All Free Novel
Chapter 1274
Nina nodded, "Alright, let's do that."
"You really want to take me home? I'm not dreaming, right?" The little girl pinched her arm hard in disbelief.
With a sharp yelp, a bruise instantly formed on her small arm.
Nina quickly bent down to stop her, "Sweetheart, don't hurt yourself."
"I wasn't trying to hurt myself. I just... I was scared this was a dream, and that once I woke up, I'd be back on the streets. But now I know it's real. You're really here, and I finally have a home." The little girl happily threw herself into Nina's arms, crying again. But this time, her tears were not from sadness, but from joy. "I really have a family now-an uncle, an aunt, and a brother."
"That's right. We'll take good care of you from now on," Nina said gently, stroking the girl's back.
In that moment, she thought of her own daughter, Gemma, back at home. How could this little girl's mother have been so heartless? Abandoning her child in a foreign country, leaving her with no hope, was unthinkable.
Since they had decided to take the little girl in, they couldn't keep calling her "Little One" forever. She needed a proper name.
"How about we call you Hope from now on? But if you don't like that, we can pick another name," Nina suggested, giving the girl a choice.
After all, a name is something personal. It had to be something she liked.
The little girl smiled through her tears, "I finally have a name. I love it when you call me Hope."
Honestly, it didn't matter what name they gave her. She would have been happy with anything.
Nina had chosen "Hope" because she wanted her future to be filled with hope and endless possibilities.
With the name settled, Nina smiled, "Now, how about we go grab some lunch? There's a restaurant nearby. I bet you both are starving."
Hand in hand, Nash led Orion and Hope, while Nina walked beside her.
The four of them entered the restaurant, and the server quickly greeted them with a warm smile,
"Right this way! Your kids are adorable, ma'am."
"They are, aren't they?" Nina responded with a smile, not bothering to correct the server's assumption.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
Hope's face lit up even more, clearly happy with the compliment. She eagerly sat down at the table and, wanting to help, picked up the teapot to pour water for everyone.
But the teapot was full and heavy. Her small hands couldn't hold it steady, and it tipped over, spilling water all across the table.
"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry. I've made a mess again. I'm really useless," Hope said, frustrated and ashamed. She gave herself a little slap on the head, upset that she couldn'Deven manage such a simple task.
Nash grabbed some napkins to wipe up the water, while Nina hugged Hope, gently comforting her. Then she handed the menu to Hope, encouraging her to pick something she liked.
At first, Hope hesitated, saying she would eat whatever was ordered, but after Nina's gentle encouragement, she finally mustered the courage to pick two dishes she liked.
Nina passed the menu to Nash and Orion to choose their meals, and once they were done, she added a soup to the order before handing it to the server.
Soon enough, the table was filled with delicious dishes, and the two adults and two kids enjoyed a joyful meal Nina made sure to give Hope extra servings, ensuring she felt included and cared for.