Ch. 1451..1460

Chapter 1451 Sneaking An Attack

The woman was quite frightened by Jerry's gloomy expression. Without waiting for him to ask, she confessed everything. "It was Brody from Trinity Entertainment who made me do this."

Under the temptation of Brody's one hundred thousand, the woman agreed to lure Charlotte out. Unexpectedly, Charlotte was extremely vigilant and almost escaped. After they managed to tie up Charlotte, the woman got out of the car halfway through the journey.

Later, Charlotte was taken to Brody's place by the driver. What happened after that, the woman didn't know.

Jerry knew that Brody was not a good person. If Brody has the chance to catch Charlotte, he certainly won't let her go. However, I can't figure out what's the deal with the bloodstains in the parking lot.

Seeing that his subordinates were unable to find Charlotte after a long time, Jerry secretly cursed them for being useless and called Armand for help.

Only Armand had the authority to view all the surveillance footage in the city.

In Swallow Garden, Genevieve was playing with Legos with Amanda. Genevieve noticed Armand suddenly answered a phone call and stood by the window, talking for nearly half an hour.

When he returned from his phone call, Genevieve handed him a cup of coffee. "What's wrong?"

"Jerry called." Armand took a sip of hot tea, then told her, "Mr. Lohan has set a trap and kidnapped Charlotte. They vanished into thin air in the parking lot. Jerry called me for help."

Genevieve asked, "So, have you found her?"

"It's not that easy." Armand rubbed his nose bridge, saying, "The area near the parking lot is only covered by traffic surveillance cameras, and it doesn't directly face the parking lot."

Armand had people check other surveillance footage. After two days of investigation, they made some progress. They saw that not long after a Volkswagen entered the parking lot that day, another car drove in reverse into the parking lot from the entrance. However, the Honda was using a fake license plate. Half an hour later, it left the parking lot and went straight to the vehicle scrapyard.

Armand had to expend a great deal of effort to locate the men in the Honda car. They admitted that they were hired by Brody.

Brody wanted the men to sexually assault Charlotte and film a video. But unexpectedly, when Charlotte was talking to Brody, a group of people rushed over and knocked the men out.

The parking lot hadn't been used for a long time, and no one had fixed the broken light bulb, so it was quite dim. The men couldn't make out what those people who knocked them out looked like.

But those people were all tall and formidable, their skills surpassing even professional bodyguards.

Armand handed over the information he had found and the testimonies of those men to Jerry. Armand then analyzed and said, "The other party knew in advance that Brody was setting up a trap to kidnap Charlotte, and they have been waiting behind the scenes. If they don't have the ability to hide, they must have tampered with the surveillance footage, deleting some things."

Jerry narrowed his eyes, asking in a deep voice, "Can Luc help?"

"Lucian is only six years old. He's not a god," Armand said. "You should think about who holds a grudge against Charlotte and is capable of hiring a hacker to erase all the clues behind the scenes."

Armand's words seemed to awaken Jerry.

Coincidentally, Jesse came to Jadeborough. Jerry went to the airport to pick Jesse up and took the opportunity to ask the latter some things. "Has Sebastian been in Xedells all this time?"

"Yeah," Jesse, who sat in the passenger seat, lit a cigarette.

Jerry glanced at Jesse out of the corner of his eye, his tone somewhat heavy. "Did you see it with your own eyes?"

Jesse paused, seemingly noticing something off about Jerry. After taking a drag from his cigarette, Jesse said, "Isn't the new year approaching? Mr. Pann is busy preparing new year gifts for everyone in the company and the gang. We're short-staffed, so I was called in to help. It's hectic, but Mr. Pann still goes home for dinner every night."

"A few days ago, I went to deliver some fruits to Mrs. Pann, and she asked me to ask you..." Jesse glanced at Jerry, who was driving, then continued, "She asks you to return to Xedells to celebrate the new year."

Chapter 1452 He Hoped For The First Scenario

Jerry didn't utter a word. His gaze was gloomy.

When Armand mentioned that someone was keeping an eye on Brody, Jerry began to suspect if it was that person. However, he had planted quite a lot of his men in the Pann family.

If Sebastian sent someone to Jadeborough, Jerry would definitely know about it.

During this period, Jesse had also been closely following Sebastian. Now, he learned from Jesse that Sebastian never left Xedells.

If it's not him, who else has the ability to make Charlotte disappear without a trace?

Jerry couldn't find Charlotte, nor could he find Director Lin. He could only hope that Director Lin had taken her somewhere. If it was Sebastian...

Jesse felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere within the car, so intense that even he, who was leading a dangerous life, felt a chill run down his spine.

Seeing Jerry gripping the steering wheel tightly to the point that the veins on the back of his hands bulged menacingly, Jesse seemed to guess something. "Has something happened to your girlfriend?"

Jerry said, "She has gone missing."

Upon learning from Jerry's brief words that Charlotte had been kidnapped, Jesse remained silent without uttering a word.

Charlotte harbored a deep hatred for the Gaudette family due to her father's death. In order to cheer her up, Jerry got rid of Benedict first and then caused Gwendolyn to become vegetative.

