Ch. 1441..1450
Chapter 1441 You Are Mine Forever
The moment Charlotte heard his words, she could not hold back her emotions any longer. Leaning on his body, she began to cry her heart out.
Still weak, Zachary extended his hands to hug her with his eyes closed.
He was aware that she had long known about his condition.
Nevertheless, neither of them exposed each other.
He did not want her to worry while she, too, felt the same way. Hence, both of them hid the truth out of concern for each other.
At that moment, Zachary suddenly realized that all his concerns were unnecessary. He was worried that Charlotte would stay by his side out of responsibility and for the children's sake. However, he finally came to understand that she truly loved him.
By then, Charlotte's tears had drenched his collar. The sorrowful cries and warm tears of hers were the proclamations of her love for him.
Although it broke his heart to see her that way, a warm smile graced his lips.
That was because he suddenly felt that his life was complete.
He had achieved the pinnacle of his career, had adorable children, and the love of his life also loved him deeply. Everything he wanted was already his.
The only regret in his life was that he could not grow old with his family.
At that thought, he felt that it was truly such a pity.
Charlotte sobbed for a long while before finally coming to a stop. With her face still buried in his shoulder, her hands reached out to grab a tissue. Only after wiping off her tears did she gradually raise her head.
Zachary chuckled when he saw how snotty she looked. “You're an ugly monster!”
“You're the one who's an ugly monster!”
Even when she turned away to wipe her nose clean, she was still sobbing.
“Silly girl!" His eyes were filled with affection as he looked at her. “You should take a shower.” "Mmm."
Moments later, Charlotte came out of the bathroom. Her long hair was in a bun, while her body was only wrapped in a towel. Instead of putting on clothes, she burrowed down beneath the covers and leaned against the man’s warm body.
Putting his arm over her shoulder, Zachary pulled her into his embrace and pecked her on the forehead.
Just like a kitten, Charlotte curled meekly in his arms. Considering that there was nothing else she could do, she resigned herself to staying with him. Only by feeling his heartbeat could she feel at ease.
None of them talked, simply hugging each other and relishing the moments of serenity.
“I want you.” When Zachary felt her body rubbing against him, he could not help but feel aroused. “No.” Charlotte was stern. “You ended up this way today because we overdid it last night.”
The moment she spoke, her voice began to quiver again.
“It has nothing to do with that, silly girl!”
As Zachary ran his hand over her body, the wonderful sensation he felt from her flawless skin excited him.
“Stop touching me...” Charlotte raised her head and kissed his chin. “Go to sleep at once!”
"How can I fall asleep?” Nibbling her earlobe, he began to let his hands wander all over her soft body. “Call me Hubby!"
"Hubby!" the obedient Charlotte muttered in a kittenish tone.
“Again!”
“Hubby, Hubby..."
"Good girl!” Zachary lowered his head to kiss her.
However, Charlotte felt nervous, so she put her hand on his chest to stop him. “Hubby, no. Your body—"
“Just a kiss.”
Zachary gently kissed her on her forehead, eyes, cheeks, and finally, her lips, leaving his mark all over his body.
Leaning closely to his chest, Charlotte immersed herself in the kisses he was lavishing her with. When he kissed her earlobe, he whispered, “Remember this—you are mine forever. Even if I'm dead one day, you will still be mine.”
“Mmm.” Charlotte nodded with tears in her eyes. She no longer argued with him about his condition and gave in to him instead. Whatever orders he issued to her, she would gladly oblige, as long as it would make him happy.
Chapter 1442 A Lead
By the time Zachary awoke the next morning, Charlotte had already left.
When he touched her pillow and the space beside him, inevitably, he felt desolate. All of a sudden, a sense of emptiness crept into his heart.
Before he knew it, he heard his phone ring. It was a message from Charlotte: Hubby, I'm boarding the plane now and will be back in the evening. Be a good boy and get some rest! Wait for me to come home!
Her gentle words felt like a ray of sunlight that filled the void in his heart with warmth.
Moved by her gesture, Zachary broke out into a smile. It never crossed his mind that she could behave so obediently.
If only time could slow down and my life could be extended, everything would be perfect.
With that thought in mind, Zachary supported his frail body up. He had no time to lose, as he still had to deal with a lot of things.
By the time Charlotte arrived at Mount Phoenix in the afternoon, Hayley and Sam were waiting for her at the village entrance. When they saw her car approach, both of them waved at her excitedly. After alighting from her car, Charlotte chatted with them while walking.
Given that she had missed Dr. Felch’s memorial service, she headed to his grave to pay her respects first.
