Chapter 191: Why Did They Come?
Outside the window, Hazel was playing with the children. There was a burst of joyful laughter, full of happiness.
“The kids like her very much.” Joshua’s eyes fell on Hazel, and a gentle smile curved his lips.
Jennie looked out of the window, a little surprised. Hazel’s smile was very genuine. She could see she was really very delighted and didn’t fake it.
The children in the orphanage were all very sensitive, and they knew who really liked them and who was only acting. They looked to be getting along well with Hazel and that they liked her a lot.
What surprised her most was Joshua’s attitude towards Hazel. Despite his gentle manner, Joshua hadn’t smiled much since that incident, but Hazel could make him sincerely smile from time to time.
Taking a deep breath, Jennie held down those thoughts as she said coldly, “Maybe she’s just trying to please you?”
“She doesn’t have to please me.” Joshua’s eyes dimmed.
Sensing Joshua’s displeasure, Jennie sighed and said, “Okay, let’s not talk about it. You guys, just deal with it yourself. By the way...”
She hesitated for a bit before she finally spoke, “The Flores family have been here several times.”
Joshua raised his eyebrows slightly. “Why did they come?”
“What else would they do?” Jennie sneered. “They came to ask me about you. I told you to leave them alone. Now that you’ve helped them, they’re going to pester you! Be careful, I reckon they might come to you sometime later.”
“I see.” Joshua nodded, looking calm.
Hazel was playing games with the kids, and she really liked them.
She learned that there were about ten-odd children in the orphanage, who were abandoned there because of gender, or because of physical defects or some congenital diseases which were the most difficult to be treated.
The oldest of these children was 15 years old, the youngest was five years old. The five-year-old was the very first girl that Hazel had met, named Sherry, who was also everyone’s darling. All of the kids were incredibly sensible, and Hazel loved them with all her heart.
Suddenly, Sherry left the team happily and ran to the side.
“Sherry, slow down!” Hazel hurried to catch up.
Sherry stopped in front of a woman, then hugged her thigh tightly. “Mother Sharon!”
Hazel looked up and saw the woman was dressed casually but appeared accomplished.
She saw Hazel, too, but thought she was just a volunteer helping out at the orphanage, so she just nodded at her.
With two fish in her hand, Sharon handed them to the nearest older child. “You, take them to the kitchen and give them to grandma.”
The boy said yes, took the fish, and ran to the kitchen.
“Mother Sharon, did you go fishing by the river just now?” Sherry asked.
“Yes.” Sharon squatted down and held Sherry in her arms. “You naughty girl!”
“By the way, Mother Sharon, father is here too!” Sherry said.
“Who?” Sharon couldn’t help frowning.
“Father Joshua!” The children answered in unison.
Sharon’s face changed. She put Sherry down in a hurry and said in a deep voice, “Sherry, I have something to do. Help me, tell your grandma later on that I…”
Hazel was extremely surprised. Was Sharon hiding from Joshua?
“Don’t worry, Mother Sharon,” Sherry said, looking like a little elf. “Grandma won’t let you be with Father Joshua in the future because he came with his girlfriend today.”
Sharon was relieved instantly. The next moment, with a surprised look on her face, she asked, “Sherry, are you lying to me? Does Joshua Denmark actually have a girlfriend?”
Hazel had been surprised to hear that Jennie had wished for Joshua and Sharon to be together, but Sharon’s comment made her a bit distressed.
“It’s true, this beautiful Hazel sister is Father Joshua’s girlfriend. She’s great,” Sherry said in a childish voice.
Sharon looked at Hazel in surprise, a little embarrassed.
She coaxed the kids into playing and then stretched out her hands to Hazel, “Hi, I’m Sharon, I grew up in this orphanage.”
“I’m Hazel, and I came with Joshua Denmark.” Hazel reached out and shook hands with her.
“I’m sorry. I thought you were a volunteer,” Sharon said apologetically.
“Never mind, I’m also a volunteer.” Hazel smiled.
Sharon looked at her in surprise. Hazel looked clean and pure, with cuteness.
Then she mused. “I’ve always wondered what kind of woman Joshua would like. But now, it’s really a girl like you that’s going to impress him.”
Hazel was a little blushed.
“By the way, don’t worry about that,” Sharon explained. “As we grew up together, Auntie Jennie always hoped that all of us could be lovers, so she often tries to play matchmaker. I have no interest in Joshua.”
“Mmm.” Hazel nodded. She knew from the start that Sharon wasn’t interested in Joshua.
“Did you have an affair with Joshua some time ago?” Sharon asked as if thinking of something.
Hazel felt a bit embarrassed. “It looks like the whole world knows it…”
“It’s the information age,” Sharon chuckled. “But before, I thought those are the only gossip, after all, we all thought Joshua Denmark would be single for life.”
“Why?” Hazel asked curiously.
Sharon sighed. “Joshua hasn’t been very close to anyone since that incident. Although he looks kind on the surface, we all know he hasn’t let go of it…”
“That incident? What is it about?” Hazel was at sea.
“You don’t know?” Sharon looked at her in surprise. She thought for a moment before speaking, “Well, let Joshua tell you. It’s not good if we tell you.”
Hazel was confused. What had Joshua experienced before? Listening to what Sharon was saying, something happened to him that changed his personality. Hazel became even more self-critical, for she knew so little about Joshua.
“Wow —”
Suddenly, there was a loud cry. Hazel and Sharon looked in the direction of the sound, then they saw a little boy who had climbed up a tree, he was holding on to a branch and crying.