Chapter 8 - The Gift of Blood
A knock came at the patio gate, and Marco stepped into the garden, wearing a casual suit. He held a thick leather binder in his hands.
"Boss," Marco said respectfully, offering a warm smile to Elena. "The legal papers arrived from the family court."
I took the binder, opening it to reveal the official adoption certificates stamped by the state judge. Emma was now legally and permanently Emma Vale—my daughter, with all the rights, love, and protection of the Vale name.
"Emma! Matteo!" I called out toward the yard.
The two children stopped playing and came running toward the patio, the puppy bouncing happily behind them.
Emma wiped her forehead with her sleeve, looking up at me with her big, curious eyes. "Yes, Daddy?"
Hearing her call me "Daddy" still brought a swell of emotion to my throat. I knelt down on one knee, opening the folder so she could see the gold seal stamped on the thick paper.
"Do you know what this is, sweet heart?" I asked gently.
Emma shook her head, her dark curls bouncing.
"This means you are officially my daughter forever," I said, holding out a small velvet box from my pocket. "No one can ever take you away, and you will never have to be scared again."
I opened the box, revealing a delicate silver necklace with a small pendant shaped like a star, engraved with her name.
Emma gasped, her little hands flying to her mouth. Tears welled in her eyes as she threw her arms around my neck, hugging me with all the strength in her tiny body.
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"Thank you, Daddy!" she sobbed happily into my shoulder.
Elena knelt beside us, wrapping her arms around both of us, while little Matteo jumped into the middle of the hug, giggling and holding his stuffed elephant up as if to join in.