When they returned home, Charlotte's subordinates stood guard outside while Sam went to cook. In the meantime, Hayley led Charlotte to the study.
Inside were old wooden shelves filled with all sorts of books. Some of the books were even handwritten. Other than that, there were also medicines on the shelves. Everything was neatly categorized.
Hayley explained them to Charlotte one by one, hoping that she could find something useful.
"Did Dr. Felch ever talk to you about Francesco?” Charlotte asked while flipping through the books. "What does he look like? How old is he? Where does he stay? Do you have his contact information? Any old information would be useful.”
"Actually, Bruce has asked me the same questions before,” Hayley replied. “Dr. Felch seldom talked about him. In fact, he would be infuriated every time Francesco was brought up. Dr. Felch would call him a rascal, a rebel, and nothing else.”
“Try and think harder to see if you can remember any other clues.” Charlotte was persistent.
“As for his age...” Hayley thought hard about it. “I remember now. Dr. Felch did scold Francesco for his desire to leave the mountain when he thought he had learned everything. Also, he berated him for being conceited despite being just a teenager.”
Counting with her hands, she added, “I was taken in as Dr. Felch’s apprentice one year after Francesco left. At that time, I was fourteen. In other words, Francesco is probably about my age.” “That can't be!” Charlotte was shocked. “Hayley, you're only nineteen this year. Are you saying that Francesco is around the same age as you?”
“Perhaps, he might be a little older.” Hayley scratched her head. “But anyway, he is still relatively young.”
"A teenager is someone below eighteen. Even if he were eighteen then, he would only be twenty- three now.” Charlotte was baffled. “Is the legendary Francesco only twenty-three? Before this, I assumed he’s a middle-aged or elderly man.”
“No, no, no.” Hayley shook her head repeatedly. “He's definitely a young man. When Bruce asked me about him, he didn't inquire about Francesco's age. Hence, he must have also assumed that Francesco's someone much older.”
“This is good news. At last, we have a lead.” Charlotte was brimming with excitement. “Hayley, do you have other clues? Try thinking about it harder.”
"Other clues...” Knitting her eyebrows, Hayley continued to rack her brain. “I'm afraid I really don't have anything else for you.”
At that moment, Sam walked in with coffee and interrupted them, “Theres one notable thing about him. He likes to keep beasts as pets.”
“That's right!” Hayley shuddered at that thought. “When I first came here, there was a wolf in the backyard which belonged to Francesco. Dr. Felch instructed me to feed it, and I was frightened to death. In the end, he released it instead.”
Chapter 1443 A Picture Of Francesco
When Charlotte heard their words, her mind wandered to Danrique. He, too, enjoyed keeping beasts as pets. No wonder he and Francesco are on such good terms.
“What else is there?" she asked.
“That's all we have.” Hayley shook her head earnestly. “Actually, Bruce asked the same questions when he called. I didn't remember these two points despite racking my brains back then.”
“It's fine. I'll let him know.”
With that, Charlotte quickly shared the new information with Bruce before continuing her search in Dr. Felch's study.
Suddenly, she stumbled upon an old photo. In it was a figure kneeling beside a young wounded wolf.
It was a photo taken from the side, and the photographer seemed to be standing quite far away. Also, it had turned yellow as if it had been submerged in water before. Hence, the already blurry figure was harder to discern.
In spite of that, one could still make out the slender figure in it. He seemed to be a short-haired youth in his teenage years, wearing a pair of pants with camouflage prints, a green t-shirt, black rubber shoes, and a straw hat.
"Who is this?” Charlotte asked Hayley hurriedly.
“That's Francesco,” the latter answered in delight. “Charlotte, where did you find this?”
“That's Francesco?” Charlotte put the photo underneath the light to get a better look. Nonetheless, it was simply too blurry to make anything out of it. Other than the slender figure, nothing else could be seen.
“Yes.” Hayley nodded. “When I first came here, the photo was here in the study. However, it went missing after some books and medications were moved. How did you find it?"
"Are there any other photos?”
Feeling excited, Charlotte took a picture of the photo and sent it to Ben and Bruce so that they could run investigations according to the lead.
“No, that's the only one.” Hayley was sure of it. “Dr. Felch said that some university students took this photo by accident. After that, they sent the picture over to him. In fact, he mentioned that Francesco didn't like taking photos.”
"Why do you address Francesco by his name instead of his title? Isn't he a senior to you?” Charlotte asked while sending Bruce the information.
“Dr. Felch forbade us from doing so,” Hayley explained. “He was upset when Francesco left this place to learn modern medicine because he thought traditional medicine was all that was needed. When Francesco disobeyed him, their relationship soured.”
