"More or less."Cordy did not want to make her happiness obvious, as she was selfishly convinced that only John was allowed to see it. "Well, I'm afraid I have to be a killjoy," Patrick said, his tone clearly serious just then.Cordy frowned slightly, but it was enough for John to notice that reaction and stare fixedly at her."You see, I have news: Jessica is missing," Patrick said very clearly then."Missing?" Cordy's heart skipped a beat, as if something horrible would happen."After John exposed Jessica's side of the family at his trial, they, along with my grandfather and myself were brought in to assist with the investigation. James was placed under arrest since there was enough evidence against him, but when William, my grandfather, and myself were released, the authorities informed us that Jessica went missing the instant they moved to arrest her, and was told that she was not in Rocktown.""Maybe she went to the capital?" Cordy asked—that was where Fred Cranston was, a
Cordy's fingers were trembling even as she held her phone.'No… Please let Dicky be alright!'Cordy never expected Jessica to target Dicky, since she was still engaged to Fred. Reasonably speaking, the Stuarts' crimes were only exposed hours ago, and they should still be keeping Jessica on a leash instead of letting her go to North City. It was why Cordy never worried about it, but it was now clear that Jessica had been ready to bring everything down with her just to get back at her and John. In fact, Jessica probably did not expect her own family to be arrested!That woman was crazy!Cordy's hands were trembling even as she called Richard's teacher, but perhaps because her phone was on silent or she was in class, the call went unanswered."Calm down." John assured Cordy when he saw her reaction. "It's going to be fine. I was just checking."However, Cordy's female intuition was already positive that Jessica was seizing the opportunity to take Richard away when everyone was foc
Cordy could not calm down even as she imagined that outcome."No, she won't," John said confidently nonetheless. "You're more important to Jessica and she knows that."Cordy's heart skipped a beat as she stared at John fixedly. "Look, just trust me on this, but Jessica wants you more than she wants Dicky," John said. "She's never been a parent and wouldn't know how much a child matters—especially since she grew up in a detached family like the Stuarts, where even family connections were weighted in personal gain. Sentiment doesn't exist there, and she'd be convinced that we would just have more children even if we lose Dicky and the pain of losing him would just be temporary. On the other hand, I'd be hurting for the rest of my life if I lost you! That's why she'll use you if she wants revenge, not Dicky."John spoke quickly with considerable urgency, and there was no telling if he was trying to persuade Cordy or himself.Cordy bit her lip and forced herself to stay calm and work
After Cordy sent the photos to Patrick, he asked a few questions, to which she told him everything.Patrick quickly sent the photos without asking more questions.For one, he was not able to help much when he was so far away, but he promised to tell her immediately if he found any helpful clues.In addition, he would rather avoid stressing her unnecessarily since she was already on the verge of a nervous breakdown.Once they had the high definition mugshots of the bodyguards, John sent copies to his people and started a search, reminding them to report in if they find those men without alerting them.Just then, a call arrived from Randy as well. "Sir, we found Jessica's car. It's left in a parking lot in the industrial district. The footage we obtained showed that only the driver got out, and no one else was inside. The driver is definitely one among the three mugshots you sent, and he left the car without coming back so far.""Did you manage to track where he went?""No, sir. I
"Good."John put the phone away and turned back to the security footage, and his eyes suddenly narrowed as he exclaimed, "Could he have disguised himself?!""It's possible." Sam agreed.However, if the driver had really put on a disguise, he would be harder to find.Still, John calmed down and said, "Let's analyze what we know for now."The way they were going, they were being half as effective and would never find Jessica and Richard at this rate.As Sam, Bob, and Cordy all turned to John, he said, "Jessica came all the way from Rocktown to North City to kidnap Dicky. She couldn't have been fully prepared since this city isn't her family's turf, and that means the driver slash bodyguard would not have prepared a change of clothes at the market. He wasn't bringing a bag of any sort in the footage, so he had to buy something at the market and got changed."When he was finished, John picked up his phone without pausing a beat and called Randy again. "Question every stall at the ma
The apartment was so quiet everyone could hear their own breathing.At the same time, they heard nothing amid the suffocating silence as they were thoroughly focused.The phone suddenly rang, jolting everyone. The slightest commotion seemed to make everyone nervous now!They watched as John answered the phone, saying calmly, "Randy."Cordy bit her lip—so it was not Jessica.She was now on the verge of falling apart. She would rather Jessica contact them, and she was willing to do everything Jessica asked.She had had enough of this endless searching and waiting. She needed to know that Dicky was fine!"Found him?" John's voice turned quiet as he seeked confirmation.Cordy's heart raced right then, and she turned in anticipation toward John and saw that his hand was shaking even as he held her phone."Yes, we did—that's why I'm reporting in," Randy reported. "We tracked him through security cameras using a photo of his disguised appearance. We calculated that he's now in an
