The Ex-Wife He Can’t Have novel Chapter 53

She fully expected Stella to either nod or shake her head.

Instead, the little girl simply stared at her intently with those massive, striking eyes.

There was absolutely zero emotion discernible in her gaze.

Jillian felt a mix of amusement and helplessness, wondering if she had completely misread the situation.

Just as she was about to pull her hand back, Stella suddenly reached out with her tiny fingers and cautiously gripped the bear.

However, she didn't snatch it away. Instead, she slowly trailed her fingers over it, her unblinking eyes locked dead onto Jillian.

It was as if she was ready to retract her hand at the slightest sudden movement from Jillian.

Jillian remained perfectly still, patiently waiting until Stella finally pulled the bear into her arms.

Only then did Jillian withdraw her hand.

Mallory quickly chimed in, "Stella, this is the new lady who will be taking care of you. How about you go home with her for now? Once the director finds a new hospital building, we'll bring you right back here."

Stella remained entirely mute.

"Okay, it's settled then," Mallory declared.

Jillian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. How was it settled? Stella hadn't agreed to a single thing.

But despite Mallory's years in charity work, she rarely cared for the children hands-on, meaning her patience was understandably limited.

Jillian held up a single finger. "Stella, can you touch your finger to mine? If we touch fingers, it means you're willing to come home with me."

Stella didn't move an inch, her gaze fixed entirely on Jillian's hand.

Jillian kept her finger extended, and after a while, her arm began to go numb.

Meanwhile, Mallory had completely run out of patience.

"Let's just get this over with. I'll have someone move the playpen."

"Don't do that, you'll scare her."

"She's always like this! You could wait all day and she still wouldn't give you a response—"

Before Mallory could finish her sentence, Stella suddenly reached out and timidly tapped her tiny finger against Jillian's.

Mallory gasped in pleasant surprise. "Hey, she actually understands!"

A wave of warmth and a touch of pride washed over Jillian.

Her little hand was smudged with dirt and icy cold. Dressed in a blue-and-white hospital gown, with medium-length hair and large, striking eyes, she possessed an incredibly beautiful, fragile sort of elegance.

Jillian crouched down to look at her, and suddenly, a bizarre sensation gripped her chest.

There was an inexplicable familiarity about Stella. Looking deep into her eyes, it felt as though she was seeing another child entirely.

Connor.

She was probably just missing her own son too much.

Jillian firmly reassured herself.

She stayed at the hospital with Stella a little while longer, allowing the two of them to slowly get acquainted.

Even though Stella still refused to utter a single word, she was clearly far less resistant to Jillian's presence.

Eventually, Jillian helped pack up her belongings—which consisted of nothing more than her everyday bedsheets, a tiny pillow, and a few scattered toys—and brought her home.

Mallory stayed behind at the hospital while Daniel drove Jillian and the little girl back to the apartment.

Not wanting Daniel to get the wrong idea, Jillian quickly clarified, "Daniel, I'll just be fostering her for a few days until Mallory secures a new location for the hospital. I promise it won't interfere with my work schedule."