Bitter Blow For Brad Ange Adds To Her Brood

A new arrival shatters his family dream

Something was different about Angelina Jolie during her humanitarian trip to Africa last month. The actress, who has looked strained and sombre since her dramatic split from Brad Pitt last year, was all smiles and hugs.

And now we know why – the mother-of-six has just signed adoption papers for child number seven!

A source close to the 42-year-old By the Sea star has revealed that Angelina is over the moon about the prospective new addition to her already large brood, despite knowing it will break Brad’s heart.

“She has fallen in love with a six-year-old girl from the same orphanage in Ethiopia where she found Zahara,” a well-placed source reveals, speaking exclusively to Woman’s Day.

“This adoption is hugely significant for Ange, not least because she wants to reinforce that Brad is no longer part of her life and that she’s continuing to grow her family without him.”

Angelina, we’re told, developed a special connection with the little girl over Skype before deciding to take the leap of faith and flying her six kids – Maddox, 15, Pax, 13, Zahara, 12, Shiloh, 11, and nine-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne – to Ethiopia.

“She wanted them to meet her so they could be part of the decision-making process for their new sibling and they all adored her,” reports our source. “In fact, Shiloh had an instant rapport with her, which warmed Angelina’s heart.”

Nesting mode

On June 18, which just coincidentally happened to be Father’s Day in the US, the actress signed the papers formally requesting adoption and we’re told she now hopes to be able to return to the Third World nation in September to bring her new daughter home.