Chapter 179 Liam's Mysterious Background
Four days later, Grace was finally discharged from the hospital.
The first thing she did after being released was to track down Lily's whereabouts.
The police informed her that Lily had been sent to an orphanage.
Grace could hardly believe it.
She asked the officer, "But doesn't Lily have a father? Why was she sent to an orphanage?"
The officer replied, "Her father never came forward to claim the child. According to our investigation, the girl's father has remarried."
Grace muttered in disbelief, "Remarried? Were her parents divorced?"
The officer explained, "Not exactly divorced. The girl's mother and father were never legally married. This girl is illegitimate, so she never had proper documentation. The girl was raised by her mother, and a few months ago, the little girl's father married another woman."
Grace asked worriedly, "Was the girl's mother found?"
The officer nodded grimly, "Yes. The body was buried in the backyard. It's been exhumed and cremated now..."
Since the little girl was emotionally unstable and had no one to care for her at the police station, the authorities had no choice but to send her to the orphanage.
Concerned about potential trauma, the police hadn't told the girl about her mother's cremation.
Grace felt deeply troubled.
She wanted to visit the little girl at the orphanage, so she asked for the address.
Alexander looked at the address with surprise. "Sunny Meadows Orphanage?"
"Yes," Grace said curiously. "Do you know it?"
Alexander replied, "Liam lived at this facility before I brought him home."
Grace felt a moment of disorientation.
Alexander asked, "Do you want to go see Lily?"
Grace nodded. "That little girl has been through so much. I don't know why, but I just can't stop worrying about her."
Alexander said, "I'll drive you there. Let me drop the boys off first."
Max and Liam, sitting in the back seat, suddenly chimed in eagerly, "We want to come too!"
Grace said, "Max, Liam, sweethearts, we're not going there to play."
Alexander said, "Let them come along. Liam has a connection with the old doctor at that facility."
Liam had been bullied at the orphanage, but one elderly physician had always been kind to him.
After Alexander brought Liam home, he'd wanted to thank the doctor, but the man had said he was good to Liam simply because he liked the boy—he had no interest in rewards or recognition. He only asked that they bring Liam back to visit occasionally.
"Alright," Grace agreed, her heart aching a little.
Knowing that Liam had also grown up in that orphanage made her feel terrible, though thankfully those hardships were behind them now.
She asked curiously, "How did Liam end up at that orphanage?"
Alexander replied, "Apparently, he was abandoned."
Grace pressed, "Haven't you been able to find out anything about Liam's background?"
She still cared deeply about who Liam's mother was and desperately wanted to know.
What kind of woman could give birth to Liam and then heartlessly abandon him? What was the real story?
Did Alexander know this woman?
Who could she be?
Her mind was full of questions, but she didn't know how to ask them.
Perhaps Alexander was keeping something from her, unwilling to discuss it.
Everyone had parts of their past they preferred not to revisit.
Maybe this woman had been involved with Alexander, they'd separated, she'd given birth to Liam, and then abandoned him.
Outside the orphanage gates, Alexander parked the car.
He carried Max and Liam, one in each arm, as they got out.
Grace approached the security guard. "A few days ago, the police brought in a little girl named Lily. Is she here?"
Grace was afraid Lily might have already been adopted.
The guard consulted his list. "Would that be Lily Morris?"
Grace didn't know Lily's last name, so she described her instead. "She's a very thin girl, somewhat malnourished, but pretty and delicate-looking."
"That must be the child—she was brought in just a couple days ago."
"Good."
The guard made a phone call to get permission for their visit, then told Alexander and Grace, "You can go in now."
Alexander and Grace walked to a classroom doorway. Inside, there were many children.
Some sat on small stools in silence; others pressed their faces against windows, showing shy, curious glances at Alexander and Grace; still others stared intently toward the doorway, their eyes filled with hope and longing...
Most of the children here were orphans with no parents. Some were born with disabilities, others had been abandoned simply for being girls...
Every child sent to the orphanage carried the burden of an unfortunate beginning.
Grace immediately spotted Lily huddled in a corner.
A caregiver approached them. "Are you Ms. Foster?"
Grace nodded. "I'm here to see Lily."
She set down some donated supplies by the classroom door.
The caregiver said, "Thank you."
She turned and called to Lily, "Lily, someone's here to see you."
Lily looked up, and upon seeing Grace, she stood and ran toward her.
"Grace!"
She threw herself into Grace's arms.
She was so thin—in just these few days, she seemed to have lost even more weight.
Grace picked up Lily and played with her in the classroom. "Lily, I brought you lots of snacks."
Meanwhile, Alexander asked the caregiver, "Is Dr. Thompson still here?"
Dr. Thompson was the elderly physician who had been so kind to Liam.
"Mr. Hayes!" The caregiver recognized him, but her expression turned sorrowful. "Dr. Thompson passed away last week."
Alexander was stunned.
Liam peeked out from behind him, looked at the caregiver, and suddenly seemed to understand. He turned and ran off in a particular direction.
Max became alarmed. "Liam!"
He immediately chased after him.
Grace, thinking something was wrong, nervously stepped out and asked Alexander, "What's wrong with Liam?"
Alexander explained, "The doctor who was so good to Liam passed away last week. Liam must be looking for him."
Alexander led Grace to the medical office.
The medical office was empty, the desk bare.
Liam walked in and looked around, his expression blank and hollow.
He approached the desk and found a large box sitting there, its surface carefully dusted clean.
The caregiver caught up with them and told Alexander, "This is what Dr. Thompson left for Liam."
Liam hugged the box, gently pressing his small face against it and nuzzling it affectionately, his expression growing melancholy.
He seemed to understand that the kind Dr. Thompson was gone forever.
Though he didn't cry, the sadness in his eyes said everything.
Alexander asked, "Why didn't anyone call to tell me Dr. Thompson had passed?" He had left his contact information with the facility.
The caregiver sighed. "Dr. Thompson told us not to. He was afraid it would make Liam sad."
Alexander said, "The last time I saw him, he seemed fairly healthy. How did he pass so suddenly?"
The caregiver shook her head. "Actually, Dr. Thompson's health had been poor for a long time. Physicians can't always heal themselves."