“That's right. Later on, Dr. Felch refused to acknowledge him as an apprentice anymore,” Sam chimed in as he picked something up. “In recent years, Dr. Felch never mentioned him again. If it wasn't for Mr. Nacht—"
He held his tongue at mid-sentence, worried that he would spill something.
Knowing that they were still trying to hide the truth from her on behalf of Zachary, Charlotte sighed. "Considering that I'm here looking for Francesco, don't you think I already know?"
“Uh, that's true.”
Hayley and Sam exchanged glances the moment the realization dawned on them.
Since both of them were not exposed to the outside world, their thought processes were relatively simple. Hence, they were less able to connect the dots on many issues.
"By the way,” Charlotte asked, changing the topic, “what are your plans going forward?”
“We don't have any plans at the moment. All we want to do is repair this house,” Sam replied. “It leaks when it rains. Thus, I'm worried that Dr. Felch’s books will get wet.”
“I hope you can go back with me,” Charlotte requested grimly. “Zachary's condition is worsening. Since we have yet to find Francesco, I'm worried that—"
"Charlotte, we would definitely help since you need us,” he quickly replied. “Anyhow, I still hope to repair the house before leaving. It may take a couple of days. Is that all right?”
"Yes, of course.” She nodded at once. “In that case, I'll send someone to pick you two up then. As for today, I'll take some of these books and the photo back with me.”
“No problem!”
Chapter 1444 Get Mommy To Treat Uncle Zachary
In the evening, Charlotte picked some books about poison treatments and left Mount Phoenix with the photo.
The golden hue of the setting sun bathed the road down the mountain.
After Hayley's and Sam's figures disappeared from the rearview mirror, she retracted her gaze and looked at the old photo she was holding.
Prior to leaving, she had already sent the photo and all the relevant information she discovered to Bruce, hoping that the new leads would assist him in finding Francesco.
Time waits for no man. As of then, they only had fourteen days left.
With a heavy heart, Charlotte ordered, “Drive faster so that we can get home sooner.”
“Yes, Mrs. Nacht.”
After sleeping for the entire day at home, Zachary forced himself to get up and take a shower before going downstairs to dine with the children.
He thought he had recovered his strength. Unexpectedly, his legs buckled when he was going down the steps. If not for Ben catching him, he would have fallen down the staircase.
“Mr. Nacht, I have something to report.”
Pretending that he had something important to share, Ben talked as he walked down the steps with Zachary.
In truth, he was using his own strength to support Zachary.
As a result, the other subordinates and maids did not realize anything was amiss.
The moment Zachary arrived downstairs, the children surrounded him.
“Daddy, Daddy!"
“Uncle Zachary, Uncle Zachary!”
“Hi, kids!” Zachary gently pushed Ben away before bending down to pick the children up. To his surprise, he was struck by a dizzy spell the moment he did so.
“Mr. Nacht...” Ben was extremely worried.
“All of you are being too noisy!” Robbie yelled. “Return to your seats and sit down, now!" Momentarily stunned, all of them obediently went back to the dining table, albeit pouting.
When the children were climbing back onto their chairs, Ben seized the opportunity to help Zachary to his seat. Then, wearing a smile on his face, he chatted with the children. “Kids, did you have a good time at school today?”
"Yes, we did!"
“There was an exam today, and I got full marks for all the subjects.”
"Me too!”
"We learned how to sing today...”
“And also how to draw...”
The kids recounted everything they did in school to Ben. Only Robbie did not say a word. Instead, he quietly brought Zachary a glass of warm water. “Daddy, have some water.”
“Thank you, Robbie.”
Zachary was so weak that he could not even carry a conversation with the children.
Hence, Ben spoke to them on purpose in an effort to distract them.
Nonetheless, Robbie saw through it all.
When he saw how lethargic his father was, he was utterly heartbroken. Even so, he kept his emotions to himself and could only ask, “Daddy, you look really tired.”
“I'm fine.” Zachary tousled the boy's hair. “Go back to your seat. It's time to eat.”
"Okay." Robbie returned to his seat.
After Hanna and the maids had served the last dish, everyone began to eat.
Not having much of an appetite, Zachary forced himself to take a few bites before preparing to head back upstairs. However, the instant he got to his feet, he fell.
“Mr. Nacht!”
Although Ben managed to reach him in time, it was still too late. Zachary had fallen by the dining table.
“Daddy!”
That was the first time Zachary failed to hold himself together and collapsed in front of the children. In an instant, everyone fell into a state of panic.
