Thomas pov
The next day I asked my butler to invite Yves and escort her to the estate if she accepted. I was getting impatient waiting for her, wondering if she had accepted my invitation. To my surprise she came, this time she was wearing a black maxi dress topped with a cream coloured cardigan knitted with cute flower patterns. Her hair is styled into a french braid with a flower pin attached at the end of the braid, cute little flower shaped earrings and sneakers to complete the look.
We exchanged pleasantries as we moved into my study. This time we were having debates on different topics, I was shocked by her in-depth knowledge and understanding of things which is not expected of a 8th grader. So I asked her how she came to possess such knowledge and understanding of things, she replied: "I'm always alone as I don't have any friends, so I spent much of my time in library. Soon it became a habit and I began to enjoy reading books and discovering new knowledge and now books are my friends".
Listening to her reason I got an idea and suggested to her: Yves! how about you visit my villa everyday? she looked confused at my suggestion,then I told her: 'Well! You see I have a library with many books 📚 but apart from me nobody uses it, I will be more than happy if there is another visitor'.
With a big smile she replied: 'I would be delighted to and thank you Mr valor for such consideration and generosity!'
Upon hearing her call Mr valor I felt a little sad but it wasn't time yet. I have to bond with her naturally, make sure she thinks of me as family and will accept me as one when the time comes.
Hence, we spent all day talking, visiting the garden, having meals and snacks, playing piano 🎹 and we also played games🎯 in the game🎮 room with her time went by fast and could feel happiness of having a family which I had long forgotten. It felt like Olivia sent Yves to make my gloomy life a happy one.
Like that we spend everyday together, every morning she would come to the villa and leave after dinner. Soon we became close to each other like a family, one day I asked Yves if she could call me uncle instead of Mr Valor she hesitated at first, but then called me uncle maybe because now I really felt like one to her. Some days we stayed home and someday we went shopping 🛒🛍️, played golf ⛳, went horse🐎 riding, fishing 🎣 and tried street🍡🍦🌯 food which she loved a lot rather than the food of luxury restaurants, which was the same as Olivia, she too loved binge eating street food especially during city festivals, we would roam across streets and enjoyed the bustling city 🏙️🌆.
Soon days passed and it was time for Yves to go back to school 🏫.
After some days, as usual we were sitting in the hall and discussing things and the butler came with the document I asked him to prepare he handed it to me and went back. I passed the folder to Yves and asked her to open it. She opened the folder curiously and was taken aback seeing the title on the paper. It emphasized the words 'Adoption', she glanced at me, I gave a nod assuring her to read it. As she started reading tears started to form in her eyes and soon she started crying reading the names on the adoption papers📜, flustered I sat beside her and hugged 🫂 her while calming her.
After a while she stopped crying and with a big smile she hugged me back and kissed the back of my hand while uttering the words "I really am thankful you thought me as someone who can be your daughter, your family I don't know if I'll ever be able to fulfill and take on role but I'll give my all to make you proud and never disappoint you and thanks with all ny being for the love💙 and support you have shown me I'll never forget it till my last breath" hearing her say thise words bought tears to my eyes 'You are my daughter and you'll always be either you make me proud or not I'll never be disappointed in you' I said holding her face in my palms. She once again began crying and I calmed her down.
After that our days continued as father and daughter but Yves still continued to call me Uncle but I didn't pressure her to address me as father because I wanted her to think of me as one when she addresses me as father. I was happy with our current relationship.
Yves pov:
I was confused when Mr Thomas handed me the document. I opened it and was taken aback by the words ADOPTION highlighted on the top of the document. So I glanced at him and he nodded as an assurance. Then I began reading the document, as I went on reading the tears went flowing uncontrollably. Seeing my name as adoptee and his name as adopter, I started crying like a baby when it gets hungry but unable to express all it does is crying voicing it's feeling.
Finally the second time, he hugged me and calmed me down rubbing my back did I stop. After I completely calmed down we finished the signing the documents and passed it to his butler to proceed. Well now that I'm adopted as his daughter do I need to address him as 'FATHER' ?
I was deep in my thoughts when he tapped on my shoulder as he called my name.
'Yves, you don't need to pressure yourself with anything. Take your time and address as you desire. Just know this now we are a family, who shares all happiness, pains and problems while depending and protecting each other'.
Hearing him gave me courage and warmth which I never felt before. I hugged him as I addressed him as "UNCLE".