Benedict was once a prominent figure in the political sphere. The consecutive incidents involving him and his wife had forced the higher-ups to take notice.

No matter how careful Jerry was, the government office could find out anything they wanted to investigate.

The trouble Jerry brought to the Pann family, naturally, left Sebastian fuming. Moreover, Jerry wasn't doing all these foolish things for the family, but merely for a woman.

If anyone was to be linked to Charlotte's disappearance, Jesse would also first think of Sebastian.

"Sebastian really hasn't left Xedells for a while." Jesse knew what Jerry was worried about. He took a puff of his cigarette and sighed. "I did try to advise you back then, but you wouldn't listen..."

Sebastian was ruthless and merciless. If Charlotte was truly in his hands, she would be left with no choice but death.

Jerry stared at the road ahead, his voice sounding gloomy as he said, "If he didn't send anyone to Jadeborough, there are only two possibilities. One, he really didn't send anyone here. Second, he found out about the spies I planted in the Pann family."

Jerry also knew the capabilities of Sebastian, but he hoped more for the first scenario.

Later on, Jerry didn't speak to Jesse anymore. Once they reached the city, he took Jesse directly to the condominium where Charlotte lived.

Sasha was in the living room playing with playdough. Seeing Jerry return, she showed him the little animals she had made. Then, as if remembering something, she took out a small clay figure from a bucket nearby.

"Aunt Charlotte made this. It's you, Uncle Jerry," said Sasha.

Sasha knew that Charlotte had an argument with Jerry. So, Charlotte didn't make eyes for the little clay figure out of spite. Later, Sasha secretly made a pair of eyes for the little clay figure.

Jerry glanced at the little clay figure, then carefully put it away.

Jerry gently rubbed Sasha's cheeks and said to her, "Your Aunt Charlotte is busy and won't have time to accompany you in the future. So, I've found this mister who will keep you company. You can go hang ou wherever you want in the future."

Jesse thought he must have misheard something. With a shocked expression, he looked at Jerry, as if he was quietly asking the latter if this was a joke.

Jesse had a rugged appearance, and given his past involvement in illegal activities, he looked rather fierce. This reminded Sasha of Godzilla from the cartoons.

However, Sasha understood that Jerry had to go and coax Charlotte, so he wouldn't have time to accompany her. Thus, Sasha obediently nodded in agreement.

Jesse pulled Jerry aside for a private chat. "My home is in Jadeborough, I came back for the new year. I can also help you with your work, but you're asking me to..."

Jesse glanced at the child in the living room before adding, "Are you seriously asking me to babysit?"

Chapter 1453 The Little Tenderness He Gave

"What do you have at your house? Aren't it just two dogs and three cats?" Jerry said. "Sasha's mom is on a business trip abroad. I'm not at ease with the child being home alone."

Even though Mary used to be a housekeeper who served Abigail, she was getting older. Moreover, Sasha was too lively and active.

Jesse scratched his brows and asked, "Is her father dead?"

"Yeah, more or less." Jerry briefly explained the situation of Sasha's parents to him. "Sasha is very well-behaved. You're raising a cat, right? Just take care of her the same way you do with your cat."

Children with their slender arms and legs-were like fragile items, and Jesse certainly didn't want to get into any trouble.

Just as Jesse was about to speak, Jerry transferred the money to him. Upon opening the text message and seeing the massive amount being transferred to him, Jesse swallowed his words of refusal.

Who could resist money?

Jerry had other matters to attend to. Hence, he left after chatting with Jesse. Before leaving, Jerry said, "Mary won't be staying here tonight, you can sleep in the living room at night."

"Isn't there a guest room?" Jesse asked.

"This is where my wife lives. She has mysophobia, so you should consider yourself lucky I'm even letting you sleep in the living room."

"What should I do if I want to take a bath?"

"Go to a hotel."

Jesse stared at the closed door and scratched his brows with his finger.

Seeing that the child was happily playing with the playdough by herself, Jesse found a corner in the living room to sit and scroll through his phone.

Charlotte was nowhere to be found, which worried Genevieve. Fearing that the artists under Charlotte's management might be assigned to other managers, making it difficult to reclaim the artists later, Genevieve temporarily took over Charlotte's duties.

Genevieve was busy when Faye knocked and entered, "Ms. Rachford, we have a response from Mr. Little."

"Which Mr. Little?" Genevieve asked in surprise.

After talking with Faye, Genevieve learned that Charlotte had been using the charity dinner to boost Scarlette's profile. Charlotte had also informed the media that Scarlette would be volunteering at the orphanage, and had even given Sean a heads-up.

As the new year approached, it was a great idea to visit the orphanage and bring new year gifts for the children there. Also, they could accompany the children to have an annual feast.

The field reporters from the Department of Public Information were free tomorrow, but they would be on their annual leave the day after tomorrow.

Genevieve glanced at Scarlette's schedule for tomorrow and sent a message to Scarlette's assistant. Then, Genevieve asked Faye to confirm with the reporters the time for the visit to the orphanage tomorrow morning.

After Faye jotted down the orders, she asked Genevieve, "Your new secretary has been hired. Will they start work tomorrow?"