Ben quickly brought Zachary to his bedroom and requested Raina’s presence.
Meanwhile, Jamie and Ellie stood by the bed. Even though their bodies were trembling as they cried, they covered their mouths, not daring to make a sound.
As for Robbie, he stood by the corner and did not dare to approach. Nevertheless, tears were streaming down his cheeks uncontrollably.
Back at the dining room, Hanna and the maids were disconcerted by Zachary's unexpected condition
Only Danrique’s children continued eating at the table, oblivious to what was going on.
“Is Uncle Zachary sick?”
“Looks like it.”
"He definitely is.”
“His condition seems to be serious.”
"Why didn't Aunt Charlotte get Mommy to treat him?”
Chapter 1445 In His Remaining Days
Everyone was busy with their own work. Although Morgan and the other female bodyguards were watching over the trio, their attention was focused on upstairs.
All of them were worried about Zachary. Thus, no one paid attention to the conversation between the three children.
After a while, things began to settle down.
However, that time around, even Raina broke down in tears. “I really don't know what else I can do. When I called Dr. Wright, she told us to prepare for the worst. I—"
“There has to be a way.” Ben refused to give up. “I'll give Bruce a call right away. Earlier today, he told me that Ms. Lindberg had provided him with some new leads. Perhaps, just perhaps—"
“Ben, Ms. Lindberg has returned,” Marino interjected to report Charlotte's arrival.
Ben hurried over to receive her.
At that moment, Charlotte had just gotten out of the car. When she saw the look on the bodyguards’ and subordinates’ faces, her heart sank, and she dashed into the house.
“Ms. Lindberg!” Ben ran into her at the staircase.
"What happened to him?” she inquired anxiously.
"He fainted right after having dinner. But for now, his condition has stabilized.” His voice was quavering. “"H-However, at this rate, he...”
Charlotte's expression froze as she rushed into the bedroom. When she saw how frail Zachary looked on the bed, her body began to tremble.
“Mommy...”
The children, who had been led out a while back, came back in crying when they heard that their mother had returned.
“Mr. Nacht fainted by the dinner table, which frightened the children,” Ben whispered.
Charlotte's heart broke when she saw the children crying so hard to the point that they were even trembling. Squatting down to hug them, she put on a strong front and reassured, “Kids, don't cry. Daddy will definitely recover.”
Despite the children’s desperate attempt to stop crying, they still could not hold back their sniffles. “Mommy, is Daddy going to die?” Ellie could not help but ask.
“No, he isn't,” Charlotte replied in a shaky voice. “Daddy will definitely get better. I will save him no matter what.”
“But, but—"
“There are no buts,” Robbie interrupted. With tears streaking down his cheeks, he asserted, “If Mommy says that Daddy will recover, he definitely will. We have to have faith in Mommy!” Covering her mouth, Ellie trembled from bawling. Even so, she did not dare to make a sound.
“It's all my fault for being too naughty. Daddy must have been so angry with me that he has fallen sick.” Jamie was filled with remorse. “If I behave well, will Daddy recover?”
“He will, Jamie.” Charlotte stroked his head. Taking a deep breath, she maintained her composure and instructed, "All right now, I have something to discuss with Mr. Ben. You should go back to your rooms.”
With that, Lupine and the maids led the children away.
Yet, as they walked, the triplets kept turning to look at her with misty eyes.
After rising to her feet, Charlotte wiped off her tears and ordered, “Mrs. Rawlston, get everyone to turn in for the night. Don't worry. Everything will be fine tomorrow.”
"Yes, Mrs. Nacht.” Hanna went off to carry out Charlotte's instructions.
“Marino, stand guard outside,” Charlotte commanded.
“Yes, Mrs. Nacht.” Marino nodded and left.
At that moment, only the unconscious Zachary, Raina, Ben, and Charlotte were left in the room. “Raina, be frank with me. How much time does he still have left?” Charlotte inquired.
“I spoke to Dr. Wright on the phone today, and she mentioned that it doesn't look good,” Raina forced out. “Based on the earlier estimates, he only has fourteen days left. As the days go by, his condition will only deteriorate further.”
“If we still can't find Francesco, the consequences will be dire.” Ben was extremely distraught. “But now, we have run out of ideas.”
“I managed to find some clues.” Charlotte took out some of the medical books and handed them to Raina. “Raina, why don’t you go through them quickly to see if they're of any use?”
"Also, there's this.” Charlotte handed the photo over to Ben. “This is a picture of Francesco. Can you try and see what you can find out from it?”
Chapter 1446 The Culprit
When Ben examined the photo, he was shocked by it. “That's Francesco? This is a picture of a young man. In fact, he looks like a teenager.”
