Chapter 110 William Homeless
As a senior caregiver, she had worked for many important people and knew that big corporations had prenuptial agreements to protect their interests, with assets divided beforehand. Since Amelia's legal wife had no significant background, there was no way a sky-high divorce settlement would happen, so she didn't say anything more.
......
Meanwhile, William sat in the back seat of the car.
He took out his phone and called Rhys.
"Mr. Brown." Rhys answered immediately.
"There's something I need you to handle." William said, explaining the specific details.
"Alright Mr. Brown, I'll prepare the materials right away." Rhys said.
After hanging up, William fell silent.
"Mr. Brown, where should we go now?" the driver asked.
"Just drive around." William said.
He didn't know where to go. The apartment - he didn't want to go back there.
The marital home - Amelia had already moved out. All he would see there was an empty house without her.
The Brown Villa was definitely out of the question - Finn and Cleo didn't want to see him.
And he wasn't welcome at Amelia's rented place either.
William looked out at the scenery. The city's nightscape was as beautiful and busy as it had been for many years.
The coming and going cars formed streams of bright lights.
This city was so big. Everyone said the Brown Group was the top of Shadow City's three major powers, and he stood at the very peak of this city.
Yet at this moment, William felt he had nowhere to go home to.
What was happening to him?
William leaned back in his seat, tiredly rubbing his temples, his mood complicated.
The driver drove aimlessly around the city.
William just stared blankly out the window.
Outside were endless rows of shops.
William thought for a moment and told the driver to stop.
He went to a mall and saw many little girls' dresses, as well as children's stationery and backpacks.
[Briar would look pretty good in these dresses.]
William thought to himself.
He remembered that Briar liked to draw, and she was quite good at it.
With proper training, she could probably become an artist in the future.
Thinking this, William unconsciously picked out many items.
As William arrived, mall staff all rushed over.
But William just waved them off, telling them not to make a fuss.
In the end, he selected some clothes and paid for them to be wrapped up.
Along with a backpack and art supplies.
He brought all these back to the car.
The driver didn't quite understand but didn't dare ask.
"Go to the Shadow City orphanage." William said.
The driver immediately started the car.
William looked at the things in his hands, his mood hard to describe.
Suddenly, he wanted to see Briar.
He wanted to dress her up nicely and buy her many things.
The car soon arrived at the orphanage. William spoke with the director about the relevant matters before being allowed a temporary visit.
And it had to be in a designated area.
After waiting a while, Briar slowly walked over, holding a big-eared dog plushie.
When Briar saw it was William, she didn't say anything, just walked over and sat down in a chair to the side.
For a moment, William didn't know how to start, and they just sat in silence.
After who knows how long, William spoke: "I bought you some things."
He said this while bringing over the little dress.
Briar glanced at it and said, "Thank you, but I don't need it."
William didn't get angry. He first set the little dress aside, then brought over the backpack and art supplies.
"Last time I saw you at the kindergarten, I noticed you're good at drawing." William said, placing the items on the table.
But Briar just looked at him.
She said, "Sir, you can give these to other children at the orphanage."
William looked at the little girl in front of him, not knowing what to say.
Briar sighed softly and said, "Sir, the things I need, my mom will buy for me. Even if mom is temporarily busy, Mia and Jeffrey will buy them for me. I'm only here now because the paperwork hasn't been completed yet."
Briar held up the big-eared dog plushie in her hands and said, "Mia gave me this one, and I really like it."
"If you like this, I can buy all of them for you." William said.
Briar stopped talking. She just held the big-eared dog plushie and silently looked at William.
The adult and child stared at each other.
Finally, Briar spoke.
"Sir, don't you understand yet?" Briar said. "I'll only accept things from my mom and mom's friends. I won't take things from other people."
Briar in front of him, in this shabby orphanage environment, seemed unusually strong.
Just like her, looking weak but with a very strong character.
"Sir, please go back and don't come looking for me anymore." Briar said softly.
But William didn't move, his hands hidden under the table clenched tightly.
"You should already know about my relationship with Amelia." William spoke. "So if you call her mom, you should also call me 'dad'."
"There's nothing wrong with you accepting my things. All of this is what I should give you."
"I don't know if she's told you what I'm capable of. You're my daughter. In all of Shadow City, whatever you want, you can have."
William looked at Briar staring at him with round, wide eyes, and curved his lips to appear gentle.
He smiled and said, "Your illness, I'll help you cure it. Your dreams, I can help you achieve them."
"As long as..."
William paused slightly. Strangely, he felt a vulnerability he had never experienced before.
His eyes slightly red, he controlled his emotions and said to Briar: "As long as you call me 'dad' just once."
William suppressed his emotions while Briar looked at him.
Her small brow furrowed.
They stared at each other.
After about three seconds, Briar finally spoke.
She said, "But are you?"
Looking at William with his reddened eyes and his hesitant expression.
Briar knew he wanted to ask if Amelia had taught her to say this.
So Briar tugged at the big-eared dog plushie's two large ears and said, "Sir, my mom is a very good person. Before you came looking for me, she never mentioned you. You forced her to tell me who you are."
"But she didn't want to hurt me or make me worry, so she didn't say much."
"I asked Mia, but Mia wouldn't tell me either. It wasn't until I went to the director and asked her to help me look it up that I found out about your situation."
"Sir, I know there's someone called Isabella by your side right now."
"If you just search your name, what comes up isn't my mom, but that Isabella. Since you like her so much, then stay with her."
Briar looked at William with clear, wide eyes, but spoke words that caused him unbearable pain: "Please don't hurt my mom anymore."