Win My Husband Over to Find My Child
Chapter 266: We’re Sorry for Coming Late

Chapter 266: We’re Sorry for Coming Late

Seeing Calliope cry sorrowfully stirred another layer of uneasiness within Leslie. She was glad to watch how patiently Calix tried to persuade the little girl but, she also wished to do the same.

As Leslie braced herself to stand up, Director Li suddenly approached her. Neither Calix nor Calliope noticed the older lady’s action as they were more preoccupied with each other.

Director Li placed one hand on the right side of Leslie’s waist while the other held the latter’s left arm.

"Mrs. Xu, do you wanna go there? To them?" asked Director Li gently as she supported Leslie to stand, "Let me help you."

"Yes," Leslie nodded once. Smiling gratefully, she said, "Thank you... for helping me, Director Li..."

Leslie knew she could ask Director Li for the wheelchair but, she opted for walking instead. She wanted to sit on the couch next to Calliope, hoping to give the little one a reassuring embrace to express her overflowing affection.

Bracing the incoming pain, Leslie slowly walked toward Calix and Calliope. Her desire to be with her daughter overcame the stabbing ache. This pain was nothing compared to the wreckage she suffered before her previous death.

"Does Poppy want to live with Uncle and Auntie? Like a family?"

Calix’s question quivered Leslie’s heart. Her widened eyes shifted from the back of the man’s head to her daughter’s face, hoping to see what kind of expression would Calliope show.

"C-can I? Poppy likes Auntie and Uncle... Can Auntie and Uncle... be Poppy’s mama and papa?"

Calliope’s sad yet hopeful countenance almost broke the dam of Leslie’s tears. She pushed herself to walk faster.

"You can, Poppy. You can..."

Swept away by the overwhelming sorrow, Leslie didn’t realize she had unintentionally cut Calix from replying to Calliope. Words continued flowing out of her mouth.

"Poppy, our family won’t be... complete without you..."

Calliope jumped down the couch while Calix rushed to Leslie. The little one also ran to the lady, fear was evident on her small face. The toy Mimo fell off her arms, lying on the floor.

"Auntie! Your feet hurt ah! U-uncle! Help Auntie!"

Calliope anxiously tugged at Leslie’s skirt, urging her to sit. Calix swiftly changed from holding Leslie to carrying her. He brought her to the couch where the child sat previously.

"Auntie, do your feet hurt?" asked Calliope, still being nervous. She ran to the couch as Calix carefully put Leslie down.

Director Li patted Calliope’s shoulders, trying to comfort the anxious child. She softened her voice, looking at her fondly, "Poppy, you should sit next to Mrs. Xu. You haven’t finished talking to them, right?"

"...okay, Granny."

Fidgeting with her small fingers, Calliope quietly looked at Leslie and Calix. Her wet lashes trembled as tears began pooling again in her pupils. She kept moving her eyes from Leslie to her feet.

"Poppy, come... sit here with Auntie?"

Leslie patted the empty seat next to her, guilt flickered in her eyes. She was aware that her action frightened Calliope as the little one assumed she was in pain.

Calliope blinked. She blankly stared at Leslie and Calix before quietly climbing up the couch. Once she was seated, she tilted her head up to look at the young lady.

"Auntie’s feet... hurt?"

Leslie’s breath hitched. An onslaught of sorrow crashed onto the shore of her heart. Refraining from abruptly hugging Calliope, she forced herself to regain her composure.

"Poppy... do you remember what... I said just now? About... our family won’t ever be complete... without you..."

Leslie’s quivering voice sounded so faint but, the weight of her words resonated heavily with everyone present inside the room.

Calliope’s eyes were still on Leslie as they were staring at each other. None of them wished to break their eye contact.

Calix was crouching before them, anxiously watching their interaction. He inwardly prayed for the smoothness of this event. They had yet to reveal the truth to Calliope.

Director Li stood a few feet away from the family of three, refusing to impose her presence on them during such a critical moment.

After what seemed like a long time, Calliope finally responded, followed by a nod, "...Poppy remember."

How could she not?

Despite being surprised to see Leslie standing, the importance of her words was cemented deep into Calliope’s mind. Each of them touched her little heart – the one already yearning for their care and affection.

Unable to hold herself back, clear droplets started rolling down Leslie’s cheeks. Her sudden burst of tears alarmed Calliope and Calix. They hurriedly tried to comfort her.

"L-Leslie, don’t cry..."

"Auntie, don’t cry ah. Listen to Uncle..."

"Sorry... I’m sorry..." Leslie shook her head. She unconsciously reached out for Calliope’s tiny body, touching her small back, "I’m sorry, Poppy... I should come... to get you... earlier..."

Leslie wanted to remain calm but, the memories of holding a lifeless Calliope came back to haunt her. Her heart shattered beyond repair as she witnessed her precious child’s death.

Please.

She had never wanted to relive that moment again.

"I’m sorry... sorry... please... stay with me, en? I’m sorry, Poppy..."

Words of regret continued slipping out of Leslie’s mouth. Even a child like Calliope could tell something was amiss from the words chosen by the lady.

"Auntie, what’s wrong?" asked Calliope timidly. She touched one of Leslie’s arms, patting it gently, "Poppy makes Auntie sad? Why... why Auntie says sorry?"

Heaving out a sigh, Calix knew he needed to step in. While caressing Leslie’s back, he moved his gaze to the confused Calliope.

"Poppy, didn’t you ask us to adopt you earlier?"

Calliope nodded once, feeling more uneasy even though the look on Calix’s face remained gentle.

"...yes."

Chuckling, Calix raised his other hand before stroking Calliope’s small head. Leslie’s sobs were still clearly echoing in his ears.

"We’re sorry for coming to get you late, Poppy," Calix spoke slowly, enunciating each of his words without looking away from Calliope’s eyes, "We want you in our family because you’re our daughter, Poppy. We’re your birth parents. You real papa and mama."

Calix’s solemn countenance was reflected in Calliope’s widened eyes.

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