Chapter 6 Jessica , holding the phone , stiffened up . She was almost begging when she said , " Ms. West ! Please ! Make an exception ! I'll find a job soon ! I'll rent a house ! I- " " I'm sorry , Ms. Dawson . Rules are rules . " Georgia's voice was firm , leaving no room for compromise . " Please be understanding . We have to be responsible for the child . We'll send someone to pick her up this afternoon . " The call was then ended . Mom looked at the brand - new divorce certificate in her hand , then at me . A wave of despair and helplessness instantly overwhelmed her . She covered her face and broke down in tears . I stretched out my hand and pried her hands away from her face . She lifted her tear - streaked face that was filled with despair and guilt . " Sweetie , I'm sorry . I'm useless . I ... " I wiped away the tears on her face , then gripped her cold fingers tightly . There wasn't a trace of fear on my face - only a bright gap - toothed grin . In my loudest voice , laced thick with my country accent , I said , " What'cha cryin ' for , Mom ? It ain't such a big deal ! So what if the adoption's gone ? This stew won't taste good if it gets cold ! " I laughed as I finished my last meal with Mom . The next day , I was sent back to that cold and familiar yard . The other kids looked at me differently when they saw me . " Hey , isn't this Kiddo ? Why'd you crawl back again ? " " Hmph ! I told you . How could rich folks really want her ? A wild child will always be a wild child ! " " Exactly ! What's she acting like she's from the city for ? How tacky ! " A few older kids who always liked to cause trouble surrounded me , shoving me around and deliberately smearing mud on the clean clothes Mom had just bought for me . I clenched my fists so hard that my nails nearly dug into my flesh . I tilted my head back and shouted at the top of my lungs , " My name ain't Kiddo ! My name is Sally Dawson ! " Sally Dawson ! I have a mom ! My mom's name is Jessica Dawson ! " " Pfft ! Jessica Dawson ? Didn't she just dump you back here ? Quit pretending ! " A chubby boy shoved me hard , and I stumbled to the ground . My palm was scraped open , stinging with pain . I gritted my teeth and got back up . I had mud smeared on my face , but my gaze burned brightly , like a wolf cub that was provoked . " My mom didn't dump me ! She's figuring things out ! She'll come back for me ! My name is Sally Dawson ! " 1/2 Chapter 6 More comments flashed before my eyes . " I'm crying ! Why are things like this ? Isn't love enough to make a family ? Don't cry , kid ! Mommy's trying her best ! " " To the person above , note that the orphanage is responsible for the kids . It's understandable , but it's still so cruel . " " These brats are so annoying ! Poor Sal ! " " I'm sobbing at ' My name is Sally Dawson ! ' Her attachment to her name is her attachment to her mom ! " " Hang in there , Sal ! Mommy's fighting for you ! " +26 Bonus Mom didn't break her word . She never went back to that gilded cage . Instead , she was working hard to look for a job . Of course , the difficulties were far greater than she had imagined . Mom tried to find a proper job , even as an office clerk or a sales associate in a mall . But in every interview , the other party either stammered an excuse or directly rejected her . Finally , one time , an outspoken woman in an HR team secretly told her , " Miss , it's not that I don't want to help you , but someone from above gave instructions ... We can't afford to offend that McNeil guy . " Just as Mom walked out of that company's building , her phone rang . It was Xander . " Jessica , it doesn't feel good to hit a roadblock , does it ? " His deep voice carried a trace of mockery and arrogance . " I told you , as long as I give the word , no one will dare to take you in . " In this huge city , you won't be able to move forward a single step without my permission . Be smart - come back and admit your mistake . " I'll help you adopt that baggage again . Serena doesn't mind you two . It's still better than you begging out there . " Support Share