Ch. 1511..1520

Chapter 1511

Chapter 1511

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 appeared unfazed by her expression and continued to pull Chris away to enjoy the festivities.

Nonetheless, Chris began to grow suspicious. Why had Bianca suddenly appeared? She had never attended such events before, yet she conveniently showed up today when Nala was missing.

Zuko and Lina emerged, holding little Persephone in their arms. Lina placed her in a walker, and she took her first tentative steps, eliciting cheers from everyone in the room.

Bianca stood transfixed for a moment before slipping away quietly. She headed to the abandoned factory on the outskirts.

By now, Drake had followed her instructions and driven the van there.

Bianca saw Drake happily drinking at the factory's entrance when she arrived. Enraged, she swung her bag at him. "Dickinson! How dare you deceive me?!"

Alexander heard the commotion outside.

Nala had regained consciousness. She surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings with fear and anxiety. Just as she was about to cry, Alexander covered her mouth.

"Shh!" He gestured, pressing her little head against his chest and gently patting her back.

Still in shock, Nala gazed up at Alexander, remembering she had seen him before.

"Don't cry or make a sound!" Alexander whispered to her. "I'll figure out a way to get you out of here."

Nala timidly asked, "Do you have a plan?"

Alexander scratched his head, realizing he had no solid plan. The factory had drafts from all directions, and Drake was guarding the only door. Forcing their way out wouldn't work. However, they were on the outskirts, and he couldn't recall the way back since a van had brought them there.

"It's... It's okay!" He assured her, even though he wasn't sure himself. "No matter what happens, I won't leave you behind. I promise I'll get you back to your mom!"

Nala looked at him and nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Big brother..." she said meekly. "I'm hungry... Do you have any food?"

Chapter 1512

Chapter 1512

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 was no bread, but the container still had its smell, I'd bite on the edge and pretend I was eating. Then I wouldn't feel hungry! And when neighbors cooked, I'd sniff the aroma under their door and imagine I was having a warm meal. Then I wouldn't be hungry!"

Alexander couldn't help but chuckle at Nala's astonished expression.

He could now recall those times with a smile, but it wasn't funny at all when Drake nearly starved him due to gambling and drinking at home.

Alexander noticed fresh tears in Nala's eyes a while later and inwardly winced. How did he ruin their conversation again?

"Big brother..." Nala asked after a pause, "Is there no one in your home who cooks for you?"

"Uh... Not really," Alexander answered truthfully. He did have someone when he was much younger. When Lena was around, she'd figure something out for food, even if it meant begging the neighbors. She had never let her brother go hungry.

"Big brother," Nala called him again, grabbing his arm.

Alexander thought she was about to bite him and quickly shut his eyes. He was afraid of pain and worried this little girl might take a chunk of his flesh.

Nevertheless, he didn't pull away. He had offered his arm and had to keep his word. After all, how could he be a good big brother otherwise?

"You..." After a while, he didn't feel the expected pain. Instead, a small hand was touching his arm. Sensing its tickle, he opened his eyes in surprise. "What are you doing?"

"Does it hurt?" Nala touched the scars left by Drake's previous blows.

Alexander's heart raced, and he instinctively withdrew his arm, but Nala held onto it. She gently blew on the scars.

"When I hurt my leg, my mom will blow on it, and I won't feel pain anymore. Big brother, I'll blow on it for you, and you won't feel pain too, okay?"

Alexander didn't know what to say. His body remained rigid, and even his breath felt awkward.

Chapter 1513

Chapter 1513

"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 human trafficking!"

This statement not only enlightened Bianca but also resonated with Alexander.

"Fine." Bianca took a deep breath and uttered, "Keep a close watch on this girl. I'll contact you!"

The Chriss family was in turmoil.

Elijah blamed Kasey for Nala's disappearance, while Kasey lamented that none of this would have happened if Elijah hadn't been involved with other women.

