Back to present
Yves took a deep breath and pressed the door bell. The butler came to receive her and led her to the living room, upon seeing her depressed being, he could tell that something was wrong with her, she was different from her usual cheerful demeanor. He informed Yves that Mr Valor isn't home and will be back in a few hours, she can stay in her room 🏡 while waiting for him, she nodded her head at the butler's suggestion with a polite smile. Then he guided her to her room as she followed him with her head bowed down. As they reached the room, he left her to herself because he felt she needed space to gather her thoughts.
After a few hours Thomas arrived, he hurried home as fast as he could after receiving the call from his butler informing about Yves. He entered her room when his sight fell upon the girl, sitting on the bed, wearing a white gown staring into space not noticing his arrival. He called Yves! but she didn't respond so, he walked towards the bed and called her again Yves! she looked up to Thomas, who was standing before her a few feet away.
Tears 😭 began rolling as soon as Yves saw her uncle, she got up from her seat and jumped into his uncle's arms who embraced her into a hug. After a few minutes of sobbing she calmed down still hiccupping and uttered the words in a voice full of pain and hurt; Uncle! help me! please! as she hid her face on his chest. As soon as he heard those words Thomas's heart shattered into millions of pieces.
She cried till his shirt was wet from her tears and snot.Thomas calmed her down by rubbing soothing circles on her back and asked her to explain what was going on. When she calmed down completely, he extended a glass of water, she took a few sips and held the glass tightly as she began telling him about the incident. He grit his teeth many times while hearing, feeling sad and guilty that she had experienced such hurtful things without him being aware of it. After promising to deal with it all, he put Yves to sleep😴 in her room.
Thomas called his butler and told him it's time for another clean up, he ordered for the teachers to be investigated and fired who were involved in it and the students to be expelled with negative remarks and sent back to their homes, it was clear those who were involved had no future in the city of Valor. All of this was done in half a day of the very next day Yves came to the estate, it was done in the same way as the past clean up with the orphanage, without the knowledge of Yves.
After finding Yves is the daughter of Emilia, his wife's sister, he was curious about all her past. So he ordered his butler to run a check for the time Yves spent in the orphanage only to find she was bullied and ostracized by the students and teachers. Hence, the corrupted teachers of the orphanage school were fired while the bullies were sent to different orphanages in small towns not associated with the Valor's.
When Yves got up from her sleep, they both had dinner🍽️ and spent time in each other's company. Thomas cleared his throat and spoke:
Yves! how are you feeling?
she replied: Better! as she gave him a small smile
Thomas wanting an assurance that she is feeling better asked her: Yves, do you want to stay or change schools 🏫? I'll follow your decision; with a worry on his face
he was worried that she would recall the incident if she stayed in the school and will be affected negatively
Yves looked at his face with a broad smile 😊 and told him- I'll stay and face everything bravely, Uncle! Yes now she has her uncle, her family, her strength, her protector.
Thomas smiled back as he heard her and patted her head but was still a little worried so, she soothing her worried uncle told him that she is going to fight back those who bully her again and if she cannot, he is always there to help her.
Thomas then asked: "Yves will you stay with me in the estate as we are a family and this is your home too as is mine, this is our home''
when she heard the words 'our home' many emotions began running in her like emotions of joy, happiness, sadness, warmness soon she began crying tears of joy 😊 and repeated the words 'our home🏠'.
She accepted his suggestion. The next day all her belongings were moved to her room in the estate. She bid goodbye to the caretakers and other children.
Now the only left was Henry, because of all the things happening, she didn't have the chance to tell him about her adoption yet. Later that evening, when Henry came back from school, he found Yves sitting in front of his room sleeping.
He hurried up to her and shook her. Awake, she found him standing in front of her. They went to his room. Yves sat on the chair of his study desk and Henry sat on his bed facing each other.
How are you? he asked seeing her struggle to start the conversation
I'm good and you?
Good 👍🏻
Henry! I have something to tell you?
Is it about your move to the estate?
Hearing it, Yves scrunched up as she didn't want him to find it from others but to hear from her.
Well that too.
Yves! I'm your friend! You can share anything with me and I promise to help you. Huh? Okay?
Well you know I have been going to the estate and spending time with Uncle.
Uncle?
Aah! I call Mr Thomas uncle now and that is what I want to tell you, Uncle decided to adopt me as her daughter and yesterday I accepted. She was worried that he would feel betrayed to be the only one getting adopted. But contrary to her thoughts he hugged her and said:
Yves! I'm so happy you accepted. I'm grateful Mr. Thomas adopted you. I really prayed hoping for you to find a good family. Words cannot describe how happy I am! Finally my prayers were answered! Thank God!
Seeing his happy face and the words he told made her feel blessed. Her tensed shoulders relaxed when the weight on her chest finally was gone.