Esther knew that Pixie had been adopted but didn't know who the adoptive parents were.It felt like she had entered a dead-end with no escape. She met cold walls in every direction she tried to go.Anna gently patted Esther's shoulder, explaining, "Officer, my friend traveled all the way from the other side of the Earth to bring her daughter back home. The results of the two DNA tests are completely opposite, making it hard for her to accept it immediately."She then suggested to the staff, "How about this? The officer and I will personally collect Pixie's DNA samples and have a professional institution conduct a new test. If the result matches the previous one, Pixie is not my friend's daughter, and she can resume her search for her biological child. What do you think?"The staff nodded. "I can take you to collect Pixie's DNA sample, but Ms. Quill cannot go.""She won't go. I'll go in her place." Anna turned around and looked at Esther, who was full of despair."Esther, do you t
Anna's words were sowed in Esther's heart like a seed. She recalled Felix's mention of the mysterious person in black, and a dark idea suddenly came to her mind."Anna, is the girl you saw really Pixie?" she asked.Anna nodded. "Esther, haven't you already seen the photo?"Esther stood up and paced back and forth before Anna, seemingly indecisive.Anna looked at her in puzzlement and asked, "Esther, what are you thinking?""Do you remember the organ trafficking ring I told you about before?"Esther took a deep breath and sat across from Anna, her tone slightly anxious. "You mentioned that the family who adopted Pixie has a little girl with a heart condition, and it gave me a very absurd idea. Could it be possible that they don't want to let me take Pixie away because they're intentionally keeping her as an organ storage?"Esther's idea coincided with the absurd thought Anna had just had.Anna's gaze flickered, and she hesitated before saying, "Esther, I had the same thought ear
"It's quite similar," Esther replied.-While Esther and Anna were busy, the children remained well-behaved in the castle. Esther made sure to video chat with Felix and Sunshine every other hour, spending about ten minutes to ensure they were behaving.Their work occupied them until around 10:00 p.m., and then Anna drove Esther to the adoptive family's house to retrieve Pixie.As they approached, Anna noticed that the villa on the mountainside was completely dark. When they stopped the car in front of the villa's gate, a drunken man stumbled out and scrutinized their vehicle.After confirming that Anna was the one who had been there earlier, he slurred, "Sir and Madam went on vacation!"The news hit Anna and Esther like a bombshell. They had previously suspected the family's intentions, but now they were certain that Pixie was in great danger."Alright, thank you."Anna forced a strained smile and drove Esther to Benz.-"Hey, ladies."Upon seeing them, Benz casually poured
Benz didn't offer false comfort to Esther. He took a sip of whisky and asked coldly, "If it were you, would you do it?"Without hesitation, Esther replied, "I wouldn't."As a mother, she couldn't bring herself to be so cruel."No, you would," Benz said with extreme indifference. He swirled the liquid in his glass as he continued, speaking like a philosopher who understood human nature. "Ms. Quill, everyone has their weaknesses, a dark side. When desire is magnified, you never know what terrible things you might do."He continued. "You can say that now simply because you haven't faced such desperation. Imagine if your child becomes seriously ill one day, and someone offers to save your son for 15,000,000 dollars. Would you still refuse?"Esther shook her head resolutely, her eyes shining with determination. Her words carried the power to touch hearts. "Benz, I wouldn't. While my child is precious, other children are equally precious. I won't trample on someone else's life just for
Esther wasn't alone, however. She had Felix by her side, someone she cared deeply for.With Felix, she had a vulnerable spot.Felix and Pixie were her children, and she couldn't put one child in danger to protect the other."I'll infiltrate the enemy's territory as a customer, no worries," Benz said as he stepped out of the car. He patted the car's roof, reassuring Anna and Esther, "Keep your distance from here to avoid attracting attention. And don't worry about me. They won't dare to harm me."With those words, Benz confidently walked into the church hospital.Anna parked the car about a kilometer away. "Esther, trust Benz. He's reliable."Esther's grip on her phone tightened, and her face drained of color. "Anna, will calling the police help?"Anna thought about it and replied hesitantly, "Esther, I don't know. This is a foreign country, and things are different from our home country. What I mean is, if we dare to take a chance, we can contact the police officer who helped us
Benz shook his head and explained gently, "I didn't see Pixie. I just took a glance at the nurse's station. Anyway, when you get to the hospital building, go directly to the fourth floor and find Pixie. Once you find her, it's best to knock her out, put her in a medical waste bin, and take her out. Remember... don't speak unless necessary.""I understand.""Got it."Anna and Esther replied simultaneously."I'll wait for you in the medical waste room," Benz said."Okay."Esther and Anna, both dressed in full protective gear, stepped out of the car and headed toward the staff-only elevator on the fourth floor.As they approached, a man in surgical attire came closer to them. "You, come with me!"Anna and Esther were startled, but Anna gestured that she would go with the man after a moment.Left alone, Esther proceeded to Room 9 on the fourth floor. Fortunately, the journey was smooth, and nobody talked to her, nor did she attract any attention.Esther arrived at the door of the