Faye had always been James' secretary, and James had grown accustomed to her. With Faye being overwhelmed by the amount of work, they had no choice but to hire another secretary for Genevieve.

Genevieve glanced at the calendar on the table. "The company starts its holiday tomorrow. Let her start work after the new year."

"All right."

Besides her own work, Genevieve also had to take responsibility for several artists under Charlotte's charge. With the year-end approaching, Genevieve was simply too busy.

So, during this period, it was Armand who picked her up after work.

Seeing that it was already dark outside, Genevieve put on her coat to leave work. As she exited the building, she happened to see a Maybach slowly pulling over to the side of the road. She jogged over to it.

Genevieve opened the passenger door of the car, and as she was about to get in, she noticed a bouquet of fresh flowers on the seat.

The bouquet was primarily composed of sunflowers, complemented by three champagne roses, orange roses, and a touch of eucalyptus. The color scheme was distinct and layered, and it was as radiant and passionate as the sunshine.

Genevieve picked up the bouquet and leaned over to kiss Armand after getting in the car. "Mando, I really love the flowers today!"

With a soft chuckle, Armand leaned in to give her a gentle kiss, then helped her fasten her seatbelt.

Armand not only knew how to grow flowers, but he also knew how to arrange them. If he didn't place a bouquet of fresh flowers in the vase on the dining table in the morning, he would certainly bring a bouquet when he came to pick her up in the evening.

The tender affection he showed made Genevieve feel as if they weren't an old married couple with children, but rather as if they were in the throes of a passionate romance every day.

Genevieve lowered her head to smell the fresh flowers, letting the fragrance soothe her inner restlessness. She sighed to Armand, "I can't go to the hot spring tomorrow, I have to work overtime."

She originally planned to start her vacation when the company begins its annual leave tomorrow, accompanying her children to enjoy the hot spring.

She didn't expect that Charlotte got Scarlette a gig.

"Let's visit the hot spring after the new year, then," Armand said, holding her hand and bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss. "How about I take you to have some fajita, and then we rent out a cinema to watch a movie?"

Upon learning that the two of them were going on a date tonight, Genevieve's eyes lit up. "That will definitely make my mood super good."

Chapter 1454 A Kind Sponsor

The next day, at a certain orphanage in Jadeborough, Gracie was busy tying a little girl's hair when a teacher entered the classroom to inform her that the volunteers had arrived. Subsequently, Gracie, accompanied by a few teachers, went outside to welcome the volunteers.

Upon reaching the entrance, Gracie noticed several cars parked by the roadside. Shortly after, a few people disembarked from the vehicles.

There were photographers carrying cameras and reporters wearing press badges.

The woman speaking to the field reporter was dressed in a simple black cropped down jacket. Despite her simple attire, she was strikingly beautiful, and there was a gentle smile in her eyes.

Gracie recognized her at a glance but remained silent.

The teacher who came out to greet the volunteers with Gracie-was the first to greet Genevieve and the others. "Ms. Brown, this is Ms. Genevieve, the owner of Genevieve Orsi Productions."

"Hello, Ms. Rachford." Gracie shook hands with Genevieve, then shook hands with Scarlette.

Charlotte collaborated with Jadeborough's Department of Public Information to arrange for Scarlette to volunteer at the orphanage. The aim was to strengthen Scarlette's image and attract more fans to her. However, Genevieve did not visit the orphanage to put on a show.

Genevieve had children of her own and was a mother, so she felt deep sympathy for these children who were abandoned in the orphanage due to their disabilities from a young age.

Genevieve and Gracie, along with the teachers, unloaded the New Year gifts from the car.

Other than taking care of the young children's daily needs, the orphanage would also provide for the older children's education if they were not adopted for a long time. Therefore, the orphanage's expenses were substantial.

The children waiting in the classroom lit up with excitement at the sight of the exquisite New Year gifts.

But they were well-behaved, patiently sitting there waiting for the gifts to be handed to them.

Genevieve handed an exquisite stuffed doll to a little girl. The girl hugged it like a treasured possession and nuzzled against it for a long time. She then raised her right hand and made a gesture toward Genevieve.

"She's saying thank you to you," Gracie came over and said to Genevieve. "Jill is born deaf and mute."

Genevieve learned from Gracie that Jill had been abandoned at the doorstep of the orphanage just a few days after her birth. Jill was so thin at the time that Gracie almost mistook her for a stillborn when Gracie found her.

Thankfully, there were many kind-hearted people at the orphanage. Gracie nursed Jill back to health by feeding the child with baby formula day by day.

Genevieve felt a wave of sympathy after seeing Jill, who was about the same age as Amanda, suffered so much due to abandonment by her parents because of her illness.

She handed a phone number to Gracie. "I'm well acquainted with Dr. Langford from the General Hospital's pediatric department. When you have time, take her there for a check-up. If there's a chance to restore her hearing, I'll cover all the costs."

Gracie was touched and expressed her gratitude to Genevieve.

It was past ten when the gifts were finally all distributed to the children at the orphanage.

