The Divorced Military Queen Awakens (by Sadie Baxter) novel Chapter 653

Chapter 653 A Sudden Interest

He crouched so their eyes were level. “Hello there, what’s your name?” he honey.

Dawn’s wide eyes studied the stranger.

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e warm as summer

Though young, she sensed that, beneath the friendly smile, the man watched her with another purpose entirely.

It reminded her of those cartoons where witches disguised themselves as kindly grandmothers, waiting f children to tumble into hidden snares.

When her silence stretched, the vice director rushed in, “Her name is Dawn Whitethorn.”

“Whitethorn, you say?” The man’s brows lifted. “Any chance she’s related to the Whitethorn family back in Azania?”

He had noticed her black hair and dark eyes–features unmistakably Aplothian.

The vice director chuckled. “Hardly. She only happens to share the name. If she truly is from the Whitethorn family, neither she nor her mother would be rotting in our care. In all these years, nobody’s come looking.”

The moment the tycoon heard the name, he thought he might be overthinking.

After all, Whitethorn was not a surname unique to Jexburgh’s old Whitethorn clan; families in far–off Meridia and Celosia bore it as well.

Besides, if the child truly belonged to that formidable household, why would she and her mother be in a state–run orphanage?

“How old is she?” the tycoon asked, voice as casual as someone appraising a colt

“Four, nearly five,” The vice director replied without missing a beat.

The tycoon, Edmund Arnold, nodded, satisfied; the age seemed perfect for molding.

“Then she’ll do. My assistant will return later to finalize the adoption papers. And for the orphanage, I’ll increase my donation by another thirty percent. One more thing–her time here must never become public.”

The vice director’s face lit up. “Of course. Absolute discretion is guaranteed.”

Not one adult had bothered to ask the little girl how she felt; to them, she was no more than merchandise changing hands.

“I don’t want to be adopted!” Dawn’s tiny voice suddenly rang out, high and trembling.

Arnold’s brows knit, annoyance flickering across his polished features.

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Chapter 653 A Sudden Interest

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“What do you know, child? This is a golden opportunity. Other kids would kill for it!” The vice director barked.

As predicted, the other children stared at Dawn with raw, unmistakable en

“I’m not an orphan! I have my mommy, and I have Ms. Megan. Ms. Megan told me to stay here and wait for her!”

She was young, yet she knew only orphans were ushered into new families with fresh parents.

But her mother was still alive.

She would not call another woman her mom.

“And who, pray tell, is this Ms. Megan?” Arnold asked, irritation sharpening his tone.

“No one important,” the vice director said. “She wires a little money each year and asks us to keep an eye on the child’s mother–some woman stuck in a coma.”

Arnold studied Dawn’s ink–dark eyes, then turned to the vice director. “Before my assistant returns, I expect all these messy ties to be severed. Otherwise, the donation vanishes.”

“Yes–yes, I’ll take care of everything.” The vice director hurried to assure him.

The moment Arnold left, the vice director grabbed Dawn by the arm and hauled her into a cramped office. His face hardened into a snarl. “Listen carefully. Whether you like it or not, you’re going with that man. He’s rich. You’ll eat well and wear pretty dresses.”

“I won’t! I want to stay with Mommy and wait for Ms. Megan!” Dawn cried, stubborn as a stone.

“Megan abandoned you long ago. If she cared, she would have visited.” The vice director sneered.

“That’s not true! Ms. Megan said we’re family!” Dawn’s cheeks flushed crimson.

“Family? You and your mother are dead weight to her.” He gave a mirthless chu voice. “Let Arnold adopt you, and your mother will finally receive proper treatment.”

en softened his

Dawn pressed her lips together, wordless, eyes shimmering with tears she refused to shed.

“Think about it. Keep waiting for Megan, or help your mother into a real hospital.” The vice director’s voice trailed off like a blade sliding back into its sheath.

Moments later, inside the climate–controlled backseat, the assistant ventured a question. “Mr. Arnold, do you truly intend to adopt that child?”

Having served him for years, the assistant knew Arnold’s gifts to orphana

than PR stunts.

were usually nothing more

The assistant had no qualms about arranging marriages for appearances, yet adoption–adoption was a different beast entirely. Raising a child demanded time, money, and the one resource ambitious men guarded most jealously–attention.

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Chapter 654 Schemes Of Adoption