Chapter 892 Adoption
Olivia only regained consciousness at night. As soon as she opened her eyes, she stared at Owen with anguish, seemingly recalling that Stephanie was dead.
“Owen, is Stephanie… What I saw just now wasn’t a dream, was it?” she asked wearily. Owen helped her to sit up and thoughtfully took a pillow for her to lean on.
“Stop overthinking, Dearest. Stephanie is gone. I will get the lawyer to follow up closely. If it’s true that someone was behind her death, I will not let those police off easily,” Owen promised grimly.
Olivia looked exhausted. If she had known that Stephanie would die in Ustrana, she wouldn’t have sent her abroad back then. She couldn’t help but think she was somehow responsible for Stephanie’s death.
“Owen, it’s my fault. Stephanie wouldn’t have died if I hadn’t insisted on sending her abroad.” Olivia was overwhelmed with guilt. She felt a tightness in her chest and raised her hand to clutch it.
Owen’s heart ached when he saw that. He hurriedly took the medicine box and poured a few pills for her.
“Olivia, don’t overthink it. It was Stephanie’s own doing. The lawyer just called and said she was summoned to the police station for playing those stimulating games with a local tycoon that led to his sudden death. Later, she had a complicated relationship with a female prisoner in prison, and you know what happened after that.” Owen frowned as he spoke.
Stephanie’s sudden passing indeed saddened him. But after he learned about the unpleasant things about her, he was angry and felt that she had brought death upon herself.
A glint of sorrow flashed across Olivia’s eyes.
“I’ll leave everything to you. I hope we can transfer Stephanie’s body back to Chanaea as soon as possible. Now that she’s gone, Nolan has become a motherless child. I really don’t know how to tell him the truth when he grows up later.”
“Get Oscar to adopt him. No matter what, Stephanie is his sister. He will not just sit back and leave Nolan in the lurch. As for the Walker family, we will never give them the child,” said Owen.
Olivia closed her eyes and nodded gently.
That was all they could do. Her daughter had breathed her last, and she herself would never abandon her grandson. Even though Noah was still around, she had no intention of letting Nolan cross paths with the Walkers.
The two families were at odds with each other now. There was no way she would hand Nolan over to them.
After Owen’s lawyer spoke with the police, Owen was informed that Stephanie’s sudden death was caused by overexcitement during sex, which was the same as the tycoon. Since both of them had passed on, the police allowed Owen to transfer Stephanie’s body back to Chanaea.
The next day, Owen and Olivia returned to the country on their private plane together with Stephanie’s body. They told the public that Stephanie had died from injuries sustained during a robbery when she traveled abroad.
The Clintons held a small and warm funeral for Stephanie. After the relatives and friends of the Clinton family left, Olivia leaned against Owen’s chest and looked at their daughter’s tombstone sadly.
“I will miss you every day until we see each other again, Stephanie. Don’t be so wilful when you’re there. Your dad and I won’t be able to protect you. Put on more clothes and don’t catch a cold…”
Stephanie’s death made Olivia appear much older than before. Wrinkles could be seen at the corners of her eyes.
“Don’t be sad, Olivia. You still have Tony and Nolan,” Owen said.
Tony sensibly walked up to Olivia and held her hand. In a gentle voice, he said, “Grandma, I’ll keep you company and protect you. Don’t be sad.”
Olivia gazed down at him and scooped him up. Holding the boy tightly in her embrace, she began to weep silently, the tears she had been suppressing streaming out.
Tony patted her with his tiny hand, silently comforting her.
Standing at the back, Oscar and Amelia looked at Olivia, who was crying, solemnly. Something glimmered in Oscar’s eyes. He could feel mixed feelings churning within him, but soon, he recomposed himself.
He never regretted what he did, but seeing Olivia heartbroken made him feel guilty. After all, he was the reason Olivia was crying over her daughter’s grave.
Sorry, Mom. I did that for Amelia and Tony. Please forgive me.
Olivia was still sobbing with Tony in her embrace when she suddenly put him down and said, “Let’s go back.” However, right after she said that she collapsed to the ground.
Oscar swiftly scooped her up and hurried toward the car, driving her back to the Clinton residence.
The family doctor was already waiting for them. Once they arrived home, the doctor quickly checked on Olivia. He told Oscar that grief had weakened Olivia’s body, which caused her to faint. She would recover as long as she take good care of herself. However, only Olivia herself could mend her own heart. He advised Oscar to console Olivia and help her cope with her loss. Otherwise, her grief might turn to depression.
Oscar nodded in acknowledgment and asked the maid to walk the family doctor out.
Owen requested Amelia to stay for the night and take care of Olivia. Then he summoned Oscar to the study.
“You’ve seen it, Oscar. Your mom is overwhelmed by sadness after Stephanie’s death. Although your mom always said that Stephanie was reckless and that Isabella instigated her to drug you, she did not have any bad intentions.” Owen sighed. “Let’s drop this topic. Stephanie will not come back to life anyway. I have something else to discuss with you today, which I think it would be better if you give me your word.”
“Go ahead, Dad,” said Oscar.
“Your sister has passed on, and our family is at odds with the Walker family now. There’s no way we will hand Nolan over to the Walkers. Your mom and I don’t want Nolan to be an orphan. Since he is your sister’s only son, we hope you can adopt him and treat him as your own child.” Although it was a discussion, Owen spoke with absolute certainty. It was as if he was only informing Oscar, and the latter had to accept it.
Oscar stared at him intently and asked, “Dad, are you forcing me to say yes now?”
“Basically, yes. But I won’t force you if you don’t want to. I only hope you can treat Nolan better and provide him with material needs and education,” Owen said.
Oscar nodded. He pondered for a while and finally agreed.
“I’m fine with adopting him and making him Tony’s brother. I’ll treat him as my own child and I won’t let him suffer.”
Owen patted Oscar’s shoulder and smiled in gratification. “Thank you, Oscar. No matter what misunderstandings you had with Stephanie, she is no longer around now. It’s time to let bygones be bygones.”
Oscar nodded in response.