Gracie led Genevieve and the reporters to the kitchen. Since Genevieve and her team were volunteering, they were in charge of preparing the children's lunch, with two teachers assisting them on the side.

While studying abroad, Scarlette often cooked, so she effortlessly showcased her culinary skills in front of the camera.

Genevieve's culinary skills were not good. Besides, she was here as a manager to accompany Scarlette in volunteering. The main character was Scarlette, who was sitting with Gracie in the corner of the kitchen and peeling potatoes.

The deaf and mute girl named Jill also came over, picking up a potato and peeling it swiftly with a scraper.

While preparing the ingredients, Genevieve casually chatted with Gracie. "I'll go back and find someone to help. I'll negotiate with a few private schools near the orphanage. From now on, I'll cover the children's tuition fees."

"Thank you for your kindness, Ms. Rachford. But..." Gracie chuckled. "A kind-hearted individual has already taken care of the children's tuition fees. If a child gets into a top university or wishes to study abroad, they will also provide financial support."

"How come I've never heard of it?" Genevieve was somewhat surprised.

Even when the wealthy engaged in charity, they would do so with an agenda, often to polish their own or their company's image.

Just like how Spring Rain Foundation recently hosted a charity dinner to improve the lives of impoverished children in the mountains, which could also be considered putting on a show.

The organizer received praise from various industries, and the celebrities who participated in the charity and fundraising were commended for their compassion. Their popularity continued to rise, and the children in the mountainous areas also received supplies to improve their lives. It was a win-win situation for all three parties involved.

I'm a mother, and I'm deeply moved by the deaf and mute little girl, Jill. Therefore, I want to do everything I can to help these children, without expecting anything in return.

However, why didn't that sponsor seize such a golden opportunity to promote themselves extensively?

Gracie glanced at Genevieve, her smile gentle and kind. "He's just like you. You two are genuinely fond of the children here and are doing things for them without expecting anything in return. You both share the same kindness."

Upon learning that the other party always donated anonymously and that even Gracie had never met him in person, Genevieve decided not to ask any further.

Chapter 1455 Failed

While chopping carrots, Genevieve accidentally cut her left finger with the chopper. A drop of blood immediately welled up. Upon seeing this, Scarlette handed her a handkerchief.

Genevieve swiftly wrapped the handkerchief around her wound.

The handkerchief Scarlette gave was light yellow, but it didn't take long for the blood from the wound to soak it red.

Once Gracie hurriedly brought iodine solution and gauze, Genevieve unwrapped the handkerchief. Upon seeing that the wound wasn't bleeding, she breathed a sigh of relief and asked Gracie to help dress her wound with gauze.

Scarlette asked, "The handkerchief is dirty. Would you like me to throw it away for you?"

"No, you're cooking. It'll be bad if your hands are contaminated with bacteria," Genevieve declined, putting the handkerchief into her down jacket pocket.

"All right." Scarlette turned around and continued what she was doing.

After bustling about for over two hours, lunch was finally ready.

It was quite cold outside since it was a couple of degrees below zero today. Gracie arranged for the children to bring their lunch boxes to the kitchen to get their food.

After the children finished taking their food, the photographers and the field reporters also took a break from their work to have lunch.

The pervasive smell of cooking oil in the kitchen had long since become unbearable for Scarlette. After she knew she no longer needed to face the camera, she asked a teacher for directions to the restroom and left the kitchen.

As Scarlette headed toward the public restroom, she coincidentally ran into two teachers. They were holding lunch boxes, seemingly on their way to the kitchen to eat.

The two teachers were chatting quietly as they walked.

One of the teachers said regretfully, "Such a beautiful kid. It's a pity to fall ill right after birth and get abandoned by parents at the orphanage's doorstep."

"Which child here hasn't been abandoned by their parents?" the other teacher said.

The orphanage once bluntly called an orphan's asylum, initially took care of children who had lost both parents on behalf of the government. As the number of orphans they took in increased, they started making the news, attracting more attention.

The mothers who unexpectedly gave birth to children with illnesses, and detested the idea of raising them, would secretly leave their children at the orphanage's doorstep.

The orphanage was like the final haven for orphans.

Scarlette had no desire to learn about the tragic backgrounds of the children in the orphanage. She merely listened to them briefly. Then brushed past the teachers and headed into the restroom.

The smell of cooking oil clanged to her body and hair. Even perfume couldn't mask it. It was unbearably unpleasant to her.

Scarlette washed her hands ten times with soap. After her hands were completely odorless, she dried them with a paper towel. Just then, her phone, which was in her pocket, rang.

After she almost got overheard by Charlotte while making a call in the company's restroom previously, Scarlette didn't rush to answer the phone this time. Instead, she left the restroom and headed to the children's playground.

Once she was sure no one was around her, she answered the phone, "I had a chance earlier, but I failed to get it."

"A chance for what?" The person calling her was Zander.

Scarlette held her phone to her ear, lighting a cigarette she had pulled from her pocket. "Genevieve accidentally cut her finger while chopping vegetables in the kitchen. I gave her a handkerchief to stop the bleeding, but she didn't return it."

