On the road, my phone kept vibrating.
When I answered, Attorney Quincy’s tone was extrely urgent: "Miss Ellison, where are you now? The court hearing starts in ten minutes."
"Sorry, Attorney Quincy, I have an urgent matter right now. Please help apply for a postponent of the court hearing. I’ll explain the details to you later..."
As I spoke, I sped up the car heading towards my mom’s hospital.
...
Hospital.
As soon as the car stopped, I grabbed my bag and rushed to the elevator in the parking garage, my eyes glued to the phone’s surveillance screen.
Naomi was still crouching by my mom’s bed. What exactly was she doing?
I was anxious, very soon, I could catch her inside!
Finally, the elevator arrived on my mom’s hospital ward floor.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, I rushed out, only to bump right into a man’s arms.
The other party’s hand firmly grasped my wrist, a familiar teasing voice reached my ears: "Zoe Ellison, in such a rush, are you off to be reincarnated?"
I looked up abruptly and found Ethan Xavier here.
I had no ti to ask why he was back from abroad, I broke free from his hand and wanted to leave: "I’ll contact you later."
"Hey, wait!"
He caught up with in a few steps, blocking my way, raising an eyebrow: "What exactly is making you so anxious? You’ve piqued my curiosity."
"Move aside!"
I anxiously pushed him away, but my gaze inadvertently swept across the phone screen.
Naomi’s image was no longer in the surveillance.
It must have been during those few minutes Ethan was entangling with that Naomi left.
I was furious and yelled at him: "You choose now of all tis to show up? How unlucky am I to bump into you!"
Just after I said that, a terrifying thought flashed through my mind.
I grabbed his arm suddenly, looking at him with suspicion: "You’re not in cahoots with Naomi, are you? Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?"
Ethan paused, then frowned: "Zoe Ellison, did you take the wrong dicine? Naomi... isn’t she already dead?"
The bewildernt on his face didn’t seem fake, and my earlier guess was just a casual suspicion.
Timothy Xavier had hidden Naomi so deeply, how could Ethan Xavier possibly have any connection with Naomi?
I felt all my strength being drained away, and I did not continue the chase.
The hospital was so big. Last ti I watched her leave and couldn’t catch up.
Not to ntion, she’s been out of the ward for a while now.
Ethan waved a hand in front of , saying: "Seeing , you’re not at all happy?"
I asked irritably: "Weren’t you abroad? Why did you suddenly co back?"
"I missed you, so I ca back to see."
Though his voice was still the sa flippant tone, his eyes were no longer as casual as before, sothing seed to have changed.
I ignored his banter and asked: "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for a friend," he said calmly.
"Then go continue looking, I’m leaving."
As I spoke, I looked back at him, who was about to follow: "Don’t follow !"
I was just one step away from catching Naomi, but with Ethan’s interruption, all the clues were broken again.
So, the tone I used to speak to Ethan was harsh, scaring him enough not to follow any further.
When I reached my mom’s ward, I imdiately pulled out my phone, opened the surveillance playback, and played it repeatedly.
The woman in the video always wore a mask, only her eyes were visible.
Yet, when she held my mom’s hand, her shoulders trembled slightly, her fingertips gently stroking the back of my mom’s hand.
She didn’t seem to be harming her; instead, it looked like she was crying.
She never touched any of the equipnt in the ward nor left anything behind.
I felt a thick fog before my eyes.
Was this woman Naomi after all?
Or perhaps, it was so trick Serena was playing?
Before I could sort out my thoughts, my phone suddenly rang.
It was Timothy Xavier.
Hesitantly, I decided to tell him about Naomi.
Timothy had extensive connections. If he ca over now, he might be able to retrieve the hospital’s public surveillance, which would be quicker than investigating alone.
The last ti the surveillance was destroyed because of a delay, but Naomi had just left today, so traces must still be there.
I picked up the call, and Timothy’s icy voice ca over: "Aren’t you longing for a divorce every day? Now that it’s really happening, you’ve stood up, what is that supposed to an?"
I said word by word: "I didn’t go to court because Naomi showed up. She stayed in my mom’s ward for a long ti; I don’t know what she wanted to do."
There was silence on the other end of the phone, only Timothy’s heavy breathing could be heard.
After a while, he spoke, disbelief and anger in his voice: "Zoe Ellison, Naomi is gone! Why are you still using her as an excuse to lie?"
"I’m not lying." I said calmly: "I have surveillance footage. Co to my mom’s ward now, and I’ll show you."
"I’m coming over now. If you’re lying to , let’s see if I can spare you!"
Timothy’s voice carried a threatening tone and then he hung up.
I was just about to put away my phone when it suddenly rang again, displaying an unfamiliar number.
My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively answered.
A clear, young female voice ca from the earpiece: "I know you’ve been looking for . Yes, I am still alive."
