Chapter 643: Welfare Organization
Chapter 643: Chapter 643: Welfare Organization
Serena Summers opened her mouth, wanting to say something to smooth things over, but she couldn’t come up with a good excuse.
After a moment of silence, Michelle Fuller answered for her. "It’s because her ex-boyfriend gave them to her, right? She was probably just pretending to love little animals and act all caring in front of some guy."
Serena Summers shot her an irritated glare. "Well, I’ve still been taking care of them, haven’t I? It’s not like I abandoned them!"
Renee Jennings nodded in agreement. "That part is true. Miss Summers is a responsible person."
Serena Summers’s lips instantly curled into a smug smile, and she lifted her chin at Michelle Fuller. "Did you hear that? She complimented me on being responsible."
"Isn’t being responsible the bare minimum?" Michelle Fuller rolled her eyes. "What’s there to be proud of?"
Mrs. Fuller spoke in a gentle voice. "Since Serena finds raising cats to be a hassle, why don’t we let Renee take care of Pinky and Dottie?"
Serena Summers was reluctant to agree at first. But then she remembered how much of a hassle raising cats actually was. Every time she had to go on a long trip, she had to board them.
After weighing her options, she nodded. "Fine. I won’t even charge you. You can have them."
"We don’t need it." Michelle Fuller wanted nothing to do with her. "We’ll pay you double the market price."
Serena Summers scoffed. "Pay if you want. It’s not like I’m going to say no."
Michelle Fuller: "..."
’The nerve of this woman.’
"Your payment QR code."
Serena Summers tapped her phone a couple of times.
Michelle Fuller scanned the code and transferred fifty thousand right over.
"Thanks a bunch!" Serena Summers was in a great mood now. She could finally buy that bag she’d been eyeing.
A flicker of resignation crossed Mrs. Fuller’s face. After a moment’s hesitation, she suggested, "Since this is all sorted out, why don’t we all have a meal together?"
"Renee and I are going to eat out." Just looking at Serena Summers killed Michelle’s appetite. "You guys go ahead."
Having unexpectedly adopted Pinky and Dottie, Renee Jennings and Michelle Fuller canceled their plans to take Ginny to the dog park. Instead, they took all three of their fur babies for a bath.
In Michelle Fuller’s words, it was to "wash off the Serena Summers stink."
After the pets were bathed, Renee Jennings and Michelle Fuller took them back to Eastgate Villa.
When they learned Pinky and Dottie were joining the family, the household’s original furry residents were ecstatic. They chirped and rubbed against the newcomers, giving them a warm welcome.
Blueberry and the others were already old friends with Ginny, so they were soon all playing together. Cici and Bella took care of the newcomers, inviting Pinky and Dottie to play ball.
Seeing them all getting along so harmoniously, the smile on Renee Jennings’s lips deepened, and her heart grew soft.
Not far away, Willow and Glenn watched the newcomers, Pinky and Dottie, their hearts swelling with an undeniable envy.
’It’s so nice.’
Willow thought, ’If only my brother and I were kittens.’
’Then we wouldn’t have to worry about our future.’
**
The next day, a phone call summoned Renee Jennings to the police station.
Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting dappled light and shadow across the office desk.
A steaming cup of coffee sat in front of Renee Jennings. She frowned slightly. "Is this about Willow and Glenn?"
"Yes." Henry Stark gave a slight nod. "We’ve found a welfare agency that can take in both Willow and Glenn. Have a look."
He slid a file with the agency’s information across the desk to her.
Renee Jennings looked through it, her lips pressed into a thin line, saying nothing.
Henry Stark studied her expression, raising an eyebrow. "Renee, what is it?"
Renee Jennings’s eyelashes fluttered. Meeting the man’s slightly puzzled gaze, she said softly, "I was just thinking about what I would be feeling right now if I were Willow or Glenn."
Upon hearing this, Henry Stark fell silent for a few seconds before speaking slowly. "I know it’s hard for them, but we can never truly understand what they’re going through. There’s only so much we can do."
Renee Jennings’s fingers, resting on the desk, slowly curled into a tight fist.
After leaving the police station, she stopped by a dessert shop to buy cake, and also picked up some stationery.
As she returned to Eastgate Villa, Renee Jennings saw Willow in the distance, holding the booklet she had printed out and reciting classical poetry to the pets in the courtyard.
Glenn sat beside her, his young face a mask of concentration.
What surprised Renee Jennings the most was how incredibly cooperative the pets were.
They were sitting squat in two rows: the front row was the petite kitty contingent, and the back row was the sturdier doggo division.
It was an impressively orderly scene, like kindergarteners listening attentively to their teacher.
The sight was both adorable and orderly.
’How are they so well-behaved?’
Hearing Renee Jennings’s footsteps, the pets, who had been listening so attentively, began to get distracted.
"Meow~ Renee’s back!"
"Woof~ Renee, we’re listening to classical poetry!"
"Meow~ Renee, did you bring us yummy treats?"
"Woof~ Renee..."
The pets chattered away, meowing and barking all at once.
Willow called out softly, "Renee."
"Tired from teaching?" Renee Jennings asked with a warm smile, handing her the dessert box. "I bought some little cakes for you and Glenn. Go on and have some."
"Thank you, Renee." Willow took the box with both hands.
Renee Jennings looked down at the pets and explained, "Today, I only bought cake for Teacher Willow. She worked hard teaching you. If you want treats, you’ll have to wait until you pass your exams to get a reward."
The moment the pets heard the word "exams," they collectively groaned.
"Meow? Why do we have to take exams?"
"Woof? What’s the exam on?"
Blueberry sidled up to Renee Jennings to claim credit. "Renee, I was the one who got everyone to listen to the lesson. Do I get an extra reward?"
"Of course you do." Renee Jennings’s lips curved into a smile as she bent down to scratch its head. "You did a great job."
Blueberry immediately lifted its chin in pride, its tail wagging.
That evening, Renee Jennings went to the room where Willow and Glenn slept. After much hesitation, she decided to tell the siblings about the welfare agency.
Upon hearing they were going to the welfare agency the next day, Glenn’s mood plummeted. His little head drooped, and his shoulders slumped.
Willow showed no emotion, simply nodding calmly. "Okay, Renee. Thank you all so much for taking care of us these past few days. We’re sorry for all the trouble."
"It was no trouble at all." Renee Jennings frowned slightly, her voice gentle. "We’ve really grown to like you and Glenn."
Willow managed a small smile. "Glenn and I really like you and everyone here, too."
Renee Jennings stared blankly at the little girl’s brave smile, and a wave of dejection washed over her, bringing with it an indescribable ache.
She returned to her room, lay on her bed, and stared blankly at the ceiling.
Michelle Fuller, who was applying a face mask nearby, sensed her friend’s low spirits and asked softly, "Renee, what’s wrong?"
Renee Jennings suddenly felt her eyes grow hot and her nose begin to sting.
She reflexively shut her eyes, raising her wrist to press it against them, trying to hold back the tears that were about to spill over.
"Michelle..." Renee Jennings’s throat felt tight and sore as if something was lodged in it. Her voice trembling, she said slowly, "I just told Willow and Glenn... that people from the police station and the welfare agency are coming to pick them up tomorrow."
Michelle Fuller froze for a long moment before asking with a hint of panic, "And... and they...?"