“It was taken a few years ago.” Doing a quick calculation in her head, Charlotte added, “Around seven to eight years ago.”
“Even then, he’s still very young. This means that he’s probably in his twenties now.” He was astounded. “All this while, I've assumed that Francesco's an old man.”
“Me too.” She nodded. “Therefore, we've been barking up the wrong tree. Anyway, you should start your investigations anew. I have also sent the picture to Bruce, but you can investigate through other means.”
“I'll get to it right away.” Ben then hurried away with the photo.
“Ms. Lindberg, as for these medical books, I need to refer them to traditional medicine specialists because this is not within my area of expertise.” Holding the books, Raina added, “Also, do you mind if I scan these and send them to Dr. Wright so that we can look at them together?”
"At this juncture, such things no longer matter,” Charlotte replied. “Anyway, get it done quickly.” “All right.”
After everyone had left, Charlotte looked at Zachary despondently. She then walked over to the bedside and pulled the covers up around him. Gently stroking his face, she vowed softly, “I will definitely save you!"
At that moment, her phone vibrated. It was Michael on the line. Holding her phone, she walked out to the balcony and answered the call, “Hi, Michael!”
“Charlotte, I'm sorry. I hope I'm not bothering you.” Michael was gentle and caring as usual.
“It's fine. What's up?” she asked softly.
“You haven't been replying to my messages over the last few days, so I was worried about you. Anyway, I just want to tell you that I'm returning to M Nation tomorrow. I wonder if you have the time to—"
“Michael, I'm sorry. I won't be free these days. I wish you a safe journey back.”
“All right.” Michael sounded disappointed. “In that case, please keep in touch with me. If you run into any problem, you can look me up anytime.”
“Thank you.” Just when Charlotte was about to end the call, she heard a voice in the background. “Ms. Brown, you can't go in. Ms. Brown—"
“Michael, I don't want to go back to M Nation. I want to stay here in H City to look for Hector—" “Helena!” Michael shouted. He then said to Charlotte in a low voice, “Charlotte, I've got to go. Sorry.”
“Bye.” Charlotte frowned after ending the call.
That was Helena's voice just now. Despite how long it has been, she still pines for Hector. She is undoubtedly devoted to him. Unfortunately, it never ends well for the wicked.
Just as she was about to re-enter the room, she caught a glimpse of the flowerpot on the balcony. It reminded her of how Zachary was struck by a vase at the hotel.
Michael's investigations revealed that a cat had accidentally knocked over the vase, but she remained unconvinced and kept feeling that something was odd about the incident. Unfortunately, she did not have the time to investigate further as Zachary's condition had begun to worsen.
In hindsight, she wondered if someone had done it out of vengeance.
Could Helena have been that person?
As that speculation flashed across her mind, Charlotte felt her chest tightening.
If someone did it to seek vengeance, I wouldn't let the matter slide easily. If Zachary hadn't been hit by the vase, his condition wouldn't have deteriorated so quickly. Therefore, the person who threw the vase is the real culprit, and I will make whoever did it pay for it!
Holding that thought, Charlotte went to seek Ben right away. After sharing her speculations with him, she sent him off to reinvestigate the matter.
“All right. I understand. I'll get to it right away.” Ben nodded. “As for the photo, I have already made copies of it, so I'm returning the original to you.”
“Mmm.” Charlotte received it. “Go now.”
With that, Ben left hurriedly. Initially, she intended to return to Zachary's room, but when she stepped out of the study, she suddenly saw Gamma walking out of the bedroom while hugging her doll. “Aunt Charlotte...”
Chapter 1447 Is Francesco Male Or Female
“What's wrong, Gamma?” Charlotte rushed over to pick her up. “It's already so late. What aren't you asleep yet?”
“I had a nightmare. I'm scared.” Gamma hugged her neck. Leaning against her, she sobbed, “Aunt Charlotte, I miss Mommy."
“Don’t cry, Gamma. I'm trying my best to find your mommy. We will be able to locate her soon,” Charlotte gently comforted the little girl. “Be a good girl, and go back to sleep now.”
With that, she carried Gamma back to her room and put her on her bed. Suddenly, Gamma saw the picture Charlotte was holding and asked curiously, “Eh, what's that?”
When Charlotte told her it was a photo, Gamma reached out to grab it. Upon taking a closer look, she said hesitantly, “This... looks like..."
All of a sudden, her eyes widened as she shouted, “It's Mommy!"
"Huh?" Charlotte was stunned for a moment. Nonplussed, she replied, “How can he be your mommy? This is a boy.”
