Reborn with Nothing but My Farm and Vengeance in the Apocalypse novel Chapter 536

Chapter 536: Chapter 536: Obligation of Support

The police officer was in uniform and looked young. It was a face Melody Summers didn’t recognize.

He looked thoroughly impatient as he spoke to Grace Sutton, who stood before him. "Haven’t I made myself clear? This child’s immediate family is gone. You now have a legal obligation to raise him! This is your duty, a responsibility you must fulfill as citizens of this country. You cannot refuse!"

His voice was so loud that Melody Summers, standing a short distance away, couldn’t help but frown. ’A legal obligation?’

’...What legal obligation?’

Grace Sutton looked troubled and said anxiously, "But... but, Officer Hopper... this child really has nothing to do with our family!"

"He’s the son of my second sister-in-law’s sister. We’re not related in the slightest! How can we be expected to raise him? You should try to contact the child’s birth father!"

Hearing this, Officer Hopper’s frown deepened.

Just as he was about to speak, a woman’s voice came from behind him. "Aunt Grace, what’s going on?"

Grace Sutton turned, and seeing Melody Summers, she looked as though she’d just found her lifeline.

She rushed to pull Melody over and said, "Melody, you’re finally back! This Officer Hopper says your second uncle and his wife are dead, and he wants us to adopt Howard Fletcher!"

Grace Sutton hadn’t felt particularly shocked or saddened by the news of Caleb Summers and Zoe Kane’s deaths. However, Officer Hopper’s proposal that the Summers Family raise Howard Fletcher had given her a genuine fright.

The last time Howard Fletcher came to the Summers’ home, he’d stabbed Nina Summers. The wound on Nina’s shoulder had been so deep you could see the bone. The memory alone still made Grace Sutton’s heart race with fear.

’For someone so young to be so vicious... this kid is clearly trouble.’ Grace Sutton simply could not accept the idea of adopting a child like that.

She was blocking the doorway, trying to prevent Howard Fletcher from entering, but Officer Hopper was unyielding, insisting that she would be breaking the law if she refused to adopt the boy. Thank goodness Melody had returned when she did; otherwise, Grace truly wouldn’t have known how to handle the situation.

Melody Summers listened to her aunt, then turned to look. Sure enough, Howard Fletcher was standing beside Officer Hopper.

There was no telling what he’d been through. The boy’s hair was a mess, and his shirt hem and pant legs were stained with dirt. But despite his disheveled appearance, his expression was eerily calm.

As Melody Summers looked at Howard Fletcher, he happened to look up at her. Their eyes met for an instant. His gaze was dark, possessing a depth that belied his age, and it sent an involuntary shiver down Melody’s spine.

Just then, Officer Hopper turned to Melody Summers. "Good, you’re back. Your aunt is getting on in years and doesn’t understand the law. You young people should have some legal knowledge, right?"

Officer Hopper pointed at Howard Fletcher. "This child’s immediate family has passed away, which makes his grandmother his legal guardian. I heard he also has an older sister living here? She has an obligation to care for him as well!"

Melody Summers was speechless.

Melody felt just as conflicted as Grace Sutton. She was in no mood to dwell on how exactly Caleb Summers’s family had died. The thought of adopting Howard Fletcher just gave her a headache.

After a moment of silence, she managed to ask, "Officer, this child was adopted by my second uncle. His biological father is still alive, so logically, shouldn’t it be his responsibility, not ours?"

The implication was clear: Officer Hopper should be the one to take Howard Fletcher to find his birth father.

Officer Hopper’s face soured. He scowled at Melody. "Since all the adoption paperwork was legally finalized, this child is a member of your family. It doesn’t matter whether his biological father is alive or not!"

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify