Nala's eyes widened with surprise as she gazed at him."I have something really tasty with me. Are you feeling hungry?" Drake asked.Nala firmly shook her head and started to retreat, but Drake swiftly blocked her path."Hey, don't go. Stay right there!" He held onto her with a tight grip. "Um... Your mom actually sent me to find you!"Nala hesitated for a moment upon hearing it was her mother. "Is it really her?"Drake continued, weaving his tale. "Didn't she just dash off suddenly? She told you to wait here, didn't she?""Yes...""That's correct!" Drake beamed. "Little one, if you leave like this, what if your mom can't find you?""She knows where to find me. I'll just play here for a bit and then head back to the lobby!""Oh..." Drake glanced around. "I know that lobby. I'll take you there!"Nala became wary and cautiously freed herself, stepping back a couple of paces."I'm truly a friend of your mother's. If you don't go back, she'll be anxious when she can't locate you
"Must you interfere in my affairs, you stinky brat?" Drake grumbled, annoyed.Alexander was his son, and he didn't plan to keep secrets from him. In his eyes, they shared the same blood. No matter how much he scolded or disciplined him, he couldn't abandon his own flesh and blood.He opened a drawer and found a pair of scissors, cutting off Nala's braids, which fell to the floor.Alexander was shocked. He wanted to stop his father, but he knew he couldn't match Drake's strength, so he bit his lip and approached him. "Dad, are you really going to sell this girl?""It's not my choice. It's what Bianca wants," Drake said with a frown, instructing Alexander to fetch some of his old clothes from the wardrobe.Alexander brought the clothes and watched as Drake's dirty hands tore at Nala's small dress. He exclaimed, "What are you doing?""You little troublemaker!" Drake glared at him. "Lower your voice. Do you want to expose us?""Dad, you—""I need to change this girl's clothes! Her
Bianca halted, fixated on Chris. He appeared uneasy, isolated in a corner, engrossed in his phone, and occasionally relocating to make calls elsewhere.She quietly trailed him, faintly catching his hushed and anxious words."Have you found her?""Tell them not to worry... If the kidnappers are after money, they'll definitely call!"Her heart raced. 'Kidnappers? Who are they searching for? Is that Lena on the other end?'Suddenly, Toph called out, "Chris, what are you doing?"Bianca concealed herself as Toph dashed over in his usual carefree manner to usher Chris away."My brother couldn't find you anywhere. Why did you come here? Come eat!"As they proceeded, Chris and Toph coincidentally passed by Bianca. Their eyes locked, causing both of them to freeze.Bianca swiftly evaded his gaze and forced a greeting, "Chris...""Eh, Bianca?" Toph inquired, much like Arya, "What are you doing here? My brother didn't invite you, did he?""You..."Bianca's frustration grew, but Toph a
The unexpected question stunned Alexander. Nala gazed at him with sorrowful, big eyes. In one moment, he was the reliable 'big brother'—in the next, he couldn't even provide a meal.Alexander winced and tried to change the subject to divert her attention. "Are you really hungry?""Yes!" Nala's tears teetered on the edge. She pouted and whimpered, "I was supposed to eat at the hotel with my mom... She even said we'd order braised bass...""Don't cry, don't cry! It's just a fish...""But I'm hungry!"Alexander felt uneasy. Engaging her in conversation was proving difficult.Finally, he managed to calm Nala. He had an idea and extended his arm to her, sleeves rolled up. "If you're truly starving, you can bite me first!"Nala stared at him in disbelief."I come from a poor family, and we didn't always have food. When I was really hungry as a kid, I'd munch on... things that could keep hunger at bay."Nala looked puzzled.Alexander smiled and explained, "For example, when there wa
"Nothing!" He smiled reassuringly at Nala, determined to take her away from this place.A loud bang came from the factory door, followed by the distinct sound of high heels clicking on the ground.Alexander swiftly signaled Nala, who promptly pretended to be unconscious on the floor. He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes."Is this the child?" Bianca's tone was commanding.Standing behind her, Brake grunted, "Yes."Bianca took a few steps closer, carefully inspecting the child in the dim light. Suddenly, her expression shifted."Is this... the young heiress of the Chriss family?"Drake was dumbfounded. When he had abducted the child, he did not know her family's identity.Bianca sneered. "Dickinson, I instructed you to fetch the Hamerton child, not the Chriss one! And you claim you didn't deceive me?""Well..." Drake scratched his head. "Ms. Bianca, your goal is to pin in on Lena, right? It doesn't matter who we kidnap! As long as we have the child, she's implicated in
Lena gazed at him, her lips moving as a complex expression crossed her face.Suddenly, Chris' phone rang. It was Fleur calling, sounding anxious as she urged him to return immediately.Chris had no choice but to follow his mother's instructions and bring Lena back to the Hamertons.They found Zuko and Lina already present inside the spacious living room, all wearing serious expressions.When Lena entered, Fleur appeared to have something important to say, her gaze fixed on Lena.Lina locked eyes with Lena and smiled determinedly, leaving Lena slightly puzzled.Bianca calmly entered the room, catching Lena's attention."Aunt Fleur, Chris, I've located Nala! I know where she is!" Bianca announced eagerly.Chris paused, surprised. "How did you find out? What's the source of this information?"Bianca smiled confidently. "Don't think you're the only one with connections just because you were in the special forces. The Hamertons aren't all-powerful, and there are things you can't un
"Aunt Fleur, haven't you understood yet? I'll share everything I've found," Bianca said with smug satisfaction.She fixed a cold gaze on Lena and continued. "Krystal Harding, Ms. Harding's biological mother, was involved in human trafficking. She sent her daughter to live with Drake. I even heard that Krystal abducted Drake's wife and sold her to him!"As they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I mean, a human trafficker's daughter might be involved in human trafficking too, don't you think?"So, do you still believe Nala's disappearance has nothing to do with Ms. Harding?""Bianca!" Lina stepped forward, her voice angry. "Stop making accusations without evidence!""Ms. Thompson, you've misunderstood me," Bianca said, looking at her. "I did this investigation for your benefit. You have a daughter. Can you trust Lena around her?""Enough!" Chris shouted.Lena jumped and stared at him in disbelief. But there was no doubt on his face.Chris was still protecting her, lo
Bianca remained composed and grinned. "Ms. Thompson, don't you trust me?""I only trust in evidence.""But Nala Chriss is missing, and it's linked to Lena's adoptive father and brother. That's a fact!"Lina blinked, surprised and almost bursting into laughter. How could someone tell such blatant lies with a straight face?Did she truly believe the security cameras in the hotel's backyard were completely malfunctioning? Did she genuinely think that with the Thompsons and Hamertons' resources, they couldn't fix a single surveillance camera?Zuko comfortingly patted Lina's shoulder and discreetly handed her his phone.Lina glanced at the message he had received from his subordinate: [Mr. Hamerton, we're working diligently to recover the surveillance data. The truth will come out very soon!]Lina couldn't help but stifle a laugh. Bianca was only making her situation worse by hastily accusing Lena. They just needed to remain patient, and she would expose herself.Just then, the butl