“No, this is Mommy. It's Mommy,” Gamma repeated as she stared intently at the picture.
“All right now, settle down.” Charlotte did not think too much about it. “Be a good girl, and go to sleep.”
As she spoke, she got up and tucked Gamma in. Then, when she tried to pull the photo out, the latter refused to let go. “This is a photo of Mommy. Aunt Charlotte, can you give it to me?” "Gamma, this photo is very important to me, so I can't give it to you.” Charlotte gently pulled the photo away. “All right now, time for bed!”
“But—"
“Shush...” Charlotte put a finger before her lips to remind Gamma not to wake Alpha and Beta up. Hence, Gamma had no choice but to sleep, pouting.
After giving her a peck on her forehead, Charlotte got up to leave. While closing the door, she gave Gamma a gentle wave, signaling her to go to sleep soon.
However, Gamma was still staring intently at the photo with widened eyes. In fact, tears were already welling up in them
Holding the photo, Charlotte was about to return to the room when she saw a small figure waiting by the door.
“Robbie!” she called while striding over to his side. “Why aren't you sleeping yet?"
“I can't sleep.” Robbie looked at her glumly. His eyes were still moist and bloodshot from crying earlier. "Mommy, is Daddy's condition really severe?”
Charlotte hung her head as she could not find the words to explain.
“I'm really useless for not being able to find Uncle Dan.” Due to the overwhelming sadness, tears brimmed in Robbie's eyes. “If I can find him, Daddy may be saved.”
Charlotte hugged him and consoled, “It's not your fault. You're still a child, and you've done your best.”
“But—"
“Don’t worry. I'll think of a way. I will definitely save Daddy.” Charlotte took out the photo to reassure him. “Look, I found a picture of Francesco and shared my discoveries with Bruce. I believe he will be able to find a clue very soon.”
“What picture? Let me see.” Robbie examined it. “Is Francesco so young? This person looks like a young lady.”
"How can it be a young lady? He's obviously a young man.” She was nonplussed. “This picture was taken when Francesco was in his youth.”
“You're wrong. It's a girl.” He pointed at the photo and explained, “She might have short hair and dresses like a boy, but Mommy, look at her shoes.”
Taking a closer look, Charlotte saw a flower on top of Francesco's sandals.
“It's not just the sandals alone; even her frame looks like a girl's.” Robbie was certain. “Mommy, did you get the wrong photo? Or perhaps, Francesco is actually a girl?”
Chapter 1448 Francesca
The moment Charlotte heard Robbie's words, she had an epiphany. Her mind was suddenly flooded with information.
“There's one notable thing about him. He likes to keep beasts as pets.”
"Fifi is so adorable as compared to Mommy's fierce pet eagle!”
“Mommy even has a leopard!”
“Mommy is very, very awesome.”
“This is Mommy. It's Mommy.”
“This is a photo of Mommy. Aunt Charlotte, can you give it to me?”
As those memories flashed across her mind, Charlotte's heart began to race. The next moment, she went back to the triplet's room with Robbie in tow.
Just as she was about to knock on the door, she heard the children chatting inside.
"Alpha, Beta, I saw Mommy just now.”
"Huh? Really? Where is she?”
"Quick, take us to her.”
“Mommy isn't here. I just saw a photo of her.”
“Photo?”
“Yes, Aunt Charlotte has it. I wanted her to give it to me, but she refused.”
“In that case, let's go and see her.”
At that point, Charlotte pushed the door open hurriedly.
“Ah!”
The triplets were sitting on their beds, talking while holding their small nightlights. When the door suddenly opened, it gave them a fright. Only when they saw Charlotte did they calm down.
“Aunt Charlotte, you scared us!”
"Alpha, Beta, Gamma, come over and take another look. Is this really your mommy?”
After switching on the light, Charlotte showed the children the photo.
"Yes, that's Mommy!”
“It's Mommy!”
“No, that's Mommy when she was younger. Mommy now has long hair.”
“No matter what, it's still Mommy!"
“Is this really your mommy?" Stunned, Robbie questioned anxiously, “Is your mommy a doctor?” "Yes, many people seek out Mommy for treatment,” the three children replied earnestly. “Is Uncle Zachary sick? Aunt Charlotte, who don’t you get Mommy to treat him?”
Overcome by emotion, Charlotte called out, “Wait, let me get this straight!”
She could not believe that the Francesco she had been looking so hard for was a woman, let alone the fact that she was her future cousin-in-law.
Could this be a mistake? Do I have the wrong photo? Or maybe, the kids got it wrong. No matter what, I can't verify this solely based on the words of three two-and-a-half-year-old kids.
