Chapter 219
Chapter 219: Orphanage
Mariana stood still looking at him and, after thinking about it, went over to help him.
He had just put his hand on the car when Leopoldo looked back at him. After a long moment, he said,
"You don''t need to help me. I can do it all right by myself.
His voice was low, like the sound of an angel plucking the strings of a lute, which made Mariana''s heart
beat faster.
She was stunned for a moment and slowly withdrew her hand. She felt ufortable and said,
"Then... I''ll go in first.
Leopoldo ced a box on the floor and gave her a gentle nod. Mariana turned and left.
Just as she walked through the gate of thepound, an old woman appeared. She was very old and
her hair was already white. She was limping toward him with a cane.
-You are Miss Ortiz, right?
The old woman stopped in front of Mariana and smiled benevolently.
Mariana nodded and said: -Are you Dean Gis?
She smiled and said, "I am Gis Echave.
Mariana smiled and took a few steps forward to help Gis to the courtyard.
-Gis, you can call me Mari. I didn''te alone today. Now my friend is packing his bags.
Gis smiled and asked if he was her boyfriend. Mariana felt shy when she remembered Leopoldo''s
cold face. She hurried to say: -No....
Gis realized herck of naturalness, so she did not pursue the matter further.
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Mariana was a little distracted. She tried to change the embarrassing atmosphere, so she changed the
subject and asked: -Gis, you have been the dean for decades, right?
Gis bowed her head, remembering times gone by.
-Yes. Forty years have gone by very fast.
He looked at the old metal sign on the door, which read -The Happiness Orphanage. -Someone asked
me a long time ago why the orphanage was called that. I didn''t answer him. In fact, as long as I can
see the children of the orphanage grow up and live happily, I feel happy and satisfied.
Mariana listened quietly to the old woman and did not interrupt her.
-The children are all very obedient to the nurses and never argue or fight. Perhaps they realize the
economic situation of our orphanage and behave very well.
A little boy saw them from afar and ran towards them. He looked happy and naive.
He paused to greet Gis, whose smile grew more contented as she stroked the boy''s soft hair.
-You have been very good today and have not caused any problems.
The boy nodded his head in a serious manner. He raised his fist and said firmly, "I want to be a brave
man!
Gis smiled and patted him on the shoulder, encouraging him.
Mariana also smiled kindly.
"If I had a lovely son..."
This thought immediately upied his mind. But she soon shook her head in self-deprecation. This
idea was too unreal for her.....
The sound ofughter could be heard from far away. The two walked through the door andughed at
the sight of many children gathered together ying.
By this time, Leopoldo had already put things in order. A group of nurses followed him in, carrying
many bags.
Leopold straightened hispels and stood erect, looking reserved and aloof.
He started talking to Gis. She seemed too distant at that moment, and Mariana hadplicated
feelings. At that moment, Leopoldo suddenly turned his head and looked at her. Mariana was stunned
and hurried to lower her head and walk to the side, trying to hide her emotions.
Gis nced at Mariana and turned to her.
-Mari, what''s wrong? Are you unhappy?
Mariana was distracted. When she heard Gis''s voice, she raised her head.
-No.
He shook his head again, as if trying to make the words sound more believable.
Gis knew what was on his mind. It was probably rted to Leopoldo. But it was not good for her, a
stranger, to say much about such matters.
She invited Mariana to go to the small garden in the backyard. Mariana made an effort to regte her
emotions and helped Gis to go to the garden.
They walked down a narrow path and through a dense grove of trees and finally arrived. The small
garden was full of flowers and butterflies fluttering through the woods. asionally there was bright
blue light. They heard the sound ofughter in the distance.
Mariana then slowly walked into the flowers. The flowers made her face look even more beautiful. She
turned slowly in a circle. The swirling skirt and the butterflies flying around her in brilliant luminescence
made her look like an angel.
Leopoldo, who was not far away, saw this scene, and felt uneasy. He did not know why...
Mariana finally calmed down. She approached Gis and asked her about the news she had heard
earlier. Someone was going to buy thend where the orphanage was located and the orphanage
would not be saved.
Gis sighed. She was very worried.
-Yes.
At that moment, a slender figure ran from far away, but identally tripped over a branch in the grass,
and just in time, Mariana saw a scene that surprised her.
The rough terrain is covered with uneven pebbles. If the girl had fallen, she would have been injured.
The hem of the girl''s skirt had touched the ground, kicking up dust. She unconsciously tried to support
herself on the ground with her hands to lessen the damage. She closed her eyes in fear. Suddenly, a
man grabbed the girl in time to keep her from falling.
Leopoldo slowly lifted the girl and gently stroked her back to calm her down. Perhaps it was because
he had neverforted someone before, now he didn''t know what to say.
Mariana stared at him with an incredulous and tender look. Leopoldo looked up and they both looked at
each other. His cold face became kind.
She had thought that a man as proud as Leopold would have no sympathy.
But, unexpectedly, today she saw a different side of him. He was by no means as cold and reserved as
he used to be, but that made her want to get closer.