Broken Oath: I Left, He Regretted-Chapter 111: Uncle Gave Me a Child!

Julian Sinclair glanced at me but didn’t respond, instead asking the servant, "How’s Sharon doing today?"

The servant looked troubled, "Mr. Sinclair, since the child came yesterday, she hasn’t spoken and is eating very little. Do you think we should get a doctor to check her? I’m worried she might be unwell."

Julian sighed softly, dismissed the servant, and slowly walked over to Sharon.

His tall figure crouched down, his tone especially gentle, "Sharon, are you hungry? Is there anything you’d like to eat?"

Sharon shook her head, "I don’t want to eat."

Julian stood up helplessly, finally noticing my curious expression nearby.

"You remember Mason Hawthorne from the golf course last time? This is his daughter. But..."

After he spoke, I suddenly understood.

So it’s Mason Hawthorne’s daughter all along.

Julian paused and said, "He and his wife are having some disagreements lately and they can’t care for the child, so they left her here with me. But I will be traveling to several cities soon and really can’t manage. Can you help take care of her for a few days?"

I looked at the little girl curled up in the corner of the sofa, confused. A young lady from the Hawthorne Family shouldn’t be like this, right?

She seemed about the same age as Doris, but she lacked Doris’s usual confidence and flamboyance. Instead, she gripped her skirt tightly with her hands, not daring to lift her head.

I walked up to her, cautiously trying to communicate: "What’s your name?"

The little girl looked at me timidly, staying silent.

"Sharon," Julian answered for her, adding, "You can just call her Shanshan, it’s easier to remember."

At this moment, tears suddenly welled up in Sharon’s big eyes, and she looked pitifully at Julian, "Uncle Sinclair, do my parents not want me anymore? Do you not want me either?"

Julian seeing this, squatted down in front of her again, speaking in a deliberately gentle voice, as if afraid of frightening her.

"Uncle Sinclair is just worried about not taking good care of you. There are too many things happening lately, so I asked this auntie to look after you for a few days. Once I’m done with my work, I’ll bring you back right away, okay?"

Sharon looked at him, half-believing, unable to refuse but clearly feeling wronged.

Then, Julian took me to the balcony and in a low voice began to tell me about Sharon’s background.

"Actually, Sharon is an orphan. Mason Hawthorne’s wife couldn’t conceive and went to Ayara to find a so-called expert who said they needed to adopt a child to ’invite a son,’ so they took Sharon from the orphanage. But last year when Mason’s biological daughter was born, his wife immediately changed her attitude, insisting on sending this child back to the orphanage. It was thanks to Mason and the elders of the Hawthorne Family that it didn’t happen. However, lately, Mason’s wife has escalated, picking on Sharon even more. The child is also suffering at the Hawthornes. Mason had no choice but to send her to me.

Listening to this made my heart tighten.

Because I was adopted too, and if my situation had been like Mrs. Hawthorne’s, I might have ended up just like Sharon.

Thinking of how The Ellison Family treated me like their own daughter, giving me a privileged life and good education, I am deeply grateful.

I glanced back at the lonely little girl in the living room, saying with difficulty, "I can take care of her for a while. But I also have to work during the day, so I can’t just leave such a young child alone at home."

Julian said, "I’ve already arranged for her to attend St. Jude’s Kindergarten. You can take her there first thing in the morning."

I was a bit surprised, St. Jude’s Kindergarten? That’s Jenna Sutton’s family school.

In the end, I agreed.

Julian had helped me many times before, so this was my chance to repay him a little.

After coming to an agreement with Julian, we returned to the living room.

Sharon, sitting on the sofa, looked up, her bright eyes full of lingering fear, like a startled little animal, making her particularly heart-wrenching to observe.

Though she wasn’t familiar with me and didn’t seem willing to go with me, she nodded when Julian spoke, like an abandoned child.

Julian handed me her pink suitcase, saying, "These are her daily necessities and clothes. Also, there’s a bank card with her living expenses deposited by Mason."

I nodded, accepting the suitcase.

Sharon was still holding her rabbit plush toy close, while I held her other hand as we left Julian’s villa.

Since I had driven Julian’s car to drop him off at his place last night, he asked me to take his car back.

The little girl sat quietly beside me, remaining silent no matter what I asked, as if she were invisible.

