During this time, the little girl took notice of her too.
Blinking her dewy eyes, she vividly expressed both curiosity and wariness on her exquisite complexion.
Nell was about to break the silence when the girl cried out, “Mommy!”
Nell, “...??”
The next second, the little girl stood up and flew towards her excitedly.
“Mommy! I finally found you!”
Nell, “??”
Who... Who could tell her, what the hell was going on?
In the middle of the night... She was hit with motherhood out of nowhere?
Nell watched in horror as the young child threw herself into her embrace. It took Nell a while before she pulled herself together.
“Little girl, you’ve mistaken me for someone else. I’m not your mother.”
“Mommy, I really miss you! They said that I’ll be able to find you if I came here. I didn’t believe them and yet here you are!”
Ecstatic, the young child locked her tiny arms around Nell’s leg, unwilling to let go.
Though Nell was in a fix, she was able to make out between the lines that the girl came in search of her mother. It was likely that she had wandered off from her family.
Unable to find the right words in such a situation, Nell put the matter aside.
Nell took a glance around but did not catch sight of anyone. Hence, she asked, “Little girl, are you alone? Is there anyone in your family?”
“I strayed from Grandma. I can’t find my family!”
Nell sighed to herself. It was just as she thought.
This place was out of the way and close to the suburbs. These adults must be out of their mind to leave a young child alone here.
Slightly fuming, she bent over to pick the child up.
“What’s your name, little girl?”
“I’m Lizzy.”
“Don’t be afraid, Lizzy. Let me take you to see Mr. Police Officer, okay? Mr. Police Officer will help you find your family.”
The child stared at her, blinking in between.
Those clear and watery eyes articulated bafflement and confusion.
Nell’s heart could melt.
“Mommy, are you looking for Mr. Police Officer to arrest grandma?”
Nell was taken aback.
In her mind, she wished she could have that irresponsible parent taken into custody.
Nevertheless, she was well aware that this was implausible.
By the looks of the kid’s attire, she was obviously from a wealthy family. Chances were, she had simply wandered off from her guardian.
Thus, she shook her head. “No, I was thinking to ask for their help to find your grandpa.”
“Mr. Police Officer must be off work now. I’m so tired and sleepy. Mommy, can you take me home? I want to go home and sleep.”
Nell, “...”
She threw a glance at the little girl in her arms and noticed fatigue written all over the child’s dewy eyes.
Nell had got a soft spot.
Fine, she would just leave it to tomorrow!
It was only a night anyway. Nell could first bring the girl home and wait for tomorrow once she was rested enough to seek her family together.
At that thought, Nell carried the child back into the car.
She drove all the way to Leith Garden.
The house was pretty empty today with Aunt Joyce off duty and the remaining maids yet to be back from the New Year holidays.
Nell carried her into the guest room. Exposed to a new environment, the child’s inquisitive nature caused her to touch and feel everything. The pair of beautiful eyes lifted in glee.
“Mommy, is this your home? It’s beautiful!”
Time passed and soon, Lizzy slipped into dreamland.
Nell bit her lip. She could finally heave a sigh of relief with the child sleeping peacefully.
That night, the kid slept like a baby; a contrast to Nell, who tossed and turned in bed for hours.
It was only in the wee hours just before the break of dawn that she finally hit the sack.
The next day, Nell had breakfast with Lizzy before taking her to the police station.
The child was quite well behaved. Aware that Nell was helping her find her family, the girl was a model child, neither crying nor throwing a fit while on the way.
At the police station, the officers were told that the girl was discovered last night and coincidently, a child was reported missing the same night. They immediately got in touch with the concerned party.
Nell waited alongside Lizzy on the bench. It was not long before a grizzly old lady came running in.
“Lizzy!”
“Grandma!”
With a face of delight, the child jumped off the chair and made a dash towards the elder.
As the old and young ran into each other’s arms, Nell was relieved to ascertain that the old lady was Lizzy’s family.
“Young lady, are you the one who saved our little Lizzy?”
Turning to Nell, the old lady asked.
Nell nodded and paused. Eventually, she spoke her mind. “Lizzy’s still a little kid. You’re too careless to leave her alone in that place. God forbid, something happened to her?”
The old lady was not offended in spite of getting an earful. Instead she nodded with a smile.
“Yes, yes. We’ll be careful next time.”
Nell was not in the position to comment further as this was someone else’s child after all. She could tell that Lizzy and the old lady had a great relationship. As an outsider, she had crossed the line. It would be unreasonable if she were to continue to shoot her mouth off.
Thus, Nell signed the papers and prepared to leave when she was hailed by the old lady.
“Young lady, you really helped us this time. Here is a little something that I think you should keep.”
The old woman pulled out an envelope. Even without opening it, Nell was able to identify what it was by its shape.
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