"Stop accusing me! You know very well how people falsely accused me of infidelity before! I've been faithful to you all these years!"

"It takes two to tango! If you're innocent, why do people keep accusing you?"

Just a few days ago, they had presented a facade of a harmonious family to the world. Now, they hurled hurtful words at each other. Lena was also anxious about Nala. Chris had quietly mobilized his contacts to trace Nala's whereabouts.

"Don't worry, Lenny," he reassured her. "Kidnappers often target young children like this for ransom. I believe they'll contact us soon. "Tell Mr. Chriss not to involve the police just yet. We don't want to tip off the kidnappers-they might harm Nala out of desperation!"

Lena nodded. Despite her anxiety, she remained calmer than Elijah and Kasey.

"I've already advised him the same. I think there are two possibilities for Nala's disappearance: someone Mr. Chriss offended in the business world or his father-in-law's political opponents." Chris patted her head.

"I have friends in the police force, and I've spoken to them. They'll keep a close watch. The ports, airports, and major roads out of Centrolis are all under surveillance. If anything happens, we'll know. The chance of Nala leaving Centrolis is slim."

"Okay." Lena bit her lip, then hesitated momentarily before revealing the truth to Chris.

"Chris... Alexander, he's missing too."

"What?" Chris was taken aback. "You suspect these two incidents are related?"

Lena lowered her eyes, saying nothing.

"But Alexander is just a child!"

Lena replied gravely, "Adults can sometimes manipulate children."

Chris's heart sank as he understood her implication. Since the night she slapped her, he had sensed something was amiss about her.

He gazed into her eyes and asked, "Lenny, what are you trying to say? Is there something you're keeping from me?"

Chapter 1514

Chapter 1514

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 uncover."

Fleur cleared her throat calmly, and Zuko exchanged glances with Lina, preparing for what was about to unfold.

However, Chris' frown deepened.

A look of triumph flashed in Bianca's eyes. She had carefully planned her actions on her way there. Drake's statement had reminded her that kidnapping was still abduction. If she could paint Lena as a child trafficker like her mother, she would erode everyone's trust in her.

Bianca didn't believe that Lina, now a mother herself, would tolerate a child trafficker. She also doubted that Chris would continue to treasure Lena once he knew the truth.

Thus, she made a bold move. She intended to sell out Drake and accuse Alexander and Drake of conspiring with Lena to kidnap Nala. The three of them were like a family, and Lena would have no way to defend herself in front of everyone.

Bianca turned to Chris and said matter-of-factly, "Alexander and Drake Dickinson took Nala!"

"Who?"

It wasn't just Chris-Lena's ears buzzed, and her heart raced. She stared at Bianca in shock. The name Bianca had just uttered felt like a curse, sending shivers down her spine.

"What are you saying?" Chris raised his voice. "I know Alexander. He's a student from our charity project. We brought him down from the mountains! He has no reason to harm the Chrisses. In fact, he owes us Why would he kidnap Nala? And we don't even know this Drake!"

"Chris!" Bianca's tone hardened. "Just because you don't know him doesn't mean others don't!"

Bianca turned to Lena, who was pale. "Ms. Harding, you know him, don't you?"

Unable to bear it any longer, Chris pulled Lena behind him.

"Aunt Fleur, please trust me! I've done extensive research on this matter!" Bianca implored Fleur, rushing to her side. "Drake is Alexander's father, and he was Lena's adoptive father!"

Chris' gaze dimmed, but he refused to release Lena's hand. He could feel her cold, trembling fingers and chose to believe her. He believed that Lena would never lie to him.

Fleur finally spoke up in a low voice. "Bianca, please tell us what's going on."

Chapter 1515

Chapter 1515

"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, looking at her like she was a precious treasure.

Lena's eyes welled up, and she instinctively gripped his hand tightly. His warm palm gave her strength, and in his warmth, she was unafraid of the darkness.