Remembering the servant mentioning her lack of appetite, once we got home, I said, "Sharon, I can bake cookies. Would you like some?"

Sharon was just a child, a glimmer of curiosity appeared in her eyes.

I smiled and started gathering ingredients, "We can bake extra tonight, and you can bring some to share with your new friends at kindergarten tomorrow."

She finally smiled at me and nodded enthusiastically.

I glanced at the time, "It’s already nine o’clock. Let’s take a bath first, and after you can have cookies, alright?"

Sharon hesitated for a moment, "I can bathe myself; I’ve always bathed myself."

I looked at her in surprise.

Doris sometimes even needed Timothy Xavier’s help to dress, yet this child could bathe herself.

So I ran a bath for her and placed pajamas on the rack, reminding her, "If you need help while bathing, call out for auntie, okay?"

"Okay."

After she agreed, I went to the kitchen to start baking the cookies.

After all, it was her first day at kindergarten and being so shy, it might take some extra effort to help her make friends.

Sharon emerged from the bath to see me baking the cookies.

She looked fresh and had managed everything on her own, even her hair was properly dried.

The sight softened my heart while also filling me with tenderness.

It was after eleven o’clock when the cookies were ready.

"Would you like to try some?"

I packed a portion for her to bring to kindergarten and kept some for her.

At first, Sharon felt a little embarrassed, but perhaps due to hunger or the enticing buttery aroma, she picked one up and started eating.

...

The next morning, the little girl was up earlier than me, neatly making her bed and combing her hair by herself.

I was stunned, barely able to lend a hand.

Yet all this seemed quite normal for Sharon.

I saved a lot of effort; after breakfast, we headed to kindergarten together.

...

At the entrance of St. Jude’s Kindergarten.

I parked the car and reminded Sharon, "When you go inside, be sure to greet the other children. Do you remember the introduction Auntie taught you on the road?"

"Yes, I remember," Sharon earnestly said, "I’m Sharon, from Silverstream, and I hope to make friends with everyone."

I smiled warmly, patting her little head, "That’s right! So smart."

After speaking, I handed her a box of cookies from the car, "Share these with the other kids this morning, okay?"

"Okay, thank you, Auntie."

She cradled the cookie box in her arms, looking very cherishing.

At that moment, a familiar child’s voice came over: "Daddy, look! Isn’t that her?"

I looked over.

Sure enough, Doris was pointing at me, her other hand held by Timothy Xavier.

I had long since been utterly disappointed by this father and daughter, so I blatantly ignored them and held Sharon’s hand, preparing to take her inside.

Just then, Timothy Xavier directly blocked my path.

He saw the car beside me and immediately recognized it as Julian Sinclair’s.

The next second, his gaze turned cold, and he questioned, "Whose child is this?"

Sharon, frightened by his harsh tone, immediately hid behind me.

I shielded her protectively behind me, raised my eyes to meet Timothy’s gaze, and replied without a trace of warmth, "None of your business."

Timothy stepped forward, suddenly grabbing my wrist, "In such a hurry to be a stepmother to Julian Sinclair’s child? Don’t forget, we haven’t divorced yet; you’re still Mrs. Xavier!"

I looked at the anger in his eyes and scoffed coldly, "Fine. Do you dare to tell all these kindergarten parents right now that I’m your wife?"

Parents nearby were already curiously looking over.

Timothy’s face turned ashen, and his grip on my wrist loosened.

I pulled my hand back, saying coldly, "A man who doesn’t even dare to admit his own marriage — what gives him the right to demand so much from me?"

"Daddy!"

Beside him, Doris grabbed Timothy’s hand, raised her chin proudly, and said, "Why bother with her? I already said she could never be my mom! If she really were my mom, why is she so close to other kids?"

Timothy’s face looked even worse as he glanced coldly at Sharon behind me before taking Doris’s hand and walking into the kindergarten.

After they left, I looked down at the frightened Sharon, gently patting her head and softly saying, "Don’t be afraid, it’s okay now."

Just as I reached the classroom door, I saw Jenna Sutton already waiting for me.

We had already been in contact along the way, and she had already informed the teacher that Sharon was timid and needed extra attention.

Coincidentally, Sharon and Doris were in the same class.

After dropping her off, I didn’t leave immediately because I was worried about Sharon, so I stood outside the classroom with Jenna, watching the situation inside through the window.

