Chapter 3
The curtains were tightly closed in the study, and the air felt heavy.
Julia didn't turn on the light.
She walked straight over to the desk and spotted the calendar right away.
Her heart raced.
She reached out and lifted the calendar.
A yellow receipt lay quietly underneath.
Bold, glaring black letters stared up at her.
[Sunrise Care Home.]
Below it was the address, a phone number, and a signature of the handler.
It was Mark's.
Julia picked up the paper, her knuckles turning white from the force of her grip.
That was it.
Her daughter Chloe was at Sunrise Care Home.
She clenched the receipt in her fist and turned to open the study door.
Outside, Mark was frantically pounding on the door.
When the door swung open, Mark froze for a moment. But as soon as he saw the yellow receipt in Julia's hand, his expression changed completely.
"Give that back to me!"
He reached out, trying to snatch it from her.
But Julia sidestepped nimbly, easily dodging his grasp.
She put the receipt into her bag and zipped it up in one smooth, decisive motion.
"Mark, you disgust me."
She stared at him, delivering each word like a slap.
With that, she didn't spare him another glance, headed straight for the entryway, and put on her shoes.
"Julia! Stop right there!" Mark yelled after her. "There's nothing you can do! I am her legal guardian! You have no right to take her without my approval!"
Julia's steps didn't falter for a second.
She opened the door and walked out.
Then, with force, she slammed the door shut behind her.
The loud sound echoed through the house like thunder, shaking the whole place.
Mark stood frozen, shaking with rage.
He never imagined that Julia, always so meek, would suddenly stand up to him with such strength.
Julia rushed downstairs and waited by the curb.
The late autumn wind brushed against her face, cool and sharp, but it couldn't extinguish the fire burning in her heart.
Without wasting a second, she hailed a taxi.
"Take me to Sunrise Care Home. Please hurry!"
The driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror. Seeing her red eyes and anxious face, he hit the gas without a word.
The car weaved through the city streets.
Julia's heart was racing even faster than the car.
She pulled out her phone and called Susan.
"Sue, I got the address. It's Sunrise Care Home. I'm heading there right now."
"Great! I was just about to call you with an update," Susan replied, sounding relieved.
"Julia, don't stress. I know a lawyer who specializes in divorce and child custody cases, John Carter. He's at the top of the field.
"I already told him about you, and he said you should just go get Chloe. If the orphanage gives you any trouble, call him, and he'll take care of everything."
"Thanks, Sue."
A wave of warmth washed over Julia's heart.
She ended the call and gazed at the blurring streetscape sliding past the window. Only one thought filled her heart: to get Chloe back.
Forty minutes later, the taxi pulled up in front of a slightly run-down building.
A sign out front read, [Sunrise Care Home.]
Julia paid the fare and nearly tumbled out of the car.
She dashed through the gate and grabbed a passing staff.
"Excuse me, has a little girl named Chloe been admitted here in the past few days?"
The staff looked her up and down, wary.
"And you are?"
"I'm her mother, Julia."
She hurriedly pulled out her ID and household registration document from her bag.
The staff checked and nodded.
"Yeah, we do have a little girl by that name who came in two days ago. Come with me."
Julia followed behind as they walked down a long hallway.
There were some activity rooms lining both sides of the corridor.
She could hear kids laughing and playing inside.
But none of those happy voices belonged to her Chloe.
Julia's chest tightened with worry.
Finally, the staff stopped in front of a door that was shut tight.
"She's pretty shy and hasn't really mixed with the other kids. Her mood's been a bit shaky, so we've let her stay in her own room for now, just till she settles in," the staff explained.
Julia felt like her heart was being crushed by an invisible fist.
She just nodded and signaled that she understood.
The staff pulled out a key and unlocked the door.
The room was tiny, with nothing but a small bed and a cabinet.
In the corner at the foot of the bed, a skinny little figure was huddled up, knees pulled tight to her chest.
It was Chloe.
She was wearing old, ill-fitting clothes, her hair a tangled mess, and tear tracks still on her little face.
When she heard the door open, she looked up, frightened.
But the moment she saw Julia standing in the doorway, her dull, lifeless eyes suddenly lit up with hope.
"Mommy..."
Her voice was barely a whisper, trembling with disbelief.
Then, as if confirming it was real, Chloe burst into tears and scrambled toward Julia.
"Mommy! You're finally here! I missed you so much! I thought you didn't want me anymore!"
Julia grabbed her daughter and hugged her tight, her tears bursting out uncontrollably.
Her heart shattered.
Just then, her phone rang.
It was an unknown number.
She picked up. Mark's cold, threatening voice came through.
"You think getting her back means you've won?
"I've already called the cops. I told them you're mentally unstable and snatched the child from the orphanage.
"Julia, I'll see you in court."