Chapter 978:

🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙

The boy, meanwhile, was curled into himself in a corner, his gaze flickering away. His hair was tangled beyond care, and his worn clothes hung loose, exposing thin arms and sharp knees. Instinctively, he shrank back, trying to keep his distance. He feared the smell clinging to him would reach her — that she would look at him the way others always did.

Whenever he sat by the roadside, the well-dressed passersby would glance at him with cold eyes — disdain, disgust, or simple contempt. But the girl in front of him showed none of that.

She held out the handkerchief for a while. When he didn’t respond, she simply stepped closer, placed a hand on his shoulder, and began wiping the dirt from his face herself.

“Don’t move,” she said with a small huff. “I’m not playing with a dirty little boy.”

Her hands weren’t gentle — a little awkward, even — and the scrubbing stung. Still, she didn’t stop. As the layers of grime came away, her eyes widened, surprise lighting her expression. “Kole… you’re actually very cute!”

Kole fell quiet, words failing him completely. He didn’t know how to respond — after all, no one had ever spoken to him with such warmth, as if he mattered.

Carole, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease with the silence. She carried the conversation forward on her own, her voice light and unbothered. “Mateo told me he’s thinking of taking you in as his son. You might not know this, but he’s our family’s gardener and lives here with us. If I talk to my parents — properly, of course — I’m sure I can convince them to let you stay.”

She rose smoothly, brushing the dust from her dress as though it were nothing, then stretched out her hand toward him with easy confidence. “From today onward, we’re friends — no backing out. Oh, and I almost forgot — I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Carole Davis. Kole… welcome home.”

The little boy stared at her offered hand, hesitating as though it were something fragile he might break. He quickly wiped his own hand against his worn, tattered clothes — again and again — before finally placing it into hers with care, almost reverence.

And just like that, with Carole taking the lead as naturally as breathing, Kole became a part of life at the Davis family’s residence.

𝗧𝘩𝗼𝘂ѕ𝘢𝗻𝗱𝗌 of 𝗿𝖾𝖺𝘥еr𝘀 𝗼ո 𝘨𝘢𝘭n𝗈vе𝗅𝘴.𝘤𝗼𝗆

Carole’s parents, seeing Mateo Hardy grow older with no child to call his own, found no reason to oppose the idea of him adopting an orphan. Besides, once the boy was cleaned up, his features stood out — and his demeanor was calm, respectful, and easy to like. He never avoided work when helping Mateo with his daily tasks, whether watering the plants, sweeping the courtyard, or shifting flowerpots from place to place. Whatever needed doing, he did without hesitation. When they noticed this, Carole’s parents increased Mateo’s wages.

Carole, meanwhile, grew more and more attached to her new companion.

“Kole, you’re the best,” she said one afternoon, perched on the garden swing while Kole stood behind her, pushing gently, the motion steady and unhurried.

.

.

.