CHAPTER080 OLIVIASPOV Isteppedoutoftheroom,myheartstillheavywiththeweightoftheconversation,MymindwasracingwithfragmentsofemotionsandquestionsIcouldntyetanswer.
Assoonasthedoorclickedshutbehindme,myeyesmetAdrian,whowasleaningagainstthewallwithhis armsfolded acrosshischest,hisexpressionunreadable.Hisgazewassteady,focusedonme,andIinstantlyknewhehadheardeverything.
HestraightenedupthemomentIwalkedout,clearinghisthroatsubtlyasifpreparingtospeakorperhapsofferingasilentacknowledgment.ButIwasntinthemoodforanexchange.Iwasntreadytoconfrontwhateverthoughtshehadaboutwhathedjustheard.So,withoutaword,Ibrushedpast him,myheelstapping softlyagainstthefloor,echoingthesilencebetweenus .
Ireachedintomypurseandpulledoutmyphone,scrollingthroughmycontactsuntilfoundJuliansname.Ipressedthecallbuttonandheldthephonetomyear,listeningtothedialtoneas Isteppedoutside.
Thelinerangseveraltimesbeforeitdisconnected.Isighed.Hewasprobably awayfromhisphone.Still,Ineededhimwithmetoday.Igaveitafewmoresecondsandtriedcallingagain.Thistime,afterthethirdring,hepickedup.
Wasintheshower afewminutesago.Talktome ,hesaid,hisvoicealittlebreathless.
Igotthemtotalk,Isaidquickly,notwantingtowastetime.Theydontknowmybiologicalparentspersonally,buttheydidtellmewhichorphanagetheyadoptedmefrom.So…maybesomeonetheremighthaveanswers.
Julianletoutathoughtfulhumontheotherendoftheline.Thatsnotmuch,butitssomething.Youwantmetotagalong? Yes,Irepliedimmediately.Youretheonehelpingmetrackthemdown.You needtoheareverythingfirsthand.
Whereshouldwemeetup?heasked,alwayspractical.

Ipaused,thenfrowned.Meetup?AdrianalreadyknowsImgoingtotheorphanage.Ifheseesustogether,whathappenedthelasttimemightrepeatitselfIlljustsendyoutheaddress,andyoucancomestraightthere.
Alright,Juliansaid,andIcouldhearthesoundofmovementinthebackground.Senditnow,andIllgetdressed.
Weendedthecall,andIimmediatelyopenedourchatthread,typingtheaddressandhittingsend.Ituckedthephoneback intomypurseandsteppedintotheUberthathadjustarrived.Igavethedriverasmallnodandsettledintothebackseat,staringoutthewindow.
Theridefeltlongerthan usualasiftimehaddecidedtostretchitselfjusttotoywith CHAPTERDAD me.Mystomachwasinknots,anticipationmixingwithfear.Iwasfinally goingtoseetheplacethathadbeenapartofmyearliestyearstheplaceIhadnomemoryofbutthatmightholdthemissingpiecesofmyidentity.Iprayedsilentlythattheywould.haverecords,names,somethingthatcouldleadmetothe truth.
Whenthecarpulledupattheorphanagegate,Ihandedthedriverhisfareandsteppedout.Thebuildinglookedoldbutwellkept,withfadedpaintonthewallsanda smallgardenbytheside.Istoodattheentrance,glancingupatthesign,astrangemix ofnostalgiaandunfamiliaritywashingoverme.
Julianhadntarrivedyet,soIwaitedbythegate,shiftingmyweightfromonefoottotheother.Instinctively,Iscannedthearealeft,thenright.Nosuspiciousvehicles.Nolingeringshadows.BeingmarriedtoAdrianhadtaughtmetoalwaysstayalert,eventwhenIdidntwanttobe.
IpulledoutmyphoneandtextedJulian:Imatthegate.Waiting.Ikeptmyeyesonthescreen,watchingfor thetyping bubbletoappear.
Nothing..
Irefreshedthechat.Stillnothing.
Itappedmyphoneagainstmypalmrepeatedly,glancingdownatthescreeneveryfew.seconds,hopingtoseeareplyfromJulian.Thesecondsdraggedbypainfully,mynervesbuildingwitheachpassingmoment.IwasgrowingmorerestlessthanIcaredtoadmit.

