Anna clenched her fist and felt as if she couldn’t breathe.
“When are you going to leave?” Wayne asked, pulling Anna’s wandering mind back.
Anna was at a loss for words. She hadn’t thought much about when she would leave, but Wayne seemed to have assumed she would. Then she said, “I found a girl on the island, and I want to adopt her. Maybe I’ll leave once the adoption process is completed.”
Wayne nodded thoughtfully. “Just call Karl if you need any help,” he said calmly after a brief pause. He looked convinced Anna would leave soon.
Anna was trembling and forgot what she was going to say. She knew she couldn’t stay in the hospital any longer, so she left.
It wasn’t until she stood at the gate of the hospital that she recalled that she simply came here to visit Wayne. Also, she was hesitant about whether to tell Wayne she was pregnant before arriving at the hospital. However, the moment Wayne asked her when she would leave, she was so shocked that she completely forgot what she was going to talk to him about.
In the evening, Henry drove Matthew to Jasper’s house. On the way, he said to Anna, “Miss Gabriel, thank you for looking after Matthew.”
Anna felt guilty as she looked at Henry’s sad expression. She asked, “What did Grandpa say, Henry? Is he really willing to let me take Matthew away? Matthew is his only great-grandson. And he puts all of his hopes for the company’s future on Matthew.”
Henry sighed and explained, “Of course he disagreed. He had a big fight with Wayne, so he still refuses to go to the hospital to see him.”
Hearing his words, Anna felt even worse about herself.
Henry paused for a few seconds before saying hesitantly, “Wayne told me that he was going to marry another woman after you leave. Peter found him a nice girl, and they will marry soon.”
Anna was having trouble breathing. Her face was turning pale as she was astonished.
As they arrived at the Wright’s residence, Henry opened the car door for Anna and told her, “Now that my task is complete, I’m leaving. You can go back to our house with Matthew anytime you want and let him meet his father.” Then he walked away.
In the living room, Matthew sat on the sofa. He looked at Anna with a puzzled expression and said, “Mommy, Grandpa Peter said I can see you all the time from now on, right?”
Anna tried her best to smile and said, “Yes. From now on, you’ll be able to live with me and your sister at all times.”
“And my sister?”
“Yes, and your sister.”
“What about Daddy?”
“I’ll send you back if you want to see him.”
“Won’t Daddy live with us?”
“No.”
Matthew’s eyes had dimmed. “Why?” he asked, disappointed.
Later, the two children appeared to have lost interest in Wayne after Jasper picked Tammy up from Selina’s house. In their room, they were happily playing with Legos.
Jasper handed Anna an application to a prestigious foreign medical school and said, “I’ve thought about it. You might not be used to giving up everything here and returning to America with me. I think it’s better for you to do something you like.”
Anna opened the file and immediately calmed down. She said, “But I never finished college. Is it okay if I skip ahead to this?”
Jasper gently encouraged her, “It’s no problem. I sent the paper you wrote to the dean of the medical school. After reading it, the dean of the medical school believes you are exceptionally gifted and he is willing to admit you. You can sit in on their classes as an auditor for six months. And you can become one of them if you pass their exams after six months.”
Anna had dreamed of being a doctor ever since she was a kid, and she had never given up her studies over the years. But, having given up on that dream six years ago because of Wayne, she never imagined she could study medicine again. Jasper had secretly prepared her school application, which had touched her.
“If you don’t want to go there, you can find universities you like in England.”
Anna took a deep breath and said, “No, thanks. You’ve made so much effort for me, and it’s a prestigious school that many medical students aspire to attend. I mean, why would I not want to go there?”
“Are you sure you can leave everything here behind?”
“Yes, I can give it a shot. There’s nothing left for me here. I’ll let Peace and Andrew take care of Lemon, and I’ll be ready to go once Tracy’s adoption is completed.”
“Okay.” Jasper gave a thoughtful nod.
This year had been a follow-up to Anna’s accident six years earlier. She knew that only by resolving this issue would she be able to start living a new life.
Tracy quickly adapted to life on the outside after leaving the island. But when she found out she was going abroad with Anna, she looked disappointed.
“That man inside the garden said you were taking me abroad, Anna.”
“Don’t you want to go abroad? I’m going to leave, but I can’t leave you here alone.”
“Am I going with that middle-aged gentleman?” Tracy blinked.
“Huh?” Anna was stunned for a moment before realizing Tracy was referring to Jasper. Jasper was about to turn forty, so Tracy assumed he was middle-aged.
Anna couldn’t stop laughing and said, “Yes, we will leave with him. But we won’t be living with him, so don’t worry.”
Tracy asked, disappointed, “Huh? We’re not going to stay together?”
Anna asked suspiciously, “What’s wrong? You look disappointed.”
“Of course I’m disappointed! He was the first person I saw after leaving the island, and he saved my life! Also, he has been looking after me these days. I can tell that he’s a gentle and considerate person.”
Anna explained, “We don’t live together, but we live close to where he lives. We can see each other quite frequently. So, don’t worry, Tracy.”
Upon hearing Anna’s words, Tracy appeared less disappointed.
Then Anna added, “Well, don’t think too much about it. I’ll show you around the city these days. We’ll leave once the adoption paperwork is completed.”
Tracy nodded. Anna suddenly thought of something as she walked to the door and asked, “Do you want to go see your dad before you leave?”
Tracy frowned and said, “No! He’s not my dad.”
Anna nodded and closed the door, thinking, Of the twenty people on the island, only Mike made it out alive. He was arrested and sentenced to life in prison at the police station. He might never leave the prison again for the rest of his life. Tracy… Yeah, she hates Mike to the core even though he’s her father. I don’t think she will want to get in touch with him anymore.
Tracy was going to an orphanage after the police department verified her identity. As a result, Anna was unable to adopt her directly.
The adoption policy at the orphanage said that children could only be adopted by married couples. Jasper finally registered her as his adopted daughter. He also gave her a new name: Isabella Thomas.
Inside Jasper’s courtyard, there was a small playground for children. Anna could hear laughter as soon as she stepped into the courtyard.
Jasper was worried that Tammy would be bored at home, so he invited her kindergarten classmates over for the weekend.
Anna noticed a small figure sitting on the corner slide, looking out of place, and a group of children jumping up and down inside the bouncy castle. She walked over, frowning. “Matthew, why aren’t you playing with them?” she asked.
The setting sun reflected on his face, making him appear lonely. “Mommy,” he said, tilting his head.
“Why don’t you play with them?” Anna was a little worried.
Matthew shook his head, seemingly unhappy. Matthew had always been a sensitive child. Anna was worried about him, so she sat down beside him. The two of them turned their backs to the evening sun.
“What’s wrong? Tell me, baby.”
Matthew looked at Anna seriously. As he frowned, he looked like a mini version of Wayne. He murmured sadly, “Tammy says that Uncle Jasper will be my daddy from now on. I won’t be able to see my daddy after that.”
Anna froze and glanced back at Tammy who was playing in the tunnel. She didn’t seem bothered by anything. Tammy wouldn’t be upset about leaving as she had grown up in America and was used to living there. Besides, she was closer to Jasper who had always cared for her than she was with Wayne. But all this was different for Matthew.
Anna sighed and said, “You miss your father, don’t you? Do you still want to go to America with me?”
Matthew stared at her for a while, finally shook his head and said, “I’m not leaving.”
Anna frowned and asked, “Why? Don’t you want to live with Tammy and me?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
Leave a Reply