John was ready to storm the storehouse with his men when Cordy caught his hand."John," she murmured, even as he felt how skinny his fingers were.If she could, she really wanted to hold on tightly to that hand and to stop him from facing any danger.But now, she had to let him go and tell him, "You have to keep Dicky safe.""I will." John agreed to it right away, able to read between her lines.He knew that she was telling him that he must keep Richard safe even at the cost of his life, but he agreed to it without hesitation.John had never once accused her of failing to keep Richard safe and allowing Richard to be exposed to such danger although he had entrusted Richard to her.Cordy released John's hand just then, and he gave her an assuring look before quickly heading inside the warehouse with his men.They were afraid of going loud and therefore moved carefully toward the warehouse entrance.John leaned against it when he reached it and gave his bodyguards a pointed look
The man replied stubbornly, "I don't know."Pow!John punched the man squarely in the face right then, turning the already bruised face bloody."I'll ask again. Where did Jessica take my son?! I'll kill you, believe it!" John threatened, his veins bulging viciously right then."In this line of work, you live or you die. Kill me if you want, I'll never betray my employer—Argh!"John punched him viciously in the face again, leaving him with teeth-gritting agony. "Where is she?!" he bellowed, strangling him just then.Being taller than the average man, he had the height advantage even though he was skinny now.He looked down at the other man loftily, his sharp glare bursting with bloodlust. "Where's Jessica?! Tell me!""I'd rather die than talk," the man grunted with much difficulty as John started to strangle him!Breathing was becoming increasingly difficult, and the man was starting to suffocate…But he was not giving in at all!"John!" Cordy suddenly called out loudly,
Soon, another nurse emerged from the delivery room with a small bundle. "Is the mother's family here?""Yes!" John exclaimed loudly."The delivery was successful," the nurse said. "The baby weighs eight pounds—""How is she?" John asked in agitation, not caring about the child."She's fine. The doctor is just helping her clean up and she'll be out soon," the nurse replied.As John breathed a sigh of relief, the nurse reminded him, "Aren't you the father? Here's your child."John took the baby off her arms, staring at her for a moment as the others flocked around him. "Oh, she's so fair!" Zoe could not help exclaiming. "That's the most beautiful baby I've ever seen.""Are you saying that your son's ugly?" Bob teased."To be honest, yeah," Zoe replied without thinking.Jay cleared his throat—even if it was a subjective opinion, it still hurt to have his own baby called ugly."Let me carry her," Zoe volunteered just then, and John did not hesitate to hand her his baby.As Zoe
"What?!" Zoe exclaimed in shock.Beside them, John's face fell despite being usually stoic.Still, even before anyone could react, he scooped Cordy up in his arms and left.Zoe did not hesitate to follow, but Jay reminded her, "We're the hosts, Zoe.""Don't care." Zoe was completely unconcerned. "Ask my mom and your sister to handle the guests. I'm going with Cordy!"Jay hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow since there was no reasoning with Zoe.Sam and Quinn also realized that something was out of place.As they pulled away reluctantly, Bob shouted from below, "If you're done kissing, we're going to the hospital! Cordy's going into labor!"Quinn hurried after them as soon as she hurt, but Sam caught her. "Slow down. We can catch up."In fact, most of the guests were leaving as well—it was as if the banquet for Zoe's son was actually intended for everyone else.The poor boy was certainly unlucky to have such unreliable parents!-As everyone rushed to the hospit
"I'm swelling from my pregnancy," Quinn explained. "It's not your fault."Sam was left staring at her for a while before asking, "So, what should I do?""I'll put it on when I slim down.""Oh." Sam was a little disappointed, since he had always dreamed of having her put on the ring he had custom made.But this was fine—they had all the time they needed, and the most important thing for him is that Quinn was marrying him!He rose to his feet just then, and everyone was cheering as soon as he did. "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"Quinn blushed right then, and Sam could see that she was embarrassed.He did not want to make things awkward for her, even if he was quite eager at the moment.Heaven knows how much he missed that night's drunken fumble they had. In fact, during the times he remembered it in dreams, he had to wash his pants when he woke up.Still, just as he took Quinn's hand and started to leave, he felt a softness on his lips—Quinn was kissing him! Sam's heart pounded thunderous
