The Life Changing Vacation

~Chapter 181~

Joanna's POV
That night, I woke up around 4:30 am. I needed to go to the toilet, but before I went to the bathroom, I went to check on Violet, and she was sound asleep.
When the morning came, I woke up at 8:00 am. I went downstairs to make myself a cup of coffee. Suddenly, Violet came downstairs.

"Hi", she said.

"Good morning honey, how did you sleep?", I asked.

"Good", she smiled softly.

I made pancakes, and then we ate together. She ate so much, I haven't seen a kid eat that many pancakes before.

"This is so good!", she said.

"You haven't had pancakes before?", I asked.

"Not after my dad disappeared, my mom didn't have much money", she told me.

"She didn't? So you didn't eat that much?", I asked.

"Not that much expensive things", she explained.

I could tell her mom was really strict when it comes to money, Violet talked like an adult.

"So, do you know what your dad did for living?", I asked.

"He was a cop, my mom said he earned a lot of money", she answered.

"That's nice", I said nervous.

"Shit", I thought.

I knew that she meant the Alaric Smith that I stabbed and killed in the McDonald's toilet. I didn't say anything.

"Well, it's unfortunate that he's not around anymore. I really hope you're okay", I said.

She started to cry.

"I'm actually very sad. My mom is too. After daddy disappeared, we ended up in a little apartment with two bedrooms. My brother and I had to share a room and he is always mean to me. I often hear mommy crying in her room, I don't know what to do. And then suddenly she just disappeared", Violet explained.

"Aww honey.. I'm so sorry", I pulled her close to me and hugged her.

She was so little, she shouldn't be going through all that. No one should. I could tell her mom committed suicide, but I didn't think she understood that. And if she didn't commit suicide, then Violet probably shouldn't be living with her mom because of the little money they had, the mom's depression etc. I knew I either had to take care of her myself, or I had to get her into some kind of orphanage or foster care or something.

Suddenly, Alex came downstairs.

"Is everything alright here?", he asked.

"I'm not so sure", I answered.

"Well, I'm afraid to tell you that we need to give up on Violet", he said.

"What? Awe can't just give up on her", I explained.

"Joanna, we have to. This is kidnapping, we can't just take a random child home! Her mom might be searching for her", Alex said.

"Her mom is poor, Alex! And her dad is dead! And we both know who that is, right? Alaric Smith? You remember him, right?", I asked.