Chris smiled gently at her and then turned to Bianca with a cold gaze.

He said grimly, "Bianca, I'm considering our family ties this time, so I won't confront you. But don't push your luck!"

Zuko stepped forward with a cryptic smile. "We know the kind of person Lena is, Ms. Mosley. Do you really think the Hamertons are naive?"

Bianca's heart skipped a beat. Zuko's words seemed to carry hidden meaning, but his enigmatic eyes made it impossible for her to discern his intentions. Fleur slowly rose, adjusting her shawl. "Indeed. Bianca, you should refrain from making baseless claims."

She moved between Chris and Lena like a protective mother hen.

Fleur elegantly smoothed her hair, maintaining her usual dignified demeanor. "Even though Lenny isn't officially part of the Hamertons yet, she will be one day!" "Aunt Fleur?" Bianca widened her eyes.

Fleur raised her hand, signaling for her to be silent. "Bianca, I've always liked you. But if you continue causing unwarranted trouble, how can I maintain that liking? "For the sake of our family ties, I suggest you keep your schemes in check. We can all live in peace. Wouldn't that be better for everyone?"

Bianca seethed with frustration. Why had she done all of this? It was all for Chris!

Fleur had adored her during her upbringing, yet she now seemed to favor an outsider?

Bianca gnashed her teeth and declared without hesitation, "You've all misunderstood me. I checked the hotel surveillance. It was indeed Drake and Alexander who took Nala away!"

"You checked the surveillance?" Zuko raised an eyebrow. "Mrs. Chriss tried to access the hotel surveillance immediately after the incident. But they claimed those areas had blind spots, and nothing could be seen."

"Ms. Mosley, I'm curious how you managed to access the surveillance in those blind spots," Lina added, arms crossed. "Otherwise, it would seem like we're all being made fools of!"

Chapter 1516

Chapter 1516

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 butler rushed in, looking somewhat flustered. Several police officers followed him. They scanned the room and sternly inquired, "Can anyone here confirm that they are Lena Harding?" Fleur stood up straight. "Officers, what's going on?"

"Are you Lena Harding?"

"I—"

"We've received a report linking Ms. Lena Harding to a kidnapping case."

"What?"

Lena was alarmed.

"Please cooperate with our investigation, Ms. Harding. Come with us."

It had been more than a day since Nala was kidnapped.

During this time, Drake had brought them food only once, consisting of a bowl of cold, watery soup and a stale bun. Nala had been pampered since childhood and had never seen such meager rations. She wanted to cry but held back her tears, slowly nibbling on the stale bun.

Seeing Nala's struggle, Alexander reached for her small hand. Her hand was soft but cold.

After a day of hardship, Nala was no longer the princess she had been when they first met. Her hair was disheveled from Drake's makeover, and she wore his dirty clothes. Even her hands were filthy, with scrapes on her arms and legs.

Alexander felt a sudden pang in his chest.

Yet, these were their only provisions-the only things keeping them alive.

Suddenly, Nala began to cough violently, a piece of the stale bun stuck in her throat. Alexander quickly patted her back, and she eventually coughed it up. Overwhelmed, she burst into tears.

"It's okay, it's okay. Eat some of mine." Alexander broke off a piece of the bun and dipped it into the soup, encouraging Nala to eat.

"I know it's not very tasty, but this is our situation... Nala, people can't change their surroundings. They can only adapt to survive. Do you understand?"

Nala's face was covered in crumbs. She stared at him for a moment before nodding, seemingly comprehending.

With a full stomach, she would have the energy to do what needed to be done. Growth often happened suddenly. Nala stopped crying and took the bun, sinking her teeth into it.

Alexander smiled and casually remarked, "This bun is as hard as a brick. It could be used to..."

As soon as he said that, an idea struck him. He slowly turned to look at the bricks stacked in the corner.

"Nala!" Alexander pulled Nala closer after a brief silence. "Do you want to go home?"