Zander said, "Now that you mention it, I realize Armand seems really concerned about Genevieve's bleeding."

Previously, Zander had a conversation with Scarlette at the golf course, but he didn't recall it then. Only now did he remember.

"A finger cut heals quickly." Scarlette took a drag from her cigarette and continued, "Armand's fear of Genevieve getting hurt, and Genevieve's reluctance to casually discard the handkerchief stained with her blood, only implies that her health is not good."

"Hemophilia." Zander thought of this disease, then rubbed his brows in distress.

If Genevieve had hemophilia, she couldn't afford to bleed. It was no wonder Genevieve was so cautious, carefully preserving the handkerchief stained with her blood.

She was scared that if someone with discerning eyes discovered her poor health, it would bring about unnecessary trouble.

Chapter 1456 Investigate The Child

Scarlette said, "Genevieve accompanied me to a brand event a few days ago. I saw her effortlessly take down a man who was almost two meters tall."

"Her brother, Cooper, is dating Sally," said Zander.

Scarlette had only recently returned to the country yet had already heard about Sally.

Sally's father was the military commanding officer of Jadeborough. She was a top female special forces soldier who graduated from the military academy, occasionally escorting important officials abroad for negotiations.

No wonder Genevieve was so skilled at fighting. It was all due to Sally's teachings.

Scarlette furrowed her brows and said, "Genevieve is cautious and skilled at fighting. Trying to get a sample of her blood is like attempting the impossible."

Before Scarlette found Armand, it wasn't by chance that Genevieve ran into Zander at the hot spring in the holiday resort. It was a deliberate move by Zander. However, at that time, he didn't succeed.

Later, Scarlette faked an encounter with Genevieve at the pottery shop. She secretly tried to injure Genevieve, but to her surprise, Genevieve reacted so quickly that she didn't get hurt at all.

This time, Genevieve cut her hand while chopping vegetables, but Scarlette couldn't get hold of the blood-stained handkerchief too.

"If we can't get it, then forget it. Armand has sharp eyes, don't let him notice anything," said Zander. "The boss will arrange for someone else to come to Jadeborough. That person will watch Genevieve while we handle another matter."

"What is it?" Scarlette asked.

Roughly two minutes later, Zander sent a few photos to Scarlette. After Scarlette saw the person in the pictures, she narrowed her eyes slightly.

Zander said, "The boss didn't give me the details about the man, but I know the woman in the picture. Her name is Johanna. We were in the same class in high school. She got along well with Genevieve. Later, she got together with Timothy, Chairman of Forlisle Medical. I think they have a daughter together. As for this man, I'm not sure what his relationship is with Johanna, but judging by Johanna's belly, she seems to be pregnant. The boss wants us to investigate this child."

"The boss said to investigate if we can, but don't attract any attention," added Zander.

Scarlette hummed in response.

After finishing her cigarette, Scarlette ended her conversation with Zander over the phone. She tossed the cigarette butt on the ground and stamped it out. Then she focused on the photos she had been looking at.

She met Zander at a gathering for international students, but they weren't particularly close.

Later, Scarlette returned to Jadeborough due to some matters. After meeting Zander, arranged by the boss, she found out that he was also a helper hired by the boss and was a high school classmate of Genevieve.

Zander had no idea who the boss behind the scenes was. He merely worked for the boss since he was provided with resources and money.

However, on the other hand, Scarlette was acquainted with and quite familiar with the boss behind the scenes.

On the surface, she was like Zander, trying every possible way to get a sample of Genevieve's blood. However, she was secretly investigating Zephyr's whereabouts and his relationship with Genevieve.

Although it had been so long since Scarlette's return to Jadeborough, she utilized all her means but failed to find a single clue.

In the photo, the man's hand gently rested on the woman's waist as they strolled under the light pink cherry blossom trees. Since the photo was taken from the side, one can see the soft tenderness in the man's eyes.

From the photo, it appeared that Zephyr was really fond of Johanna.

Scarlette's gaze fell on Johanna's protruding belly, wondering in confusion, if Zephyr liked Johanna, then what was his relationship with Genevieve?

Moreover, it would be trouble if Zephyr had a child.

Scarlette pulled out another SIM card from her pocket, pried open the card slot, and replaced the existing one. Once she was connected to the internet, she made a phone call.

After lunch, Genevieve and her group spent time at the orphanage and played games with the children.

As the evening drew near six in the afternoon, Genevieve told the photographer and the field reporter to call it a day. When the minivan arrived for Scarlette, she saw her off.

Scarlette asked, "Ms. Rachford, how about I give you a lift home? It's not easy to hail a cab here."

"No thanks," replied Genevieve. "My husband will come to pick me up."

No sooner had Genevieve finished speaking, a Maybach slowly pulled up and stopped at the entrance of the orphanage. She said something to Gracie, then jogged to the car, opened the door, and got in.

Chapter 1457 Only A Beauty Like You

After seeing the situation, Scarlette also got into the minivan.

Armand leaned over to help Genevieve fasten her seatbelt, inadvertently glancing at the entrance of the orphanage. "When you said you were working overtime, did you mean you were accompanying Scarlette to the orphanage?"

