Marry My Billionaire Second Husband - Chapter 176

Chapter 176: Dirty Laundry I
The last time Amelia stepped into a library had to be back when she was still in college.

She remembered studying tirelessly for her tests and exams between the bookshelves, tucked away at a desk with Caleb as company. Those used to be fond memories, but right now, stepping into a library after everything that had happened was bittersweet.

Immediately, she was greeted by the familiar scent of books. There weren’t a lot of people present at the local library closest to Dimitri and Ronan’s home, but there surely was a lot of research material available. It was filled with bookshelves — three whole floors of it — and Amelia bit her lip as she glanced at the towering shelves.

Wordlessly, she made her way over to the computer stations and keyed in her keyboards. The second she got the code, she hurried over.

Even though the rest of the library was more or less well-maintained, this section was already starting to collect dust. She could smell the mold from the air conditioning, and when Amelia pried her first book off the shelves, she was greeted by a puff of dust.

Coughing, she swatted the air in front of her before releasing the breath she held. Then, she got to work.

However, hours had passed and she had scoured through every available material. Amelia combed through newspapers, books, magazines― every record she could lay her hands on. There was nothing that mentioned All Saints Orphanage, to the point where Amelia wondered if her dad had been lying to her about the name just to throw her off the track.

She was just about to give up when her eyes landed on the last newspaper tucked right under the rest of the stash. One word was all she saw, as the rest were blocked by the other books and magazines she had dug out.

‘CLOSED’

With bated breath, she pried it out and took a good look.

‘ALL SAINTS ORPHANAGE CLOSED― CHILDREN DISPLACED’

It was a small article that only took up an equally small corner of the newspaper. More than anything, it seemed like this was an advertisement and a call for help.

‘More than thirty children will be left homeless after All Saints Orphanage closes its doors this August. Orphanage Director Abraham Hecox states that “the orphanage has been struggling to stay afloat for the last couple of years” and that they are “left with no choice but to close down due to the high rental fees and rising costs”. Speaking with Director Hecox, children under the age of ten will be transferred to different orphanages around Solara, while children sixteen and above will be required to leave the foster system. Welfare systems and transitional programs will be provided for these children. Interested families are urged to visit All Saints Orphanage before June 25th.’

There was nothing else said. This newspaper, however, was from fifteen years ago. According to what her father said, that would be a few years after she began to volunteer at the orphanage.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much left written in the newspapers about the orphanage. She wasn’t able to find her name written anywhere as well, which merely caused Amelia to frown. This was a dead end.

Amelia left the public library hunched and slumped over. She could go back and prod for more information from her father. Or maybe Matteo would be the first to relent. Ronan might also be a good choice, considering how they were friends for so long. Whatever Matteo knew, Ronan would surely know a little of as well. Or…

“Amelia?”

At the sound of her name, Amelia raised her head. Her eyes landed on a head full of burgundy red hair and a pair of hazel eyes that stared at her widely.

“Cherry!” she exclaimed in surprise. It felt like forever since she had properly met up with Cherry, especially with everything that had happened.

“Is everything alright?” Cherry asked. “You’re looking a lot like how you did back when I first met you at Paragon Luxe.” Her gaze then darkened. “Did that Walton garbage harass you again?”

“Oh, no no! Caleb is the least of my worries right now,” Amelia said with an awkward laugh. “I just―” Then, she cut herself short and her eyes widened.

“Wait, Cherry, you’re Matteo’s cousin.”

“Yes…” Cherry slowly said, raising an eyebrow. “That was previously established. I am sensing there’s a part two to this.”

In her excitement, Amelia all but pounced forward and grabbed Cherry by her hand. She excitedly leaned in, her eyes practically glittering.

“What do you know about Matteo?” Amelia asked. When she realized Cherry’s confusion, she shook her head and clarified herself. “I mean, was he ever at an orphanage? Specifically All Saints Orphanage?”

At her words, Cherry’s frown quickly dissipated. “He didn’t tell you?” she asked. “I’m surprised. I thought you would’ve known.”

“Matteo has been…” Amelia huffed, “unwilling, to say the least. He keeps skirting around the topic and refuses to give me a straight answer.”

“Well, I can’t say I’m surprised,” Cherry confessed. “It’s not something he would like to relive, after all.”

With that said, she continued to walk, making sure to gesture for Amelia to walk with her. The latter did without needing to be told, effortlessly keeping up with Cherry’s pace.

“What happened?”

“Frankly, I don’t know all of the details myself,” Cherry said with a sigh. “I know some of it from my parents. I was still young back then, and honestly, whatever I remember is really fuzzy. But there was a period of time when Matteo went missing. That was a while after his mother died, a year or so after Aiden was born? I think?”

“Missing?” Amelia echoed. That was definitely new. “Was he kidnapped?”

“I am not too sure,” Cherry said. “When you’re a kid, all the family drama you get is really just whatever your parents are willing to feed you. My parents aren’t married, so whatever information I get is really just the scraps.”

She continued, “But I do recall my mom saying this. Matteo spoke of it once too― he was batshit drunk and blurted out plenty of dirty laundry. But the gist of it was that Matteo was sent to the orphanage when he was younger by his stepmother.”