IEsther finally realized that the young boy had been observing her through binoculars."I won't be someone else's mother." Esther softly explained, "Don't misunderstand me. I'm not unwilling to, but I'm going through a divorce with my ex-husband, and I'm facing some trouble right now."The handsome young boy smirked. "That's your problem and has nothing to do with me. Guess how long it'll take for them to arrive if I call out. What fate awaits your two accomplices?"Esther asked through her gritted teeth, "What do you want then?""I just want to feel a mother's warmth before I die," the young boy pitifully expressed.Esther's heart softened upon hearing that. She made a determined promise, "I'll grant your wish."The young boy took out his phone and snapped a picture of Esther in the protective suit."Let's go. I'll take you to see your daughter."Just as the young boy was about to take Esther away, an ear-piercing alarm blared throughout the hospital.The young boy's expressi
Jacob sat on the sofa, his cold expression tinged with disdain. "This transaction is consensual. I hope you keep your promise, Ms. Quill."Esther looked anxious, her gaze eager. "Mr. Sanderson, don't worry. I'll definitely keep my promise.""In that case, you may leave."Anna and Benz exchanged glances and stood up together.Esther hesitated for a moment, then called out, "Wait."Jacob looked coldly at her. "Yes?""Can I bring my son?" she asked.Esther thought that Felix would worry about her if she stayed with Jacob. She wanted to test if Jacob would allow her to take Felix with her."No." Jacob gestured to a black-clad bodyguard. "Please come with me.""Anna, take care of Felix and Sunshine for me," Esther said.Anna replied seriously, "Don't worry, Esther. I'll take good care of the kids and wait for your good news."After everyone else left the room, Jacob casually picked up a book and began reading.Esther did not know how to be a mother. She was still a novice, even
Bradley's brazen words made Gabriel raise an eyebrow, and his scrutinizing gaze on Bradley intensified.Unfazed by Gabriel, Bradley calmly stated, "Mr. Sinclair, when I visited Shane recently, he handed me some video footage. It showed Esther being assaulted and abused in prison, with the perpetrators claiming it was my order. I've always dared to own up to my actions. What I've done, I won't shirk from. What I haven't done, I won't admit."Gabriel had seen the videos online. Even though Bradley had obscured the protagonist's face in the footage, he knew it was Esther. He had believed entrusting Esther to Thomas would ensure her safety, only to discover how fate twisted things."Bradley, I'll assume your words are true," Gabriel began. "Then tell me, if those people who assaulted Esther in prison weren't influenced by someone else, who put her in prison? Have you forgotten how you, in your irrational madness, expected a woman carrying your children to pay the price? Or do you believ
When Bradley brought up his grandfather again, he felt utterly unfilial as a grandson."Your grandfather's greatest wish before he passed was for you and Esther to live peacefully and happily. Sadly, all he witnessed was discord and enmity between you as a couple."Gabriel understood better than anyone that Bradley, in his youthful arrogance, felt that everything and everyone should conform to his desires. When Thomas compelled Bradley to marry Esther, almost like an arranged marriage, his rebellious nature surfaced."I've failed my grandfather's hopes," Bradley admitted with a bitter taste in his mouth.During quiet, solitary nights, he revisited memories of the past repeatedly.He hadn't desired that marriage back then. However, since he had promised his grandfather to marry Esther, he should have genuinely treated her as a wife.Despite the subsequent events not aligning with his wishes, he was painfully aware that if he hadn't been arrogant and unwilling to listen to Esther's
Esther wasn't pleasant toward Bradley. If she had evidence, she would gladly send him to prison to experience the joy of life behind bars.Bradley gazed blankly at Esther's stunning face, a hint of indescribable sorrow in his eyes. Those deep eyes resembled a chilly cold spring."Not only do you want to chop off my hand, but you also want my life, right?"Esther gestured a slice across her neck at Bradley with her hand, then turned away to tell Logan, "Let's go. Don't waste time on this.""Okay."With languid steps, Esther walked into the elevator. Once they were inside, the elevator doors shut.Outside the elevator, Bradley watched Esther and Logan like they were two puzzle pieces that matched perfectly. Instantly, he felt an unbearable heartache, as if his heart was being torn apart.He instinctively reached out to steady himself against the wall, observing the numbers on the elevator panel decrease until it stopped at the ground floor.It took a while before Bradley recovere