"Naomi?" I stood up abruptly, my voice trembling as I asked, "Where are you?"
"Is your car’s license plate number Hai A 06003?"
She didn’t answer directly, instead, reporting my car’s license plate, "I’m in the hospital garage. I can answer all your questions right now."
My heart raced, wanting to know the truth imdiately.
"Okay, I’ll be right there."
I entered the elevator, my fingers frantically pressing the basent floor.
Soon, the elevator reached the garage.
Just as I stepped out of the elevator, a hand suddenly reached over from behind, covering my mouth and nose.
Another hand pulled towards the blind spot of the surveillance caras.
My limbs weakened as if all strength had been drained, and my vision began to blur.
In just a few seconds, everything fell into complete darkness.
...
The Xavier Manor.
In the evening, Timothy Xavier received a call from Jenna Sutton.
"Where’s Zoe? Where did you take her?" Jenna asked urgently as soon as the call connected.
Timothy frowned with annoyance and said, "Jenna Sutton, that’s a question I want to ask you! What exactly was Zoe doing today!"
Jenna paused, then angrily said, "Didn’t she go to court with you for the divorce? But now, Zoe’s phone is off and we can’t find her anywhere!"
"She didn’t go to court at all!"
Timothy gritted his teeth and said, "She lied about Naomi Sawyer being in the hospital, tricking into waiting in vain! And now, what kind of ga are you playing?"
With that, he hung up the phone.
At that mont, Serena walked over with a cup of warm water and gently asked, "Timothy, what’s wrong? Did sothing happen?"
Taking the cup from her, Timothy ignored Serena, still pondering how much of Jenna’s words were true.
Was Zoe missing?
How could that be possible?
Serena spoke up seemingly unintentionally, "Timothy, I think Miss Ellison doesn’t want a divorce and plans to drag it out with you. After all, Doris is still with her; she’s definitely reluctant to let go."
Timothy looked up at her, his tone carrying a promise, "Serena, I know what you’re worried about. Don’t worry, I ruined your reputation, and Doris caused you to lose your child, so I will definitely take responsibility for you. I said I would divorce Zoe Ellison, and I will never go back on my word."
A flash of triumph quickly crossed Serena’s eyes, followed by a look of feigned grievance as she gently humd in response.
Just then, Timothy’s phone rang again; the screen showed a series of unfamiliar international numbers.
Normally, he would hang up on such calls, but today, for so reason, his fingers involuntarily swiped to answer it.
A rough and hoarse male voice imdiately ca through the earpiece, "Timothy Xavier, we have your wife. Now prepare five million and wait for our instructions. If you dare to call the police or try anything funny, you know the consequences!"
Timothy’s heart suddenly sank, and he instinctively tightened his grip on the phone.
However, this panic only lasted a second, soon consud by an overwhelming anger.
Again with this!
He sneered and said, "Can’t get enough, can you? Zoe Ellison, can’t you co up with sothing new? If you have the guts, just tear up the ticket! And after you do, I’ll give you ten million!"
With that, he directly ended the call and casually tossed the phone onto the sofa.
Lately, Zoe had been making him sick by getting involved with her uncle; writing so lousy novel to make Serena run in circles; even teaching Doris to be estranged from him, her biological father!
Today, she even dragged Naomi Sawyer into it.
What other lies can Zoe Ellison not tell?
At this mont, Serena cautiously asked, "Timothy, whose call was that just now? I think I heard ’kidnap,’ did sothing happen?"
Timothy rubbed his brow irritably, dismissively saying, "Who else could it be? Zoe’s pulling so kidnapping stunt, asking for five million right off the bat."
A flash of triumph crossed Serena’s eyes, but she pretended to sigh, "Miss Ellison is always so cunning, we really can’t afford to provoke her. Why don’t... Timothy, why don’t you just give her the five million? After all, it’s not a big deal for you, just consider it buying so peace."
"Five million is indeed nothing," Timothy said word by word, "but I can’t stand being deceived by her over and over again! And her relationship with Julian Sinclair..."
At this point, he felt a bit nauseous and didn’t want to continue, so he changed the subject, "I’m going to the shrine for a while, not having dinner."
Just as he stood up, Nanny Lowell rushed in and said, "Sir, Miss Sutton is here, and Doris ca along."
Timothy frowned and didn’t want to see Jenna Sutton.
But thinking of his daughter, his heart softened instantly; how could he bear to keep Doris outside?
"Let them in," he instructed.
Shortly after, Nanny Lowell brought Jenna and Doris into the living room.
Doris broke free from Jenna’s hand, rushing to Timothy like a little cannonball, and said, "Daddy, we can’t find Mommy! Did you hide her?"
The warmth on Timothy’s face froze instantly, his sharp gaze shot straight at Jenna, "Earlier Zoe tricked into thinking she was kidnapped and even got soone to call pretending to be a kidnapper. I didn’t fall for it, and now you’re using my daughter to trick ? Co on, show what other gas you have?"