"Huh?"

"Here's what you need to do..."

Chapter 1517

Chapter 1517

Chris paced outside the police station. He spotted a young police officer rushing out and quickly approached. "Pete!"

Pete, the officer in question, greeted him warmly with a grin.

"You rascal!" Chris playfully punched him. "What's going on? Why didn't you let me know beforehand?"

Pete Bellamy scratched his head, still grinning.

Pete was one of the officers who had taken Lena from the Hamertons earlier. It wasn't just Chris who was surprised-even Bianca hadn't expected the police to show up.

Despite this, Pete and Chris had exchanged knowing glances when he left the Hamerton residence. Understanding the situation, Chris had waited for him outside the police station.

Pete lowered his voice. "Chris, don't worry. Lena knows what to say and what not to. She's level-headed, and there won't be any trouble."

"Who ordered you to bring her here?"

Pete shrugged. "Ms. Thompson, but it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Everything happened so quickly that there wasn't time to inform you."

Chris was taken aback. It was Lina?

"Lena is indeed related to this case. She saw that child before her disappearance, so it's standard procedure to bring her in for questioning." Chris pondered for a moment and chuckled.

Lina had used this procedure to put Lena under police protection, as the police station was the safest place. If anyone tried to frame Lena for anything else, it wouldn't work. They had connections in the police station, ensuring Lena's well-being during her stay and avoiding any public scandal.

Chris couldn't help but shake his head in amusement. Lina's sisterly bond ran deep. She had even thought of this method!

Pete continued. "Bro, it seems Zuko managed to obtain some surveillance footage. His team is recovering the data, and once it's ready, they'll hand it over to the police. The truth will come out when that happens, and Lena will be cleared!"

"Alright." Chris patted Pete's shoulder. "I'll leave Lena in your care for now."

"No problem!"

Meanwhile, Bianca was headed to the outskirts with Zuko and Lina.

Lina appeared calm and collected. With Lena under police protection, there was no need to worry. All that remained was to let Bianca's lies unravel on their own.

Bianca kept texting Drake during the drive, but he hadn't responded. She bit her lip, sensing something was amiss about the sudden police involvement. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. She glanced at Lina, who was looking at her with a smirk. Her heart raced.

Bianca forced a smile, "Ms. Thompson, why are you looking at me like that?"

"How would you know I'm looking at you if you weren't looking at me?"

"I..."

Lina smirked. "Do you know why the police came?"

"Huh?"

"I reported it to the police."

Bianca stared at her in disbelief.

"Ms. Mosley, I agree with what you said." Lina patted Bianca's hand. "I'm a mother, and we must be cautious with someone like Lena."

Bianca couldn't tell if Lina meant well or not, but her heart pounded. She still wanted to show loyalty to Lina.

"It's right to be cautious! Look, we're almost there. Lena colluded with Alexander to take that child to an abandoned factory, planning to move her. Let's go there now and catch them in the act!" "Alright," Lina replied sweetly.

Suddenly, the car screeched to a halt, and the abrupt stop nearly sent Bianca sliding beneath her seat. She was about to scold the driver when she saw him staring wide-eyed at something ahead, his face pale.

"What..." The driver was sweating, pointing at Drake lying on the ground. "Is he dead?"

Chapter 1518

Chapter 1518

Everyone in the car was shocked.

Bianca approached cautiously, spotting dried blood beneath Drake's head. She placed her hand under his nose and detected a faint breath.

Her hand trembled, and her eyes glinted ruthlessly as she raised her foot and kicked Drake.

"Get up!" she demanded.

Lina and Zuko joined her, discovering that the factory was now empty.

"Where's the child?" Lina asked.

"Ow..." Drake groaned on the ground and struggled to get up. "Help, help... This brat!"

"Drake Dickinson!" Bianca exclaimed, exasperated.

