Chapter 23
“Just a sec.” Elliana pulled out her phone and scrolled quickly. After a few seconds, she looked at Romina. “Apollo Route.”
“Have you checked the orphanage nearest to that address?” Romina asked.
“You said Lina’s father had taken her away, so I’ve been focusing on him.” Elliana shook her head.
Romina nodded. “I’ll look into it tonight. If there’s an orphanage near that area, I’ll go over tomorrow to take a look.”
“Alright.”
After a moment of silence, Elliana asked, “When are you gonna restart work?”
Romina’s tone was flat. “You mean quartz carving?”
“Yeah,” Elliana smiled. “I’ve been getting calls from friends lately, all wanting their quartz pieces repaired. I’ve al- ready had to turn down six jobs.”
“I need significant funding for quartz carving, so for now, I’m planning to open a wellness clinic first. I’ll eventually open a quartz sculpture studio, too, but that’ll have to wait. Once the clinic is stable, I might consider taking on quartz repair jobs.”
“Finally, Romi! I’m so glad to hear this. You have no idea how happy it makes me to see you like this-ambitious and determined. This is the Romi I know.”
Romina looked up, the smile on her face growing bigger.
The next afternoon.
According to the address Elliana had provided, Romina searched on the map and indeed found an orphanage that fit the criteria.
She soon hailed a cab and rushed over, only to see several black limos parking at the entrance.
The guard let her in after she explained her purpose.
She sat in the director’s office, waiting.
The staff member who brought her here explained that the CEO of a charity foundation was visiting the orphanage to- day to discuss upgrading its facilities and equipment. The director was currently in a meeting with the CEO and would meet with her after he left.
Romina waited for almost half an hour, but the director was still nowhere to be seen.
She stood up to stretch her legs when a sharp odor cut through the air.
0.0 %
08:07
It smelled like charred wood…
Two anxious voices immediately came from the other side of the door.
“Dariel, the second-floor warehouse is on fire. It’s probably caused by an electrical short. There are three kids trapped inside, and the fire is spreading fast…”
“Cut the power now. Then call 911. I’ll get security for backup!”
Romina was a mother. Her maternal instincts kicked in immediately when she heard their conversation.
Most of the orphans she saw here were about five or six years old, and they were utterly helpless in a fire. Without anyone’s help, they’d die.
She immediately rushed out.
Thick smoke had already spread through the corridor.
She quickly walked to the other end of the corridor while following the smell.
The stairs were swallowed by thick smoke.
Without hesitation, she charged into the thickest smoke.
At the orphanage’s entrance.
“Mr. Bowman, thanks for coming here today. I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.”
The female director of the orphanage looked at Joaquin with a gentle smile and extended her hand.
Just as he was about to shake her hand, someone shrieked, “Fire! Fire in the second-floor warehouse! Help!”
He immediately turned around, his gaze falling upon the orphanage building.
The right side of the second floor was already clogged with thick smoke.
A figure running in the hallway caught his attention.
She wore a long, white dress, her hair and the hem of her dress flying behind her as she sprinted forward, flashing past one white pillar after another.
She was at least a hundred meters from him. Yet, he hardly ever forgot a face.
Besides, they had once been alone in the same room before.
But…
Why was she here?
The flames were spreading fast by the time Romina rushed to the warehouse.
Several female staff were at the door, but no one dared to go inside.
51.7 %
08:07
