’t want anyone thunbung; war’ne
Jut we’re badnapping him or something.”
Estelle tuned back to the large boy. “Sweetheart, air you absolutely sure you don’t want me to call your family__
Before she could trush her sentence, the boy suddenly tightened his gupon her hand. His little fingers clutched lets so tightly that she felt a sting of pain. “No1i don’t want thein to know!”
Estelle exclunged a glance with Zara.
Zara sighed “Alright. Let’s just take him to the hospital first.”
The two brought the boy to the hospital for an examination. The hospital examination didn’t reveal anything unusual. There were no injuries and no signs of abuse Estelle felt relieved, but at the same time, a new question surfaced in her mind it he wasn’t being mistreated, why didn’t he want to contact his family?
Just as the thought crossed her mind, the sound of buried footsteps eclued through the hospital comidor. The next moment, the door to the hospital ward swung open with torre. A tall, imposing figure strode inside