After all, she had confidently declared that she knew Nala's whereabouts. She had accused Drake and Alexander of conspiring with Lena to kidnap her. With Drake injured and the two children missing, this was a complete deviation from the plan she had devised to implicate Lena!

Seeing Bianca clearly, Drake was about to ask for help when he caught her signaling him with her eyes. He froze, realizing that Zuko and Lina were present. He remembered Bianca's warning-they were supposed to pretend they didn't know each other in front of outsiders. He cowered and remained silent. Zuko stepped forward and asked, "You're Drake Dickinson?"

Drake stammered, unable to meet his gaze.

"You're Lena's adoptive father?" Zuko persisted. "Did you and your son collaborate to kidnap the Chriss child?"

"No, no!" Drake became flustered. "Young man, please don't accuse me! My son, that brat... h-he's the one! Look at my head! He hit me with a brick!"

"That's enough!" Bianca feared that further discussion would reveal too much. She looked at him sternly, silencing him.

Lina sneered. This was such a crude trick that it was both foolish and infuriating!

She said coldly, "Ms. Mosley, didn't you claim they were conspiring? Is there discord among you now?"

"That's exactly it!" Drake chimed in, seizing the opportunity. "Miss, my ungrateful son actually attacked me with a brick! I don't know where they've gone now... That little brat probably wanted to keep that girl for himself so he could have all the money from selling her!"

Lina glanced at him. The Thompsons' men had arrived by car.

Lina instructed, "Uncle lan, kindly escort Mr. Dickinson back. Attend to his injuries first, then I have some questions to ask him personally."

"Understood."

"Also, the two children..." Lina paused for a moment. "Regardless of the methods you employ, you must find them!"

"I understand." lan nodded. "It is Ms. Chriss, right?"

"Yes." Zuko added, "Uncle lan, the Hamertons are also sending people to search. If you require any assistance, you can contact my assistant."

Bianca discreetly moved aside. She couldn't afford to provoke either the Hamertons or the Thompsons.

She had intended to pin the blame on Lena, but she had fallen into her own trap instead! She bit her lip, determined to find a way to evade responsibility before Nala was located.

Alexander had already run quite a distance with Nala.

They were in the sparsely populated outskirts. They had been running for a while and had no idea of their whereabouts. There was only one seemingly endless road, with fields, woods, and wasteland on either side, but no other soul in sight.

Chapter 1519

Chapter 1519

A car would pass by every now and then, and Alexander would wave desperately, but none of the cars were willing to stop. As the day turned to night, the temperature dropped significantly.

Nala had suffered greatly in the past two days, both physically and mentally, and she had reached the point of breaking down. Alexander had no choice but to keep going. He carried Nala on his back, stumbling along the road.

"Big brother..." Nala's voice trembled. "It's getting dark, and I'm scared!"

"It's okay," Alexander turned and smiled at her. "I'll take you home."

"Big brother, why don't we go back..."

"What?"

Nala looked at Alexander's feet, where blisters and bloody heels were visible.

"Does it hurt?" Nala's face was streaked with tears. "Big brother, put me down. We should go back..."

"Nala?"

Nala burst into tears. "That house is broken and cold, but... at least your feet won't bleed!"

Alexander was momentarily stunned, taking some time to understand the love hidden in her stumbling words.

This little girl was willing to return to the place where she had been kidnapped just to spare him from so much suffering. Alexander smiled, gazing up at the sky where a line of birds was heading home.

He believed that no matter how challenging the journey, he would eventually find his way back home with this little girl.

"Silly." Alexander didn't put her down but continued walking forward with her on his back. "It doesn't hurt at all. But we can't go back to that place."

"Will that man... hurt us?"

"Yes." Alexander's eyes dimmed.

"But isn't he your dad?" Nala frowned. "You asked me to call him and tell him you were sick, and he really came!"

Alexander grinned.