"Yes," said Genevieve, "Charlotte borrowed some people from Sean for an interview at the orphanage. They're writing a news piece about Scarlette's volunteer work. Since she's not around, I have to accompany Scarlette."

Genevieve noticed Armand's gaze shifting outside the car window. "Do you miss Scarlette since you didn't see her? Her minivan hasn't left yet," she said, acting as though she was going to push the door open.

Armand gently pulled her hand back into his, saying helplessly, "I only saw a child standing at the entrance of the orphanage, waving at you. I'm not trying to look at Scarlette."

After Genevieve heard that, she looked out the car window and saw Jill standing next to Gracie, continuously waving at her.

Thus, Genevieve also waved goodbye to her.

The car drove away from the entrance of the orphanage. Genevieve and Armand started to talk, "Perhaps it's because I'm a mother now. I feel so sorry for these children who have been abandoned since they were young. I want to contact the school and sponsor these orphans to go to school. Ms. Brown said some kind people are sponsoring them. Who would have thought there are still silent philanthropists in today's society." Genevieve sighed emotionally.

Upon hearing this, Armand merely smiled and remained silent.

Genevieve picked up the bottle from the center console box, unscrewed it, and took a few sips of warm water. "Mando, when you have time, could you help me check if Scarlette was in a relationship with Zander when she was abroad?"

"Hmm?" Armand turned his head to glance at her. "Why are you looking that up?"

Genevieve said, "Charlotte told me earlier that she ran into Scarlette and Zander at the golf course. She didn't think Zander would be interested in a woman like Scarlette."

Whether Zander liked Scarlette or not, Genevieve wasn't sure.

However, both Genevieve and Charlotte agreed on one thing. They both thought that Scarlette was the kind of person with great ambition.

Scarlette relished the adoration, fame, and allure of wealth. However, in the entertainment industry, one couldn't just make money without putting in the work. To maintain her popularity, she still had to slog through filming.

Genevieve was puzzled. People like Scarlette, with such great ambitions, should be mingling with the upper echelons, competing for fame, fortune, and living a life of abundance.

Why would she get into the entertainment industry?

Upon learning that Zander might have had a relationship with Scarlette, Armand said, "It's good that you ignored Zander back then. He likes any beautiful woman he sees and has no sense of chivalry."

"Don't you like beautiful women too?" Genevieve asked, glancing at him sideways.

"I only have eyes on a beauty like you, Love." Armand held her hand tightly, his voice deep and pleasant. "No other woman can catch my eye."

Genevieve curled her lips into a smile. "They say that everything a man says is a lie. I believe it now."

Back at the orphanage, Gracie had just seen off Genevieve and others and returned to her room when a teacher came looking for her, whispering a few words into her ear.

Upon hearing that, Gracie's face fell, and she hurriedly went to the nursery upstairs.

The nursery spanned about a hundred square meters, with adorable marine creatures painted all over the light blue walls. Inside, dozens of identical wooden baby cribs were arranged.

It was filled with babies, and the room was comfortably warm with the air conditioner running.

Gracie entered the nursery and saw a teacher sitting on the baby's crawling mat, feeding a kid some formula milk.

The baby was tiny, appearing to be only four or five months old. Her skin was as white as snow, and her jet-black hair, smooth as raven feathers, clung to her ears. She was holding a milk bottle, gulping down the milk with a gurgling sound. Her purple eyes were like glass beads, shimmering under the light.

Gracie walked over, took the baby from the teacher's arms, and asked, "Did you tell the other teachers something?"

Chapter 1458 Where Are You Hiding Her

"I've spoken to Ms. Terry about this child," said the teacher, glancing at the child in Gracie's arms.

This new teacher had worked at the orphanage for less than half a month. Coming from a small town, she was unfamiliar with races, assuming everyone had black eyes and hair.

Upon seeing a baby with purple eyes in the nursery, the teacher thought something was wrong with the child's eyes. During mealtime, she discussed this with her colleagues.

After hearing this, the usually gentle Gracie turned cold.

She reprimanded the new teacher, "When you signed the contract, I told you that your only responsibility is to take care of the children in the nursery. You shouldn't discuss the children's matters with other teachers. If there are any issues, come to me. Some people might bribe teachers to select good-looking kids for them."

Indeed, some teachers worked at the orphanage without a salary, their purpose being to find healthy and beautiful babies a few months old for certain bosses.

However, Gracie did this only to prevent the baby in her arms from being discovered by others.

It was fine if this kid was just adorable. However, the baby had rare purple eyes and was too young to wear colored contact lenses to hide them.

The teacher also knew she had made a mistake, so she bowed her head to apologize to Gracie.

However, Gracie showed no mercy, dismissing the teacher for contract violation. She also warned her to keep her work at the orphanage confidential, stating that she would be held accountable if anything went wrong.

As New Year's Eve drew nearer, people working all over the country were taking their holidays. Even the air was filled with the scent of the upcoming celebrations.

Meanwhile, Jerry was on the verge of madness, unable to find Brody and Charlotte after a long search.