Jenna seed struck by lightning, her pupils contracted sharply: "What did you just say? Zoe was kidnapped? When did this happen? How do you know?"
Timothy Xavier let out a cold snort, his tone filled with impatience: "Go back and tell Zoe Ellison that these ghost tricks are useless on ; don’t waste your efforts!"
"Timothy Xavier!"
Jenna Sutton was shaking with anger, her chest heaving violently as she demanded, "You just said Zoe was kidnapped, what exactly is going on? Explain it to clearly! Let tell you one last ti, I am not lying to you! Zoe has been missing the entire day; her phone has been off constantly. I’ve searched everywhere she might go, and haven’t found her!"
Doris heard ’kidnapping’ and burst into tears.
She rushed forward and clung tightly to the corner of Timothy Xavier’s clothing, her small body trembling with agitation: "My mom has been kidnapped? Then why aren’t you rescuing her?"
Serena Sawyer, seeing this, cried tearfully: "Miss Sutton, I beg you, please leave and Timothy alone. My child has already been taken away by you, what more do you want? Even if Miss Ellison wants money from Timothy, she should co openly; why fabricate a kidnapping as a cover? Using a child like this, don’t you think it’s too much?"
"Shut up!"
Jenna Sutton shouted angrily at Serena Sawyer, then turned sharply to Timothy Xavier, yelling, "Timothy Xavier, I’m telling you, if anything happens to Zoe, I’ll expose all the disgraceful things between you and Serena Sawyer! None of you will have it easy! Even if it costs the entire Sutton Family, I will fight you all till the end!"
Saying this, she took Doris’s hand and said, "Let’s go!"
"Stop right there!"
Timothy Xavier’s eyes turned cold as he said each word with precision, "You can leave, but leave my daughter here!"
"I won’t stay!"
Doris’s voice was full of determination.
From just now until now, she was watching every expression, every move, listening to every word her father said.
And she rembered it all.
She lifted her tear-streaked face, looked at the man in front of her who no longer seed like her father, and said each word firmly, "I hate you! From now on, I have no father!"
Timothy Xavier felt like he had been struck hard; he stood frozen, staring at his daughter in disbelief: "You... what did you say? Doris, what did you say?"
Doris didn’t look at him again but said to Jenna Sutton: "Auntie Jenna, let’s go! We still need to find Mom!"
Until they left, Timothy Xavier remained standing there, motionless, as if his soul had been taken.
Serena Sawyer gently held Timothy Xavier’s arm, her voice full of feigned regret, "Timothy, don’t be too upset. Doris used to rely on you so much! Who would have thought Miss Ellison would be this ruthless, using a child to get back at you? But from now on, I’ll give you many, many children, and I’ll teach them well to be filial to you."
Timothy Xavier seed entirely unaffected by her words; he brushed her hand away, turned around in a daze, and stepped toward the ditation room.
There, it was the only place he could still deceive himself these days.
...
Jenna Sutton took Doris and headed straight for the police station after leaving The Xavier Family.
But after hearing her narrative, the officer on duty imdiately beca solemn and said, "Today we indeed caught two criminals involved in illegal human trafficking, but we don’t know if the person they were dealing with is your friend?"
Jenna Sutton felt her whole heart leap into her throat.
The police imdiately went to interrogate the two criminals. Just then, a few more officers ca in, escorting another man from outside.
Jenna Sutton then learned that this criminal was identified by the other two criminals caught today.
Coincidentally, Jenna Sutton was there to report the cri, and the police sternly asked this man: "Let ask you, what is the na of the person you sold to Drake today?"
The man replied nonchalantly, "Zoe Ellison, that’s the wife of the Xavier Group’s president, haven’t you heard?"
Jenna Sutton stared at him incredulously and said, "How do you know Zoe Ellison is Timothy Xavier’s wife?"
After all, Zoe Ellison and Timothy Xavier had a hidden marriage, how did this stranger know they were married?
The man sneered, with no remorse: "I have my ways! It’s just a sha, Timothy Xavier has always been ruthless. He forced my parents to their deaths, and he even has no feelings for his wife. He wouldn’t even pay five million! So I had no choice but to sell that woman. Luckily, she’s good-looking and sold imdiately!"
Jenna Sutton suddenly realized, she had long heard from Zoe that when Timothy Xavier first took over as president of Xavier Group, he aggressively expanded the company, leaving many small companies no way out, even driving a competitor to despair, causing that couple to jump off a building together!
Turns out, it’s the son of that couple seeking revenge!
But why, if the wrongdoing was committed by Timothy Xavier, should the retribution befall Zoe Ellison!
Jenna Sutton, collapsing, grabbed the man’s collar, her eyes bloodshot as she yelled at him, "Tell , where on earth did you sell Zoe?"
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