"Kids, let me ask you. What is your mommy's name?” Robbie questioned further in disbelief. “Grandma calls her Francesca.”
“Grandpa calls her Francesca too.”
“Daddy likes to call her a bad woman!” Gamma hissed through her teeth, mimicking Danrique. “Francesca!” Stupefied, Charlotte asked for a confirmation. “Could it be that your mommy is really Francesco?”
"Yeap, some people address her that way.” Alpha nodded earnestly. “However, Grandpa and Grandma call her Francesca.”
Even though Charlotte was thoroughly convinced, she still found it unbelievable. Hence, she called Hayley right away.
The ringing tone rang for a long while before Hayley's befuddled voice sounded. “Charlotte, what is it?” It was apparent she had been sleeping when Charlotte called.
"Hayley, I have a question for you. Is Francesco male or female?” Charlotte asked anxiously.
"Uh..." Hayley took a long time to become clear-headed enough to respond. “Charlotte, why are you asking me this all of a sudden? Can it be that he isn't a guy? Dr. Felch used to refer to him as the rascal—"
“Is there any way to verify this?” Charlotte asked anxiously.
"Yes, the old lady who lives near the village entrance has seen him before. I'll ask her first thing in the morning.”
“Please update me once you hear something.”
“Okay.”
After ending the call and settling the children, Charlotte went to see Ben at once. “Ben, sharpen this photo and publicly post our search on the internet.”
“What? The internet?”
“Yes, only by doing so would she be able to see it and come to us voluntarily.”
“Understood, I'm on it now.”
Chapter 1449 Luring Her Out
That night, Charlotte could not sleep at all, eagerly awaiting Hayley's reply. At the same time, she was also hoping to hear from Ben.
As of that moment, she was certain that Francesco was Alpha, Beta, and Gamma's mother. Moreover, Francesco would likely be by Danrique’s side.
Considering the situation at hand, finding Danrique and Francesco was an impossible task. Therefore, she had no other choice but to lure Francesco out with this method.
During breakfast at six-thirty in the morning, Hayley called. “Charlotte, I went to see the old lady, and she confirmed that Francesco is a girl! Also, she told me that Dr. Felch found Francesco at the foot of the mountain when she was three. He raised her as a boy and often called her a cheeky rascal. Therefore—"
“What's her name?” Charlotte interjected.
“Dr. Felch named her Francesca Felch. Later on, she changed it to Francesco.”
It all became clear to Charlotte. “I understand. Thank you, Hayley.”
Upon ending the call, she could no longer contain her excitement. By then, she was completely certain that Francesco was her future cousin-in-law.
Back when Francesco treated her, she was unconscious most of the time. Every time she saw Francesco, her face was covered, so she never knew what she looked like.
All this while, I've assumed that Francesco is a short and thin man. Never did I expect Francesco to be a woman... After everything we've done, I can't believe we got the wrong gender in the first place. No wonder we couldn't find her at all.
“Ms. Lindberg, I've already posted the notice, so people from all over the world should be looking for her now...” Ben sounded apprehensive. “By doing so, would we be causing Mr. Lindberg trouble? Would his enemies find him because of this?"
“So be it,” Charlotte responded.
"Huh?" That reply left him flabbergasted as he had no idea what she was up to.
“If they do find him, the Nacht family will fight by the Lindberg family's side,” she declared. “I'm confident that Danrique’s enemies are no match for the combined strength of the Nacht and Lindberg families.”
“That's true.” When the realization finally struck Ben, he exclaimed, “Ms. Lindberg, you're brilliant!” Instead of being overcautious like a coward, Charlotte figured it was better to search for them openly. In the event that they did attract the attention of Danrique’s enemies, the Nachts would fight against them, along with the Lindbergs.
With both families united, they would be invincible.
Regardless of how powerful their enemies were, they had nothing to fear.
"However, I have yet to discuss this with Zachary.” Charlotte was unsettled by the idea still. “Will he be angry?”
"He won't. As of now, you're in charge of the Nacht family,” Ben reassured her with a smile. “We will do anything you say.”
As long as Zachary could be cured, they were willing to do whatever it took.
Furthermore, they could use the opportunity to resolve the animosity between the two families. Looking at that matter from that viewpoint, it was a wonderful plan.
“You have to monitor it closely. Let me know right away once you hear something,” Charlotte instructed. “Also, pay particular attention to the triplets. Watch for any stranger who attempts to approach them.”
“Are you saying that Francesco would come and see the children because she’s worried about them?” Ben quickly grasped her plan.