Throughout the entire night, neither Esther nor Logan had shut their eyes.Feeling their eyes strain, they applied eye drops. It wasn't until Esther noticed someone who shouldn't have been there on the surveillance footage."Logan, take a look at this."Perplexed, Logan asked, "What's going on?""Do you think this person looks like Shirley?"Esther was particularly sharp in discerning a woman's physique. She could immediately tell that the woman being supported by a man due to her intoxication bore a striking resemblance to Shirley."Let me see."Logan zoomed in on the surveillance footage, carefully comparing it with the footage containing Shirley. Physically, the two women indeed looked very similar.There was just one question... How would they confirm if she was Shirley?"Esther, stay here and keep watching the surveillance. I'll retrieve other surveillance footage.""Okay."Logan and Esther divided their tasks. Suspecting that the intoxicated woman might be Shirley, Est
Logan and Esther exchanged a glance. They fixed their intense gazes on Jason's face, unable to discern if he was smirking or provoking them."Mr. Taft, the evidence you seek will come."Jason scoffed. He seemed to transform into a different person as he put his glasses back on."Even if Shirley deceived me, I never wished harm upon her, let alone her death."I can consider your suspicions toward me as part of the investigation, but I hope that once everything is revealed, you can restore my innocence."I've said my piece. As long as Shirley hasn't divorced me, she remains my wife. I am obliged to cooperate in the investigation, and I hope you find her soon."Logan and Esther sensed something amiss with the first confrontation. They didn't say anything untoward until they exited the elevator and looked up at Jason's balcony outside.Jason stood on the balcony, looking at Logan and Esther and waving toward them.Logan and Esther looked at Jason before they turned and got into the
"She blocked me on all forms of contact at that time. I even tried contacting her through my colleagues' phones but found out she had blocked them, too. I thought she might be angry, so we should both calm down."Logan didn't speak and just listened quietly as Jason recounted the events of the case."I was angry that she blocked me. At my age, what's wrong with wanting a child? My parents were pushing for it, and I wondered if this marriage was what I wanted."Shirley is very beautiful. My friends and classmates say I'm lucky to have married her, but they don't know that beauty comes at a price."While my colleagues were buying properties, my wife kept changing bags. Her clothes, skincare products, shoes—everything was designer. To support her lifestyle, I work diligently, even taking extra freelance jobs to afford it."I thought I was a good husband and just wanted a child. What did I do wrong? If she had said that she didn't want a child after marriage in the first place, it wou
Gabriel took a long look at Esther, realizing more than anyone that Esther seemed to be heading toward a different extreme now. He wasn't certain if this shift in Esther's demeanor was good or bad.However, one thing was clear to him—the intersection of Esther and Bradley's lives resembled two lines crossing. After intersecting, they would drift further apart."Esther, you can investigate Bradley's criminal evidence. I won't object to that," Gabriel said with a stern face, emphasizing, "But ensure you complete your tasks on time and with quality.""Grandpa Gabriel, rest assured, I won't neglect my work."Gabriel nodded. "Go on then.""Alright." Esther stepped out of the office and approached Logan. "We can set off now.""Okay."Logan didn't inquire about Esther's conversation with Gabriel. Although they pretended to be engaged, Logan maintained a respectful distance from Esther. He wouldn't interfere much in her matters. However, he was aware that if she needed his help, he woul
Gabriel stated, "According to her husband, they argued before she went missing. He assumed she had returned to her parents' home and didn't inquire further since they often had cold spells for ten days to half a month. Their relatives and friends can testify to this."However, the cold spell extended to a month this time, which alarmed him. When he called her parents, they told him his wife never went home."Esther knew that the husband was often the first suspect when the wife went missing in cases like this."The wife bought a high-speed train ticket to her parents' home but didn't take the train back. The police traced her taking a ride-hailing car, and the driver claimed to have dropped her off on the street. The dashcam recording is proof. However, after that point, there's a blind spot in the surveillance footage. Usually, surveillance is kept for a certain period and gets overwritten after that."Logan asked, "What about the investigation on the missing woman's husband?""T
Esther rose, fixating on the distant scenery with clear eyes. "As long as he commits a crime, he'll leave traces."Logan was on the verge of speaking but was interrupted by the sudden ring of his phone."Hello, Mr. Sinclair."Gabriel's voice sounded grave. "There's a new lead.""Alright, we'll be right there."Logan stood up, turning to Esther. "We'll meet at the locker room entrance in ten minutes.""Is there a new development?""Yes."For most girls, ten minutes might not suffice even for basic grooming. For Esther, it was just right. The only issue was her long hair. Time was too short, and she lacked the opportunity to blow-dry it. Her damp hair draped over her shoulders, slightly soaking her T-shirt.Logan kept his eyes on the road. "I'll drive. You can use a towel to dry your hair.""Okay."As Logan drove, Esther sat in the car, patting her hair dry with a towel. Her hair was thick, posing a challenge to dry with just a towel.Nevertheless, Esther refrained from openi