"Don't panic." She calmed herself down and comforted the assistant instead. "This isn't your fault. I don't blame you. Go around and ask if anyone has seen Aster. I will call the security department. Bye."She walked toward the main entrance even as she called security.There were only two places where one could enter and exit the hotel—a main entrance, and an emergency back exit. Under normal circumstances, the back exit was not open.If Aster had really been kidnapped, the kidnapper had to go through either one of those doors with Aster. She got security to retrieve the surveillance footage from the floor that the restaurant was on before getting them to send people to guard both exits."The moment you have anything, call me immediately," she said.Larissa kept her eyes fixed on the main entrance. There were a lot of people moving in and out. She stared at every child that passed her by—but none of them were her Aster. Nothing came from security either.The feeling of unease La
The hotel's security happened to arrive at this moment. The sounds of chaotic footsteps could be heard at the door."Ms. Seymour!"A group of people rushed in."Take my son out first!" Larissa pointed at Aster, who was still curled up under the study table. A guard went over and picked him up at once, while the rest surrounded Larissa and helped her to pin down the woman beneath her.That woman resisted strongly, nearly shoving Larissa off and causing her to fall. It was thanks to the guards that Larissa did not crash onto the floor. Getting off the bed with that momentum, she pulled out her phone and called the police.Hearing her making a phone call, the woman screamed, "Don't call the police!"That voice …Even if it was largely different from how it usually sounded, Larissa could still keenly tell that it was—"Ruby Cole?"She moved over to the head of the bed and told one guard to take off the woman's cap. Ruby's face was exposed."It's really you!" Larissa should have k
Ruby's vehement kicks to his body were still fresh in her mind. Larissa kissed Aster's tears, asking him softly, "Does it hurt bad?"Aster shook his head minutely. She was not sure if he really was not in pain, or if he was only doing that to comfort her.When they got to the first floor, Larissa raced out of the hotel as fast as she could and hailed a cab. They went to the closest hospital, which was the military hospital. Aster was heavily bruised from Ruby's kicks, but the fortunate thing was that he did not suffer any grievous injuries.The doctor asked Larissa, "How did this happen?" His stare was filled with condemnation and suspicion. Larissa did not say much—for the truth was too complicated to explain in just a couple of sentences.When they left, the doctor said pointedly, "Child abuse—even if it's your own biological child, is illegal."Larissa halted for a moment, but she still made no arguments to defend herself.…The image of Larissa rushing out of the hotel with
This was the best excuse Kevan could think of. It gave him a justifiable reason to be concerned about them as well as removing the risk of the people watching over them getting exposed.It only took Larissa a few seconds to figure out the reason why they came."You've bailed her out?" Her heart felt like it was being choked from fear.She knew that she had no right to demand him to do anything, and she also knew his relationship with Ruby. Bailing her out was totally a normal thing, but she could not help but blame him for that. If Ruby could come out of this unscathed without needing to bear any legal responsibility, Larissa would definitely request headquarters to transfer her back to Westonia at once—no part of her career or future was worth her son's life."No." Kevan's answer gave Larissa reason to feel relieved. "I will not interfere in this matter," he promised her. "The police will have full power over this matter."If he left it alone, the chances of Ruby getting convicte
Larissa found it a little difficult to carry him in her arms.Kevan hurriedly got up from the sofa and took the child from her."Aster …" He looked down at the boy, his heart aching greatly for him, and his voice unconsciously became hoarse too."Uncle Kevan." Aster greeted him politely, like the good boy he was, though the nasal twang in his voice was rather noticeable.Kevan gritted his teeth, doing everything he could to conceal the harsh anger in his eyes. How dare Ruby touch his son? She must have been having it too good these few years.Sitting down again, Kevan got Aster to sit on his lap."Does it still hurt?" He wiped Aster's tears away as he asked gently.Dylan pursed his lips discreetly as he thought to himself, "Jeez, father and son have great rapport for sure." Only Aster could get Kevan to get over his extreme clean freakishness by making him willingly touch something that was absolutely disgusting in his eyes.Aster nodded once.Because of this simple act, the t
Larissa invited Kevan and Dylan to stay for dinner, but they surprisingly rejected her offer."We still have work to do. Maybe next time," Kevan said, before bending down to ruffle Aster's hair with a faint smile on his face. His eyes were filled with gentleness too."Goodbye, Aster." His deep voice was light and unexpectedly energizing.Larissa's heart felt like something had slammed right into it. She hurriedly looked down to hide the panic on her face.Dylan noticed her actions and tilted his head slightly to one side in pensive thought as he looked at her.Aster waved at Kevan and said reluctantly, "Goodbye, Uncle Kevan!"…Aster had no appetite, and he only ate a little bit of pasta before putting his spoon down."Mommy, I'm full." He watched Larissa timidly and emphasized, "Really, really full."Although Larissa and Wendy treated him generously, they never allowed him to waste food. He always did well usually, so Larissa naturally did not blame him for today's exception—
Larissa's heart ached at that, but she forced herself to show a stern expression as she said coldly, "Aster, tell me the truth.""I …" Aster opened his mouth and had barely gotten a word out when his tears spilled over. "I want a daddy too ..." he sobbed, his voice incoherent, but Larissa heard him.She suddenly remembered that the cartoon she played for him involved an orphan character, who unexpectedly met his biological father before deciding to recognize him as his dad. This was also the movie's biggest tear-jerking point. Wendy would be bawling whenever she watched it.Larissa herself felt nothing for it, probably due to never experiencing what fatherly love was like. She also held no hope of ever finding her biological dad. She was just worried that Aster would think too much after watching it.However, Aster never had a reaction whenever he watched this back then, so she thought that he was just like her in that he did not crave the existence of a father.Clearly, the truth
If Larissa herself had not necessarily met Aster's biological father, who said Wendy would even know about him? Aster's question made her a little frantic, and she asked him in return, "Why are you asking about this?""I want to find my daddy," Aster said seriously, and Wendy was shocked. Her first reaction was to inform Larissa, but she still had to deal with Aster for now."Why are you suddenly thinking about finding your daddy?"This kid, having grown up to his current age, had never asked for his father before today. So … what on earth has happened now?"Because I want to." Aster bit his lip, some stubbornness shining through his forlornness. He had never spoken to Wendy like this before. If it were not for the fact that he was only five, Wendy would have thought that he was already at his rebellious stage."Well … you gotta have a reason for wanting to do something?" She tried to communicate properly with him.Aster was quiet for a while before he mumbled, "I … don't want Mo