Chapter 12 A Curious Visit To The Orphanage

• Damian had no idea what Lilibeth was up to, but she nodded innocently. “Mommy Lilibeth, I live at Mercy Children's Home.”
• Lilibeth bit her tongue, correcting the way she addressed the issue in her speech, no longer referring to it as an orphanage. “Damian, it's going to be hot soon. Would it be alright if I take you back to Mercy Children's Home to get a change of thinner clothes?”
• Damian lowered his gaze to look at his own clothes. He too yearned to return home. Thus, he nodded slightly. “Can we visit mom when we come back?”
• “Sure, no problem.”
• Damian happily swung his two legs.
• After having breakfast, Lilibeth changed her clothes and went out.
• On the road, Damian cheerfully stood up, directing the way. Lilibeth, wearing light purple sunglasses, was admonishing the mischievous child behind her. “Sit down and fasten your seatbelt. If you continue to misbehave, I'll leave you here right now.”
• Damian immediately sat up straight obediently.
• Lilibeth was raised in Lofbury, so she was quite familiar with the area. Moreover, since Sebastian had come from there, so she understood it even better than others.
• The car was heading toward the suburbs. With a look of admiration, Damian looked at Lilibeth and said, “Mommy Lilibeth, I want to learn how to drive in the future.”
• Lilibeth couldn't be bothered to entertain him. Mercy Children's Home was situated halfway up a hill in Lofbury. The place was originally run-down, but after the Montague family adopted Sebastian, Abraham's heart softened upon seeing the children. He immediately financed renovations to all the facilities of the orphanage.
• Once the facilities were completed, they began to build roads. Abraham had spent his entire life doing charity, thus he was famously known as a great philanthropist in Xucror. Unfortunately, his son was nothing but a rich spoilt kid.
• Many economists predicted that the Montague family was bound to fall sooner or later. Quite a few businessmen speculated that after the death of Abraham, the Montague family would have to change their surname to Yandell. Others even suggested that Sebastian was the child groom chosen by Abraham for his granddaughter.
• There were many rumors flying around, and Lilibeth herself had heard more than a few.
• The car slowly ascended the hill, driving down the winding mountain road.
• The morning sunlight was jarring, nearly obscuring the road from view. Lilibeth's sunglasses served as an excellent shield.
• Throughout the journey, not a single car was in sight. Damian was leaning on the edge of the window, excitedly gazing outside.
• In no time, the signpost appeared. After making another turn, Lilibeth saw a strange, large entrance. Within it, only a small door was open for people to pass through.
• The security guard stepped out and asked Lilibeth, “What do you want?”
• Damian opened the car door. “Sir, it's me.”
• “Damian, it's been a while since I have seen you,” the security guard said with a beaming smile, patting Damian's head. “Who's the one driving?”
• Damian's voice rang out clearly. “Mommy Lilibeth Montague is now my father's wife.”
• Upon hearing the surname Montague, the security guard immediately opened the gate, allowing Lilibeth to drive in.
• This time, Lilibeth required Damian's guidance, as the place was all unfamiliar to her.
• “Hmm, that car looks like Dad's car.” Damian pointed out, indicating the black vehicle parked under the large paulownia tree.
• Lilibeth looked at the license plate, gritting her teeth. “It's more than that. It's his!”
• Wasn't it said that Sebastian would only come during the middle of the month? Today is only the thirteenth, so why is he here?
• Lilibeth's sedan parked next to Sebastian's car. After getting out, Damian joyfully ran off.
• Lilibeth locked the car door, taking in the serene surroundings. Winter was not yet over, and there was a sense of desolation everywhere.
• “Damian, you little rascal, wait for me!” Lilibeth shouted from the courtyard. “Once I catch up with you, you're in for a beating.”
• In the director's office, Sebastian heard a familiar voice. A faint smile played at the corners of his mouth.
• Charlotte was somewhat puzzled. “This voice doesn't sound like any of the teachers or caregivers.”
• Sebastian replied, “Lilibeth has arrived.”
• “Ah? Really? That's an esteemed guest then.” Charlotte got up and prepared to welcome her at the door.
• At that moment, Damian ran into the principal's office by himself. “Mdm. Earhart, I'm back.”
• In no time, Lilibeth caught up. She was slightly out of breath, and as she saw Sebastian sitting on the couch, she was taken aback. She hadn't expected to see him so soon.
• The Dean embraced Damian, then walked over to Lilibeth. With excitement in her eyes, she said, “Lilibeth, you've grown so much.”
• Lilibeth asked, “Have you seen me before?”
• “I met you when you were a child. Sometimes, when I visited the Montague Manor to see Old Mr. Montague and Sebastian, I would also see you.”
• Lilibeth, however, showed no reaction. At this moment, Sebastian stood up to defuse the situation. “Lilibeth was too young at that time, so she doesn't have much of a recollection.”
• He turned to Lilibeth. “If I had known you wanted to come today, I would have brought you with me this morning.”
• Lilibeth asked, “Don't you come over in the middle of the month?”
• Sebastian said, “I have to go on a business trip in a couple of days, so I came early.”
• Lilibeth said, “I came simply to help Damian pick out some clothes for the warmer weather, nothing more.”
• “Indeed.” Sebastian gave a faint smile.
• The three of them didn't linger in the director's office for long as they left to fetch Damian's clothes.
• Curiously, Lilibeth looked around. The Mercy Children's Home appeared to be quite large. The back of the building served as the living quarters, the central area housed the dining hall, and there was even a playground and a recreational area. The front of the building was dedicated to study spaces and offices.
• “There's even a small pond, Life here isn't too bad,” Lilibeth observed as she looked around.
• Damian joyfully held Lilibeth's hand. “Mommy Lilibeth, I have succulents that I've raised well. If you like it, I can give it to you.”
• Sebastian was holding Lilibeth's hand, leading her toward another courtyard. “There's a swing over there. It's your favorite,” he said.
• Lilibeth decisively avoided looking at the succulents and followed Sebastian.
• Damian, pouting pitifully, had no choice but to follow them.
• Before long, the school bell rang, signaling the end of class. The children in the courtyard all rushed out together, shouting “Mr. Yandell” as they ran. They gathered around Sebastian and Lilibeth.
• “My goodness... There are so many...” Lilibeth exclaimed, taken aback as she looked at the dozens of children.
• Some children were about the same age as Damian, while others were six or seven years old. The youngest ones were still being cared for by the caregivers.
• “Mr. Yandell, is this young lady Lilibeth?” a little girl with braids asked Sebastian, looking at Lilibeth.
• She had a congenital cleft lip and palate, which made Lilibeth feel a bit frightened when she saw her.
• Just as Leticia had said, these children were particularly sensitive. Upon seeing Lilibeth afraid of her own lips, the little girl immediately covered her mouth with both hands, so as not to frighten Lilibeth.
• Sebastian turned around, taking hold of Lilibeth's hand. “Yes, she is the Lilibeth that I have been telling all of you about.”
• “Yay, this is great. I finally got to see Lilibeth. She's so beautiful.”
• “Lilibeth, you're so beautiful. You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen.”
• “Lilibeth, you finally arrived. We've all drawn so many pictures of you. However, you are even more beautiful than our drawings.”
• Lilibeth was left bewildered by the children's shouts.
• How did these little rascals all know about me?
• Later on, the children pull Lilibeth to the classroom corridor. With great enthusiasm, they explained, “Lilibeth, Mr. Yandell described what you look like to us. He asked us to draw you and then he would correct our work.”