After introducing herself, Sharon, holding a box of cookies, timidly walked over to the other kids.

She took cookies from the box, handing them out one by one.

The kids began to take the cookies one after another.

Soon enough, someone exclaimed, "Wow, these cookies are so good!"

Another agreed, "Yeah, they’re delicious. Why do they taste so much like the ones Doris brought last time?"

At this moment, Sharon happened to hand a cookie to Doris.

But Doris abruptly raised her hand to knock the cookie to the ground, frowning as she exclaimed, "I don’t want it! What a terrible cookie, just looks like it tastes bad!"

My heart tightened, and I instinctively wanted to go in, but Jenna stopped me.

She lowered her voice beside me, speculating, "Could it be that Doris is jealous? Seeing you being so nice to another child makes her uncomfortable?"

I hesitated for a moment, then shook my head with a bitter smile, "How could that be possible? She has this deep-seated belief that Serena Sawyer is her mom. Why would she be jealous of me being nice to someone else?"

Jenna couldn’t help but complain, "Indeed, that little ungrateful brat!"

She pondered for a moment and then said thoughtfully, "Still, I really should tell the teachers not to let Doris bully this kid."

I stayed by the door for a while longer, and aside from Doris, the other kids were still friendly to Sharon.

Feeling relieved, I left for work.

...

By the time I arrived at the office, I was, as expected, late.

Victoria Monroe looked at me with apprehension, saying, "How do you always manage to walk right into trouble? When President Sinclair isn’t around, you’re on time. But every time you’re late, he happens to be here?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

I thought helplessly that this time I was doing Julian Sinclair a favor, surely I wouldn’t get scolded again?

Just then, Jolie Joyce walked over, adopting a superior attitude, and accused, "Zoe Ellison, you’re late again! President Sinclair wants you to go to his office immediately!"

Victoria Monroe looked at me with concern.

For a moment, I couldn’t figure out Julian Sinclair’s intentions.

Doesn’t he know I have to drop Sharon off at kindergarten in the morning?

Jolie scoffed, urging, "Why are you still standing there!"

I ignored her and headed straight for Julian Sinclair’s office.

After knocking, Jolie entered with me and said to Julian, "President Sinclair, I checked Zoe Ellison’s attendance record this month, and she has been late quite a few times. The Sinclair Group just acquired this company, and there are too many loopholes in attendance. Do you think we should..."

She hadn’t finished adding fuel to the fire before Julian interrupted, "I’ve asked Zoe Ellison to handle something for me. From now on, you don’t need to worry about her attendance. As for everyone else’s, the company’s HR will manage that. Just focus on your own duties, Secretary Joyce, and leave."

Jolie thought I had come in to be reprimanded.

But to her surprise, Julian warned her in front of me instead.

Jolie forced a smile that looked worse than crying, saying, "Okay, President Sinclair."

Before leaving, she cast a sidelong glare at me.

The office door closed again, and Julian, while looking at the documents, asked, "Did Sharon go to kindergarten? How’s it going?"

"Pretty well; she’s getting along with the other kids," I replied with a smile, "She’s well-behaved and quite mature."

Julian nodded, then opened a drawer and handed me a sky-blue gift box.

"This is for you."

I paused, asking, "What is it..."

Julian’s usually composed face seemed to flicker with a hint of discomfort as he casually explained, "Don’t get it wrong; it’s a token of appreciation from Mason for taking care of his child."

"Oh, I see."

I suddenly understood and said, "No need for a gift; Sharon is very well-behaved, and it wasn’t any trouble."

After all, judging by the brand on the gift box, what’s inside is probably not cheap.

Julian just looked at me, his eyes beneath the clean lenses filled with some deep meaning: "Open it. You might like it."

Not wanting to refuse anymore, I opened the gift box.

Inside the box lay a Paraiba Blue Tourmaline Bracelet, its clarity and color both top-notch, as pure as the deep blue sea.

I was stunned for a moment. Mason really knows how to pick a gift. How did he know I liked blue?

"Seems like you like it."

Julian propped his chin up with his fingers, a rare smile on his lips, "If you like it, take it. I don’t like taking back gifts I’ve already given."

I was caught off guard and, following his lead, asked, "Didn’t you just say... it was a gift from Mr. Hawthorne?"