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Child driving a car | Source: Shutterstock
Child driving a car | Source: Shutterstock

Couple Is Refused Boy’s Adoption Due to Poverty, Years Later He Comes to their Home in Fancy Car – Story of the Day

Sonali Pandey
Dec 20, 2023
12:07 P.M.

Arnold and Iris are refused to adopt a boy due to poverty. But years later, fate reunites them in the most unexpected way.

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Arnold and Iris were at the foster care center.

"I'm so worried," Iris whispered, her voice trembling with anxiety. "Are you sure you took all the documents?"

"We've checked everything several times, Iris. Everything will be alright," Arnold said. But it wasn't.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

***

"Here's the thing," Mrs. Ronald, the foster care worker, began. "I've reviewed your application again. You are a decent couple with no legal issues, but... your income is, frankly, not the best for guardianship.

"Mr. Brown repairs house alarms, and your income, Mrs. Brown, is not constant. A boy with severe psychological trauma due to his parents' demise may need regular visits to a psychologist, among other expenses."

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"But we've been here before," Iris said. "You've checked our income before. You said it was fine. Please don't do this. We can provide Patrick with a loving home."

"My decision is final," Mrs. Ronald stated firmly.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

"But I'm the only one Patrick interacts with!" Iris exclaimed. "He at least listens to me and sometimes even nods in response to questions. And it hasn't happened through a professional but through my love for him. Please. Patrick has become our world."

"I understand your dedication, but I'm not changing my mind, Mrs. Brown," Mrs. Ronald stated firmly.

"Can I at least see Patrick?" Iris asked. "I promised him we'd take him home, and I need to tell him the truth."

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"Of course. He's in his room," Mrs. Ronald replied.

Iris entered Patrick's room. "Hey, Patrick, it's me, Iris," she said softly.

"That's really interesting, what you're drawing," she said, pointing to a drawing.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

Patrick glanced up briefly and nodded before returning to the drawings.

"Is this your father and his friend?" Iris asked, pointing to the drawing. Patrick nodded, remaining silent.

"And this line on the friend's face, is it a scar?" she continued. Patrick nodded again.

"Your drawings are really impressive, Patrick. They seem so alive," she commented. Patrick offered a brief smile.

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But when Iris turned the page to another drawing, she felt a sudden tightness in her chest. This one was different, more disturbing. It showed the same men, but the scene was alarming. The man with the scar was holding a gun, and the father figure lay on the ground.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

"Patrick, this drawing... is it about something bad?" Iris asked softly. Patrick nodded again, his eyes sad.

Iris felt a lump in her throat, her heart aching for the boy and the stories his drawings told.

Iris walked briskly past Arnold, who stood by the door. But she didn't stop, not even when he asked, "What happened, Iris?"

Without answering Arnold, Iris made a run for Mrs. Ronald's office. She reached the door and, without a second thought, pushed it open and stepped in, only to be shocked.

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Mrs. Ronald sat at her desk, hunched over a stack of money, counting it meticulously. Opposite her sat a man, his back to Iris.

"Weren't you taught to knock?" Mrs. Ronald snapped.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

"What's this money? What's going on here?" Iris asked.

Mrs. Ronald, flustered at first, quickly composed herself. "That is none of your business, Mrs. Brown."

"This is a bribe, isn't it?" Iris accused. "You denied us adopting Patrick for money from this man!"

The man faced Iris, and she noticed his scar. "Mrs. Brown, you are mistaken. I'm here as a donor to this institution."

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"I don't believe you," Iris growled. "You can't buy a child like some object!"

Iris knew she had to do something. She left Ms. Ronald's office and told Arnold about the drawings and the money.

"This is awful," Arnold said. "But we must remain calm, Iris. We can't let our emotions get the best of us. We need to be strategic about this."

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

"You're right," Iris agreed. "But we can't just sit back and do nothing. We have to take action."

Fifteen minutes later, Iris and Arnold were at a police station. "We need to file a complaint about a possible bribery at the local orphanage," Iris told an officer.

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"Can you provide any evidence?" the officer asked.

Iris' heart sank. "I witnessed the exchange of money, but I have no proof," she admitted. "All I have are drawings by a child, Patrick, hinting at a connection between the man with the scar and his father."

The officer paused, his gaze shifting to a photograph he retrieved from a drawer. "By any chance, do you recognize this man?" he asked, pointing to the image.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

Iris leaned closer, recognition flashing in her eyes. "Yes, that's him! We saw him in Mrs. Ronald's office!"

"This is Mr. Bruno." said the officer. "He was investigated for a murder, but he had an alibi. As for the money, it could have been a donation. Mr. Bruno is known for his wealth."

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"Why was he investigated? What's his connection to the murder?" Iris asked.

"Mr. Bruno was the deceased's business partner. Investigating all associated individuals is routine in such cases."

A wave of suspicion washed over Iris. But without concrete proof, she was helpless. Disheartened, Iris and Arnold left the station. As they returned home, Arnold headed to his computer and looked up Mr. Bruno online.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

"Aha! I found it!" he exclaimed. "Mr. Bruno's address!"

Iris peered at the screen. "Now what? You do realize that he's a dangerous man? Besides, it's just an address, Arnold. We can't just barge in. There could be security, alarms, cameras. We'd be caught before we even got close."

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"What if the alarm system malfunctioned? Who would they call to fix it?" He gestured towards his work uniform hanging on a chair.

"We'll use this opportunity," Arnold said, his voice firm. "I'll go there undercover as a repairman."

The next morning, Arnold stood at Mr. Bruno's gate and pressed the doorbell.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

"Who's there?" a voice crackled through the intercom, breaking the silence.