During this period, he sought help from everyone he could, not missing any clue, however small. However, it was as if Brody and Charlotte had vanished from the face of the earth, leaving no trace to be found.

On New Year's Eve, one of Jerry's subordinates called him. They had finally found Brody.

The day after Charlotte was kidnapped, Brody bought another ticket to Xifport. Jerry's subordinate confirmed with the airport that Brody boarded the plane that day and the airport even provided surveillance footage.

Jerry had people in Xifport check the airport, only to discover that after Brody arrived in Xifport, he was found dead in the airport restroom.

However, Jerry didn't believe Brody had a sudden death in Xifport.

Brody was manipulated by someone who wanted Jerry to believe that Charlotte was always in Brody's hands.

Then, Jerry arranged for someone to pick him up, and he arrived in Xedells by helicopter just after six in the evening.

The Pann family's grand mansion, with a mixture of Western and Eastern architectural elements, was adorned with joyous lanterns. The guards were in high spirits, eagerly awaiting their shift change so they could go and enjoy the annual feast.

Suddenly, several black sedans cut through the night, coming to a halt outside the mansion.

The guards recognized the license plate and were about to greet them, but the bodyguard who got out of the car swiftly pulled out a gun and took out the guard.

The sound of gunfire from outside echoed into the house, prompting the remaining bodyguards to go on high alert. As they were about to investigate the situation, the bodyguards who pushed open the front door started shooting as soon as they saw them.

The piercing sound of gunfire continued to echo, and soon the courtyard was filled with bodies and the stench of blood.

The biting cold wind whipped Jerry's hair into a wild dance, revealing his deeply gloomy eyes beneath his forehead. He stepped over the bodies, striding purposefully toward the main hall.

Today was New Year's Eve, a perfect day for an annual feast. Almost all the direct descendants of the Pann family had gathered.

Inside the main hall, three tables were set. Everyone was gathered around, enjoying the annual feast, when suddenly, the ruthless sound of gunfire from outside shattered the harmonious atmosphere. The children were frightened into tears.

The bodyguards inside the main hall had just drawn their guns when Jerry's men shot them in the head.

Jerry stepped into the main hall and glanced coldly at the people still screaming and in chaos. "All of you, get out!"

Upon hearing that, those people dragged their children and ran out.

Alicia was frightened by this scene. She stood up from her chair and looked at Jerry. "Jerry, what are you doing?"

Jerry ignored her and strode to press a gun against the man's temple.

The expression of the bodyguards still alive inside the main hall changed instantly when they noticed Jerry's actions. They quickly aimed guns at him while Jerry's bodyguards aimed their handguns back at them.

It would turn into a living h*ll if someone accidentally fired a bullet.

Chapter 1459 Give Her Back

Jerry's hand rested on the trigger, a slight squeeze away from instantly blowing the man's head off.

He asked coldly, "Where have you hidden her?"

"You're out of line!" Sebastian was completely unfazed by the threat of the gun. He slapped the table hard, stood up, and confronted Jerry.

The barrel of the gun was now pointed directly at Sebastian's forehead.

With a face full of anger, Sebastian glared at Jerry, his voice icy. "Today is New Year's Eve, and you bring people here to cause trouble, even pointing a gun at your own father. Are you trying to rebel?"

"Don't be upset, Jerry is still immature," Alicia intervened, fearing that Jerry might accidentally misfire the gun.

With a cold laugh, Jerry stared intently at Sebastian, his eyes filled with indifferent disgust. "I only have one father. His name is Hadley. Who do you think you are? Stealing your elder brother's woman, getting involved with your own sister. Do you think a b*stard like you is qualified to be a father?"

Sebastian's cheek twitched fiercely, his hand raised, ready to slap Jerry's face. But Alicia, standing by, firmly held his hand back.

"Jerry, quickly apologize to your father," Alicia pleaded, looking at Jerry with a beseeching gaze.

Jerry felt nauseous. He avoided eye contact with Alicia, lowered his gun, and then directly pulled the trigger.

A bullet pierced through Sebastian's right shoulder, splattering blood onto Alicia's face.

Jerry looked at Sebastian indifferently. "He raised me, so I'm deeply indebted to him. I have promised him that I won't let the Pann family fall apart.”

He loathed the Pann family, wanting to destroy them, and even harbored thoughts of killing Sebastian.

But his foster father, Hadley, valued brotherhood deeply. For the sake of the Pann family, he could turn a blind eye to those unscrupulous deeds. He also knew about Jerry's hatred for the Pann family and forced Jerry to swear he would not harm the Pann family.

"Give her back to me." Jerry raised his gun, pressing it against the forehead of the middle-aged man. "Or else the next bullet will go through your head."

"Jerry, please don't," Alicia pleaded desperately.

Sebastian pulled his wife aside and furiously scolded Jerry, "It's not your place to meddle in matters between your mom and me! If it weren't for us, would you even be born? Would you be standing here pointing a gun at your dad? If I'm a b*stard, then what are you, someone even lowlier than a b*stard? If you want to lead a befuddled life, then go ahead! I have plenty of nephews. The Pann family doesn't need you to carry on the lineage! I don't even need to investigate. Anyone in Jadeborough can tell me about the debauched life that woman led in the past. She's nothing but a harlot, sleeping with men everywhere." He glared fiercely at Jerry, "And for a woman like her, you've nearly brought the Pann family to ruin several times!"

