The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 137

After leaving the inpatient ward, Victoria didn't leave the hospital right away. She stood on the steps, her phone open to her contacts list, her finger hovering over Elias's name for a long time without moving.

She had been waiting for a call or message from Hawk these past few days to schedule a time to go to city hall. By her count, tomorrow was the day her cooling-off period with Elias ended, yet there was no word from Hawk.

She wondered if he had even reminded Elias.

Just then, a heart-wrenching sob broke through her thoughts.

It was the sound of a child.

Victoria followed the crying down the steps and along a garden path beside the building. A short distance in, she saw a little girl who had fallen onto the cobblestone path. Two small pigtails behind her ears were coming undone. She looked to be a little over a year old, just old enough to walk steadily.

Victoria glanced around. This area was mostly deserted. Why was a child here all alone?

The little girl was crying so hard she was starting to get out of breath.

Victoria didn't hesitate. She walked over and picked her up. "Sweetie, did you get hurt? Let me take a look, okay?"

The moment she was lifted, the little girl's tiny hands gripped Victoria's sleeve tightly.

Victoria knelt, letting the girl sit on her thigh as she carefully checked for injuries.

Fortunately, it seemed she had only taken a tumble. Her palms were scraped a little, but there were no other serious injuries.

"Little one, where are your mommy and daddy?" Victoria asked softly. Seeing the tear streaks on the girl's chubby face, her heart softened. She gently brushed the hair from the girl's forehead and used her sleeve to wipe away the tears.

Perhaps she was tired, or perhaps it was Victoria's gentle touch, but the little girl's crying subsided.

However, when she heard the words 'mommy and daddy,' her little pink lips trembled, and she burst into tears again, catching Victoria completely off guard. Victoria pulled her into an embrace, stood up, and began to pace back and forth, gently patting her back.

"Don't cry, don't cry," she murmured.

But the little girl's soft arms were wrapped tightly around her neck, her chin resting on Victoria's shoulder, and no amount of coaxing could stop her tears.

Listening to her cry, Victoria felt a tugging pain in her own heart.

"Don't cry, little one. You want to find your mommy and daddy, right? I'll take you to find them, okay? Be a good girl, don't cry."

The girl looked tiny and thin, but after holding her for just a short while, Victoria's arms began to ache.

She wanted to put her down and hold her hand, but the girl clung to her tightly, her lips quivering at the slightest attempt to pull away, on the verge of crying again.

With no other choice, Victoria gritted her teeth and persisted, wondering whether it was better to search for the parents or take the child to the information desk.

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