"Alarm repair service," Arnold replied. "There's been a signal disruption. I need to check your system."

The gate opened with a clang. Arnold took a deep breath and stepped onto the property, his tool bag in his hand.

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Mr. Bruno himself answered the door.

Arnold repeated his purpose of visit, feeling the man's gaze pierce him. But Mr. Bruno stepped aside, allowing him to enter.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

After Mr. Bruno left him alone to work, Arnold's eyes were drawn to Mr. Bruno's office door. With a quick glance around to ensure he wasn't observed, Arnold entered the room and approached the desk. His fingers trembled as he sifted through the documents.

Suddenly, his eyes landed on a collection of papers that sent a shiver down his spine. They detailed the staggering debts of Mr. Bruno's company.

And then, he saw them - documents about Patrick, revealing his inheritance and the legal restrictions that prevented him from accessing it. He also found a photograph of Patrick's father, with a single word scrawled on the back: "neutralized." Mr. Bruno and Patrick's father were business partners, and Mr. Bruno now wanted the money.

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He quickly captured photos of the documents with his phone. As he was about to leave, the office door creaked open. Arnold froze. Standing in the doorway was Mr. Bruno, a gun in his hand.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

"I called your company," he growled. "They assured me everything was fine, and no one was supposed to be here."

"There... there must be some mistake," Arnold stammered nervously.

Mr. Bruno scoffed. "Don't try anything stupid," he warned, his voice a low growl. "You're not going anywhere. The police will be here in two minutes."

"Good," Arnold said, trying to sound as brave as he felt. "I have a lot to tell them. I found some interesting documents on your desk... documents that reveal your true motives regarding Patrick's adoption. And then there's this photo..." he held up his phone, displaying the image of Patrick's father.

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For a fleeting moment, panic flickered in Mr. Bruno's eyes. He could have shot the intruder, but he knew that wasn't a good plan. Scared, he turned and began running. Arnold started chasing him and followed him to the garage, where Mr. Bruno got into his car.

Arnold grabbed the fire extinguisher mounted on a wall and shattered the car window with a single mighty swing.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

As the glass rained, Mr. Bruno slammed his foot on the accelerator, the car lurching forward. In a split-second decision, Arnold launched himself through the broken window, half-in and half out of the speeding vehicle.

The car swerved wildly, with Mr. Bruno desperately trying to shake Arnold off.

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"It's over, Mr. Bruno!" Arnold shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the engine. "You can't run forever!"

"You don't know what you've gotten yourself into!" Mr. Bruno shot back.

The car continued its erratic journey onto the road.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

Arnold knew time was running out. With a swift movement, he yanked the wheel to the side, and the car crashed into a fountain with a deafening impact. Water cascaded over them, drenching them in the icy spray.

Dazed but determined, Arnold emerged from the wreckage, focusing on Mr. Bruno, who was already fleeing the scene.

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Arnold tackled Mr. Bruno to the ground, both men grappling for control.

As the fight raged on, a gunshot rang out. Arnold felt a searing pain erupt in his stomach, his vision blurring at the edges. His grip on Mr. Bruno loosened, his strength waning.

As Arnold lay on the ground, his eyes met Bruno's. Then, the distant wail of sirens cut through the air, growing steadily louder. For Arnold, it all went black.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

As Arnold slowly regained consciousness, the white walls of the hospital room swam into his focus.

"Arnold, you're awake," Iris whispered from beside him. "Thank goodness. I was so worried."

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Arnold's fragmented memory began piecing together the fight with Mr. Bruno. "Iris... what happened? Did we get him?" he rasped.

"Yes, Arnold, you did. Mr. Bruno has been arrested. Mrs. Ronald, too," Iris replied, a small smile flickering across her lips.

"But there's more, Arnold," she continued. "There's a counter lawsuit against you... for breaking and entering. And there are charges..."

Arnold's heart sank. "Charges? What... what does that mean for us?"

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

"For now, don't worry about it," Iris said, squeezing his hand gently. "Just focus on getting better."

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The days blurred into weeks as Arnold's physical wounds began to heal, but the emotional and legal scars remained. When the court date arrived, Arnold, still weak but determined, faced the judicial system. He was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison.

Despite Mr. Bruno being behind bars and unable to claim Patrick and his inheritance, the price Arnold paid was steep. His and Iris' plans to adopt Patrick to give him a loving home were shattered.

While Arnold was in prison, Iris felt alone and lost. The news that Patrick had been adopted by another guardian was a gut-wrenching blow. She tried to stay strong, but the absence of both Arnold and Patrick left a gaping hole in her life.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

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Two years later, Arnold walked out of the prison. He saw Iris waiting for him, and she ran into his arms.

"I've missed you so much," she said.

"I missed you too," Arnold replied.

Iris drove Arnold home. The house felt familiar and new at the same time to him.

Suddenly, a luxe car pulled up in front of the house. A woman got out with Patrick.

"Hello, I'm Emily," she said. "Patrick's aunt. I'm a scientist and was away when my brother and his wife... well, when it happened. I couldn't be here for Patrick. But I learned about everything - about Mr. Bruno, his intentions for Patrick's inheritance, and how you both fought for him," she continued. "I knew I had to step in."

Patrick looked up at Arnold and Iris with hopeful eyes. "Aunt Emily will leave again soon, and I don't want to be alone. Can I stay with you? If you still want me," he asked.

Arnold and Iris looked at each other and smiled. They hugged Patrick, and a new chapter began for them.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock

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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a single dad who is horrified when his children start disappearing one by one within a week. The father has to find his kids before it's too late.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.

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