Everyone waited patiently for the final outcome.Quinn's eyes were welling up with tears, threatening to gush if she so much as blinked.She did her best to hold back her tears—to be strong!Sam pursed his lips in turn, his Adam's apple bobbing.A long while passed, and it felt like a century for Quinn when she finally heard him say, "Yes."Quinn's tears started falling in happiness as Sam declared loudly, "I'll marry you, Quinn—it's what I've always wanted to do! I won't let you go even if you regret it eventually! You only get to be with me, and I'll never let any other man claim you! I'll become very overbearing… eventually!""I won't regret it," Quinn said, determined.She certainly would not regret marrying him!Zoe walked up to them with perfect timing just then, and Sam did a double take.He finally remembered that Zoe was the host of this luncheon and was going to leave with Quinn when Zoe whipped out a small red velvet box."You know what's in here, don't you?" Zoe a
However, Sam had already pushed Quinn away before she could tell him. But even if he did not love her or did not want to be with her, she would never stay with Ryan.She had been disappointed in Sam, wondering why he would give up so easily.Was she that unimportant to him?Therefore, if it were not for Zoe and Cordy showing her that video or telling her so much, she would never have known that he loved her for years…Sam's heart ached even as he looked into Quinn's tearful eyes.He reached out a hand, but soon withdrew it—would he not burden her?Even so, it hurt to restrain himself as he watched her, and he was actually getting the feeling that Quinn loved him…But she already had Ryan's child…Well, he was fine with that, as long as the child was Quinn's.But would she not mind?"I will marry you, Sam," Quinn said slowly and clearly then. "Not because you're a good man, not because you prepared so much for me, and not because of how much you prepared for me, but because I
Everyone in the hall was staring at Sam and Quinn, while Quinn took center stage, staring fixedly at Sam.He stood in the middle of the crowd, watching her silently.She in turn felt fear that he would turn and leave, just as she did not know if she had the courage to stand before him again and to declare her feelings for him in front of so many others.Nonetheless, amid the deafening silence, Sam suddenly walked toward the stage.His pace was slow as if his feet were made of lead, but he was also unusually determined.Quinn's heart raced uncontrollably right then!Everyone else was watching them nervously, especially Cordy and Zoe, with the latter being especially concerned that the cowardly Sam would bail.Fortunately, he was a man who showed responsibility. He would not leave Quinn alone and embarrassed.Hence, as everyone looked on, Sam stood before Quinn, his gaze flickering as their eyes met.He gulped ever so slightly, his emotions clearly ruffled even as he did his bes
The guests were encouraging, loudly asking, "Why?!""Because of a woman," Sam's recording replied."Who is it?""Quinn Summer," the Sam on the screen said slowly and clearly, leaving the Sam who was in the hall stunned.What the hell?! That was the proposal video he prepared before! Why did it show up here? Did Zoe make a mistake?!He knew it—leave anything to Zoe, and she would mess it up!He started striding toward the stage, intent on stopping the recording, when John and Bob intercepted him with a look of utter guilt while the recording continued. "Quinn is my wife, and we've been married for years, but I've never really loved her—not because I don't, but because I'm afraid to. I feel too insignificant in comparison to the one she loves, so I'd always hurt her… painfully and childishly. I regret that so much now, Quinn. How could I have abandoned you for so long because of my own jealousy? I'd rather hold you in my sleep every night, but my damned pride denied me that for y
At the banquet hall, Jay and Zoe were thanking their guests with their children in their arms.Then, Zoe announced excitedly, "Please give my best friend, who is also my son's godmother, a warm applause as she comes on stage!"Sam stood at a corner of the hall, watching as Quinn walked up the stage, only realizing just then that her belly was clearly swelling despite her baggy clothes.Time flies—he had not left that long ago, but she and Ryan already had a child.She was not worried about giving him a stroke, was she?He watched as Quinn took the mic and looked around below searching, seemingly searching.After a while, he thought she was looking at him, but by the time he looked up, she had already turned away.Maybe she was looking for Ryan before remembering that Ryan was not there?Nonetheless, Quinn spoke into the mic, saying, "I'm honored to be chosen as the godmother to Zoe's son, and she's been saying he'd be engaged to my child if it's a girl. I already love my godson
As their eyes met, Sam turned frantic and averted his. "Of course.""Really?" Quinn asked."Would I lie to you?" Sam asked a little grumpily."And you didn't bring her back?" Quinn asked."I'm on a schedule, and it'd be taxing for her if I bought her along," Sam said, making things up as he went along. "I'll bring her along when things are less busy.""Is she pretty?" Quinn pressed."What, have I ever picked an ugly one?" Sam snorted smugly. "You know I prefer curvaceous types, and there are plenty of those abroad.""Do you have a photo?"Sam was silent for a while and eventually said, "Yeah.""Can I see it?""What, does she have to pass your assessment?""Just curious about the girl who can tempt you to settle down," Quinn replied. "You'd be humbled." Sam hastily came up with an excuse."I won't," Quinn said, determined."You'll see her when I bring her home." Sam refused nonetheless."I would like to see a photo now.""No, she's not that photogenic. It'd be slander a