The Royal Contract

She felt like her feet were walking on air as she walked in the rowdy and crowded hallway of the orphanage.

She had been floating on cloud nine since she woke up this morning. She might have been sleeping on the clouds all night, feeling refreshed and full of vigor.

Serena had never felt like this before. It was as if everything was falling perfectly into place. It would seem like the future was brighter now that she was with Adam.

"You look happy, my child." Sister Nenita commented as she explained why she did not come home and told her why she was leaving again. "Go, have fun."

She was like a teenager, asking her mother if she could attend the prom. She remembered her mother was as excited as she was as they chose the dress she would wear.

Suddenly, she missed her mother. Her Mom was one of the people who understood what she wanted and supported her during her struggle to become a star.

"Thanks." She hugged Sister Nenita, thinking she reminded her so much of her mother. "I will be back." She promised, but she could not say when.

And if she would be leaving soon. Somehow, she contemplated that it might be time to go home. She should return to the life she had left behind and face the demons of her past.

At least this time, she had Adam to support her, not just as her attorney, but as her partner. She could feel that she was braver.

"You are always welcome here, Serena." Sister Nenita waved at her as they said their goodbyes.

But before she could exit the hallway and find Adam, the children blocked her path. As usual, they wanted to play with her and asked too many questions.

"Please, we just want to show you something." One of the elder kids begged her to join them in the other room.

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"Ok. Just a few minutes, then I have to leave." She let the kids pull her into the activity room, thinking it would not take more than a few minutes. She was confident that Adam would not mind waiting for a bit more.

As she followed the kids inside the private room, Adam sat in the waiting area for guests, watching the other kids play, chat, and do other things.

He always loved kids. He wanted to have a big family. Therefore, if it was up to him, he wished to build a big house and fill them with many children.

"Hey, Adam. Do you want to play?" The child he found the other day approached him and gave him a high five.

"Hi! Fabio." He greeted the young boy, glad he found him before anything untoward happened to him that night.

The little boy was such an adorable young kid who seemed wise for his age. He would not mind adopting kids if he could give them a home.

Suddenly, he remembered Ken, who was still living in the street. He knew they deserved to have a family and a good life.

"So, what are you playing?" He asked Fabio and the other kids as he walked closer to them.

If he had to guess, they were playing hoops judging by the ball in their hand and the small court in the playground.

"We are shooting basketball." Fabio proudly announced, acting as the leader of the younger kids. He could already see that he had the potential to succeed in life if only he would be given an opportunity. But the current system they had for adoption was inefficient.

Many wished to adopt, but the process of adoption was complicated. Although Adam knew the law was there to protect and safeguard the child. Still, the orphans were the ones suffering.

"Hey, Adam, right?" Someone in his back suddenly caught his attention.

When he turned, he found Serena's friend, the doctor, extending his hand to him. "I hope you remember me, Sebastian."

Of course, he remembered him very well. He had been the subject of his dark thoughts at some point. In his defense, he was jealous and wallowing in his self-pity during those times.

"Yeah, Sebastian, how are you?" He greeted the man, accepting his handshake.

"Do you mind if I talk to you for a second? Alone." The other man quickly added the last word when he saw him look at Fabio, who was waiting for him.

"Sure," Adam responded, slightly curious about what he needed from him. "Fabio, I will join you later." He told the young boy, who nodded his head and moved along.

Sebastian directed him toward the vacant field, away from any of the kids on the lawn. Adam could already sense that this might be a private conversation about Serena.

Of course, he had noticed that Sebastian might have a thing for her. Who would not have? But thankfully, he arrived in time before someone else snagged her heart away from him.

"So, what is this about?" He asked, not wanting to prolong the inevitable.

He did not know this man except for his name and profession. Therefore, he could not predict what he had in mind.

"I heard that Serena was with you last night. I don't know much about you since she never mentioned you, but I know she had a rough life." He turned to look at the kids playing before shifting his eyes to him.

"I like her, as you probably guessed. And the last thing I want is for her to get hurt again." The doctor explained to him, expressing his feelings for Serena as well.

"Let me stop you right now. I know you mean well." He could tell from the expression on his face. "But I did not come here to cause her pain."

Then, he saw her waving goodbye to the other kids inside. She was radiating just like the sun in the sky. She seemed very happy.

"She has always known that I love her. And I am here to show her how much. And if she would give me a chance, I want to love her forever." Adam told the man near him.

He could see the hurt in his eyes. He recognized them, seeing them more than a few times with his own eyes. But he was not about to give up his chance for happiness with the woman he loved.

Sebastian would have to find his happiness with someone else. As far as he was concerned, the doctor had to find his true fated soulmate because that was not Serena.

She was his.