“Yes,” she replied while nodding.
A second later, she added, “She must be in hiding because she’s worried about burdening Danrique. But once she sees the news, I doubt she would be able to hold herself back. Since I'm searching for her so desperately, they could probably guess that something major must have happened. While Danrique can probably tell that I'm doing it for Zachary's sake, Francesco, as a mother, will surely be worried about her children’s safety. Hence, she would come for them regardless of the consequences.”
“I understand.” Ben was deeply impressed by her. “Ms. Lindberg, this tactic of yours is amazing!” Charlotte sighed and said, “Now, all we need to do is wait. I hope she shows up as soon as possible, as we are running out of time.”
"What if...” He pondered for a moment and asked cautiously, “What if she doesn’t come over?” “Don’t worry, I have a backup plan,” she declared confidently. “Robbie has been investigating their whereabouts the whole time. As long as Francesco gets in touch with us, he will be able to pinpoint her location.”
Chapter 1450 Time Would Not Stop
“That's wonderful!” Ben exclaimed. “Ms. Lindberg, you are always two steps ahead of us.”
Looking at Zachary, who was lying in bed, Charlotte proclaimed, “In the past, he has always fought alone. But this time, I will stand by his side and face this with him!”
“We're lucky to have you here,” Ben remarked gratefully. “Mr. Nacht has a keen eye indeed!”
“That goes without saying.” His flatter made her chuckle. “All right now, you should get to work while I stay with him.”
“Roger.”
Charlotte, who had not slept for a night, could finally take a breather since her plan was already in motion.
After taking a shower and changing into her pajamas, she returned to the bedroom and found that Zachary was still in deep slumber.
Lifting the sheets, she carefully lay down beside him. Although she was worried about waking him up, she still could not resist the urge to touch his handsome face.
Then, she leaned closer, kissed him on his cheek, and whispered, “I will definitely save you. There's no doubt about it.”
As if he heard her words, Zachary moved slightly.
Putting her arms around him, she gradually fell asleep.
Due to exhaustion, she slept so soundly that she did not even notice when Zachary was awake. Having woken up from a nightmare, Zachary was drenched in sweat. Instinctively, he looked to his side. Only when he saw Charlotte snuggling up to him did he finally calm down.
A moment ago, he dreamt that he was in a place that was enveloped in darkness. There, he searched for a ray of light or even a path to escape. Unfortunately, he found neither.
As he continued to walk forward aimlessly, he noticed that he was standing by the edge of a precipice. Any misstep would cause him to fall into the abyss.
Stopping in his tracks frantically, he dared not take another step. However, he had no idea where else to go either.
Suddenly, a ray of light emerged from behind him. Just when he turned around to walk toward it, he felt a pair of hands pushing him, causing him to fall into the abyss.
The excruciating pain he experienced from having all his bones shattered felt so real. It was as if he was not dreaming.
Therefore, the moment he awoke, his eyes were filled with terror. Luckily, when he saw Charlotte beside him, he slowly recollected himself.
With her by his side, he feared nothing.
Putting his arm around her shoulder, he gently pulled her close. Then, he leaned forward to kiss her forehead. When he caught a whiff of her refreshing scent, all he felt was bliss.
At that instant, he truly hoped that time would slow down.
Unfortunately, time would not stop.
Just like that, the days went by one by one.
Francesco did not appear, neither did she contact Charlotte.
When the global search notice was issued, it caused an uproar on the internet. Many came forward to provide information. Unfortunately, there was still no progress at all.
Ben and the others grew increasingly anxious while Robbie was ready at all times. The moment Francesco showed herself, he would pinpoint her location at once.
Much to their disappointment, three days passed without a word from her.
Consequently, everyone felt disheartened to the extent that they doubted themselves, wondering if they had gotten something wrong.
As for Zachary, his condition had improved a lot. Therefore, he went to the office every day and held meetings with the company’s upper management. He would also entrust Johann and Spencer with a myriad of matters
After all, he no longer held out any hope that he would ever recover. All he wanted to do was to make all the necessary arrangements in his remaining days so that Charlotte would inherit a company that was on a firm footing.
At the same time, his urgency for organizing the wedding increased. At the very least, he wanted to give Charlotte a proper wedding before his passing.
On that day, Lucy came forward to remind Zachary. “Mr. Nacht, Gold Group is holding a banquet tonight to celebrate the launch of their project. Ms. Gold called just now and wanted to know if you're attending.”
Zachary had almost forgotten about the matter and only remembered when Lucy asked him about it. Nodding, he replied, “Yes, have you prepared the gift I told you to?"