He had told Nala to inform Drake that he had a fever. Drake had probably come in not out of concern but out of fear he would be left alone to commit his crime if Alexander died. That's why Drake had come in to check. He was just too foolish to notice Alexander hiding behind the door when he entered. Before he could react, Alexander had struck him with a brick... Such a pathetic father-son relationship must be one-of-a-kind in the world.

Alexander patted his pocket. He had some money he had taken from Drake during their escape, but he had forgotten to grab the phone due to the situation's urgency. "Big brother, I'm hungry..."

"Why are you hungry again?"

Nala pursed her lips, her stomach growling.

Alexander sighed. Hadn't he already given her the stale bun? Although it wasn't very delicious, it was better than the food he had grown up with.

"There should be a village ahead," Alexander reassured her. "Let me walk a bit more, and I'll buy you something to eat when we reach the village! Don't worry."

Suddenly, there was a rumble from behind, and a beam of light illuminated the two small figures.

Alexander turned around and instinctively shielded his and Nala's eyes from the blinding light.

A large truck had pulled up beside them, and the driver leaned out of the window, asking loudly, "Hey, where are you two from? Where are your parents? Walking on the road like this in the dark is unsafe! Hurry and go home!"

"Mister, we want to go to the downtown area of Centrolis!" Alexander waved urgently. "We were kidnapped!"

Upon hearing that, the driver widened his eyes and realized he might have stumbled into something serious. He hesitated while gripping his phone.

Chapter 1520

Chapter 1520

When Bianca returned home, anxiety washed over her. She realized the final mayoral election was just a week away. If there was explosive news now, everyone's attention would be diverted. It had to involve Lena!

After some pondering, Bianca smirked, feeling sly and triumphant. She picked up her phone and quietly arranged a meeting with a journalist.

They sat In a secluded corner of a cafe. Bianca wore a large hat, almost concealing her face. The journalist sat opposite her, lazily stirring his coffee, but his ears were alert.

"Do you know Mr. Patton's granddaughter is missing?" she asked. "This isn't just a child disappearing. It was a planned abduction."

The journalist tapped his recording pen. "Ms. Mosley, please tell me what you know. I'll release the information as you want after reviewing it."

"Naturally." Bianca smiled with satisfaction. "I know the one who kidnapped the Chriss heiress is a student from the charity school project, acting on Lena Harding's orders!" The journalist's hand holding the recording pen trembled, his grip involuntarily tightening.

Lina anxiously paced by the doorway while Drake remained locked inside, refusing to speak no matter her questioning.

Nicholas couldn't bear to see his daughter so anxious and considered using their old methods through lan to handle Drake. But Lina stopped him.

The current Thompsons were legitimate business people-violent methods from their past no longer fit.

Lina convinced Nicholas to leave and contemplated her next move.

Suddenly, Evelyn rushed over.

"Miss, look at this!" Evelyn handed her a phone.

A shocking news article read: [Shocking Scandal From Patton's Charity School: Manager and Student Involved in Human Trafficking!]

Lina's heart leaped to her throat as Lena's pictures were in the article.

"Don't worry, Ms. Pamela," Evelyn said softly. "This news hasn't gone public. It's only on my phone. We intercepted it."

Lina nodded. "What's the story?"

"We have contacts in the news stations," Evelyn said. "They recognized Lena. A journalist passed this material to their superior." "Who contacted that journalist?"

Evelyn smiled and produced the recording pen from her pocket. "You'll understand when you listen, Ms. Pamela."

The recorded conversation was brief, and Lina listened swiftly. The voice was all too familiar.

Lina sneered. Bianca was trying to divert attention and escape this way.

If this news got out, it wouldn't just tarnish Lena's reputation but would also implicate Harold.

Lina took a deep breath and entered Drake's room. He lay lazily on the floor but sat up as soon as he saw her.

"M-Ms. Thompson!"

Lina sat in a chair beside him and smiled faintly. She exuded authority like a queen, with the window behind her casting a regal light.