Chapter 15
Quinton was prepared to be rejected by Andrea, so he did not expect this answer. He froze, and then joy flickered in his eyes. “Okay, let’s go now.”
Andrea looked at the little girl holding a bear in front of a floor–to–ceiling window at the Jenson family’s villa. Pity flashed across her eyes. She had seen a lot of kids in the mission world.
Her son, Anthony, never lacked attention from Gabriel and her, so he was always full of vigor and his eyes were full of light.
Although the children in the orphanage had lost their parents, they had the director and many teachers giving them attention. Many kindhearted people also went to the orphanage to spend time with them every week, so their eyes had no lack of love.
However, no child’s eyes were as sullen as the girl who stood in the corner with her toy bear in her arms. Andrea’s eyes were filled with pain, perhaps because she still had some maternal love left in her.
Quinton’s tone was also full of pity. “Her name is Ellie Jenson. She’s six years old. She was in a car accident with her parents two years ago. Her parents shielded her under them, so she survived.
“She witnessed her parents‘ deaths, so she hasn’t been doing well–she’s afraid to communicate with people, is afraid to go out, and is scared all the time. Someone has to be with her 24 hours a day.” Quinton pushed the villa door open as he spoke.
Once they were inside, Ellie, who heard the noise, quickly ran over and tried to throw herself into Quinton’s arms. “Dad!” However, when she saw Andrea next to him, she instantly looked frightened, screamed, and ran back to hide.
“Ellie, it’s okay. I’m here. Andrea won’t hurt you.” Quinton crouched down in front of Ellie’s tent and knocked on the door.
Andrea stopped beside him and muttered, “Ellie, I’m Andrea Young. I have so many stories to tell you. Do you want to hear them?”
Andrea and Quinton coaxed Ellie for a while before Ellie cautiously poked her head out. After receiving confirmation from both of them, Ellie held out her hands for Quinton to hug her.
That night, she finally heard her father and “mother” read her a bedtime story again. It was her first good night’s sleep since the car crash.
Andrea did not accept Quinton’s suggestion of marriage. After all, she and Ellie were just getting to know each other, and she wanted to get to know Ellie well and make Ellie like her before they discussed marriage again.
Quinton also expressed his support and understanding of this.
Since that day, the two would take Ellie around the city from time to time.
They would take her to the Ferris wheel, see the fireworks at the highest point, go to the beach, collect seashells under the sunset glow, and go to a revolving restaurant for a buffet.
In just two months, Ellie started smiling more under Quinton and Andrea’s loving care. Quinton’s parents, Jacob Jenson and Fiona Hector, were touched.
After dinner, Fiona sat on the couch and held Andrea’s hand, her eyes slightly red.
“Andrea, thank you so much for taking such good care of Ellie. She has suffered so much that I thought she would never get over it. It’s a good thing that you appeared.”
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