Jerry's eyes suddenly darkened, and he reached out to grab Sebastian's neck. Although Sebastian was imposing, he was no match for Jerry in a fight and was left powerless under Jerry's grip.

In a rush, Alicia dashed forward, desperately clutching at Jerry's hand, pleading with him to let go.

As the two were conversing, the gang members hurriedly arrived. They swiftly dealt with the people at the door, their guns all pointed toward Jerry inside the house.

A bodyguard fired a shot at Jerry's arm.

Jerry's arm lost its strength, forcing him to let go of Sebastian.

Sebastian touched his neck, his imposing aura undiminished. "I know everything you've done behind my back. Do you think you could enter this door without my permission? You're just an immature piece of trash, yet you're trying to seize power," he sneered.

Jerry ignored Sebastian's curses, the gun barrel still pressed against his forehead. He asked again, "Where did you hide her?"

Chapter 1460 I Do Not Understand

Jeremiah went to Nalanica for a trip in January. On New Year's Eve, Timothy took Johanna and Asel to Swallow Garden for an annual feast.

That was also the first annual feast that Armand and his wife had with their two children.

Four days before New Year, Armand gave all the servants in Swallow Garden a holiday. During this time, Armand and Cooper took turns preparing the meals at home.

That was also the case for that night's annual feast.

After Timothy arrived, Amanda excitedly rushed over, but at Asel. She hugged Asel, kissed her chubby little face several times, and then took her to the living room to play.

Timothy led Johanna to the living room. Noticing Genevieve there, he asked, "Where are Armand and the others?"

"They're in the kitchen. Sally went home to have her annual feast with General Loake." Genevieve pointed toward the kitchen. When Johanna approached, Genevieve led her to sit next to her.

No matter how much Sally praised Cooper in front of Gerald, he simply didn't like Cooper and refused to let him go to his house.

Sally invited them to have a meal at Swallow Garden, but they didn't come. She couldn't let her father and Robert have dinner alone on New Year's Eve, so she went back in the afternoon.

After Johanna and Timothy left the house together, she had a dazed look on his face, holding a book in her hand.

After settling down on the sofa, she placed the book on her lap and continued reading. Despite Genevieve speaking to her and offering her fruit from the side, she paid the latter no mind.

Genevieve tucked Johanna's loose hair behind her ear and let out a deep sigh.

Timothy chatted with Genevieve for a while before heading toward the kitchen. Even before he entered, wafts of delicious aroma were already reaching him.

Armand and Cooper, wearing aprons, were busy at the kitchen counter.

Seeing Cooper expertly handling the salmon by the sink, Timothy exaggeratedly exclaimed, "No way, you can cook, Mr. Sutton?"

"Cooking is not a big deal," Cooper said calmly.

In truth, he really detested the fishy smell, which lingered on his hands no matter how much he washed them. However, he had a fondness for salmon, so he had no choice but to bear the unpleasant task of preparing the fish.

Timothy glanced at the ingredients on the kitchen counter, side dishes, and main courses filling almost every inch of the countertop. "Wouldn't it be easier to hire a chef to prepare the annual feast? Doesn't this tire you out?"

He noticed Armand breaking into a light sweat on his forehead due to his vigorous activity.

Armand said, "You don't understand."

"What don't I understand?" Timothy asked in surprise, "Cooking is the servant's job. You guys are taking over their work. That's what I don't understand."

Armand found him annoying and picked up a bag of edamame from the kitchen counter, tossing it into his hands. "Either stay in the kitchen and peel this bag of edamame, or go watch the television outside."

After some thought, Timothy finally decided to stay in the kitchen.

In the living room, there were only two women. His wife would just stare at her book, while if Genevieve saw him entering the living room, she would definitely give him a hard time.

After Armand demonstrated how to peel a few edamame beans for Timothy, only then did Timothy understand how to do it.

The fresh edamame pods were quite tough. Timothy had to exert a lot of effort to snap them open. After peeling just a dozen or so, he could already feel a stinging pain in his fingertips.

Cooper was chatting with Timothy, "How is Johanna doing?"

"She's doing a bit better than before," Timothy said, peeling edamame beans. "She used to just stare off into space. After I noticed she liked fashion design books, I bought her a lot of them. After eating, she now sits on the sofa to read and even sketches in her notebook with a pen."

Upon hearing that, Cooper let out a soft sigh.

He understood the autism community. Those with congenital brain damage leading to autism were almost certain to live with the condition for their entire lives.

For someone like Johanna, who shut others out after experiencing trauma, it was quite challenging to recover as well.

Catching a glimpse of Cooper from the corner of his eye, Timothy saw his lips move and fathomed what the latter wanted to say. "There's no need to comfort me. I'm doing fine. I'll be waiting whenever she's ready to come to her senses."

Timothy lowered her eyes to the edamame in her hand, whispering, "I just wish she could hold Asel."