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Idbeenwaitingatthegateforawhilenow,andeveryminutethatpassedfeltlikeamissedopportunity,butanticipation.Iwassoclose.SoclosetouncoveringsomethinganythingaboutwhereIcamefrom,andIdidntwanttowastetimestandingoutside.
Iturnedaroundandscannedthestreetagain,eyesdartingleftandright,buttherewasstillnosignofJulian,heknewthatheneededtohearthingsfirsthand.Butnowhewasnowhereinsight,andIwasgrowingtiredofwaiting.Myfoottappedimpatientlyagainstthepavement.
ShouldIgoinwithouthim?Hehadtheaddress.Hecouldfindmeinsideeasilyenough.Andtime…timewasntexactlyonoursidehere.Everysecondcounted Ihesitated,bitingmylip,beforefinallyturningbacktofacetheimposingirongatesinfrontofme.Idrewinadeep/breathandsteppedforward,squintingasthesunlightbouncedoffthemetal.Totherightofthegate,Ispottedasmallsilverdoorbell.Iwalkedoverandpressedit.Once.Twice.Onthethirdpress,afaintclicksounded,followedbyacalmvoicefromatinyspeakerboxmountedbesideit.
Goodday,madam.HowmayIhelpyoutoday? Thevoicewaspolite,professional,and clear.Ihadtogivethemcreditsecuritywastight.Which,undernormalcircumstances,wouldbereassuring.Butinmycase,itonlymadethings harder.Ididntknow anyonewhoworkedhere.Ididnthavean 2/3 CHAPTER080 ar appointmentorareferral.AndIhadnoideawhatkindofexplanationIcouldgivethatwouldgetmethroughthatgate.
MymouthopenedslightlyasIfumbledforsomethingtosay,butnothingcameout.
Hello?thevoiceaskedagain,alittlemorefirmlythistime.
Panicwasstartingtosettleinwhensuddenly,Ifeltawarmbreathagainstthebackofmyneck.Istiffened,startled,thenturnedjustasanarmreachedforwardandcalmly.pressedabuttononthespeaker.
Wereheretoadopt,ofcourse,thefamiliarvoicesaidsmoothly.
Iblinked,thenturnedtofacehim,alreadyknowingwhoitwas.

Julian.
Late.Ofcourse.
Helookedsmuglikehedjustsavedtheday.Didhethinkthiswassomedramaticsoapopera?AZeeWorldfinale? Youshoweduplatejusttomakeagrandentrance?Isaid,narrowingmyeyes.playfully.Whatkeptyou? Hesmirkedandgaveaslightshrug.IhadsomethingimportanttotakecareofbeforeIleft.ButitlookslikeIcamejustintime.
Yeah,yeah.Luckyyou,Isaid,bumpinghim lightlyonthe shoulder.OnesecondlaterandIwouldvepoppedyourarmoff.
Beforehecouldrespond,aloudmetallicclickechoedfromthegate.Withamechanicalgroan,theironbarsbegan toswingopenautomatically.Webothturnedtofacetheopeningandwithoutanotherword,wewalkedthroughsidebyside.
Thecompoundwasbeautiful.Aburstofcolorgreetedusaswesteppedinside-flowersbloomingalongthewalkways,awellkeptlawn,andthesoundoflaughterinthe distance.Childrenplayedhappilyontheplayground,theirjoyinfectious.Itwas-hardtoimaginethatthissereneplace heldpiecesofmyforgottenpast.
youngwomaninaneatuniformapproacheduswithabrightsmile.Hello,ImMia.Pleasefollowme,shesaid,beforeturningonherheelandheadingtowardthemainbuilding.
Wefollowedclosebehind,thegravelcrunchingsoftlybeneathourfeet.IleanedtowardJulian,loweringmyvoice.
So…whatnow? Imurmured.Weobviouslydidntcomeheretoadopt.
CHAPTEROR1 CHAPTER081