Ch. 181..190
Chapter 181 Quintuplets Instead Of Triplets
“We just wanted to make sure if the four of them belonged to Mr. Graham. I swear, that’s all we w-”
Ethen did not let him finish. He stomped forcefully on the man’s wound, causing the captive to wince as tears rolled down his cheeks. “Keep telling yourself that, you bastard! That’s all you wanted, is that right? Then why did you kidnap them?”
Benjamin bellowed, his fingers slightly clenched.
Arissa has four children? Are they mine? Not three, but five of them?
“W-We are sorry! It’s all Danna’s idea! She’s the one behind all this! She wants Arissa dead. She wants to kill you children too. She forced us to do her bidding. Please believe us, Mr. Graham. We told you everything we know!”
The man struggled as he begged for forgiveness. He would have gotten down on all fours and pleaded if he had not been tied up.
Bloodlust flashed across Benjamin’s eyes.
“Break their legs.”
“We’re sorry! Ah!” The woman fainted as soon as her husband’s legs were snapped in half.
Just because she blacked out did not mean she was spared. Benjamin’s men made sure the pain they inflicted on her was enough to keep her awake.
“M-Mr. Graham… please have mercy on us. I beg you…”
She finally learned that Benjamin was not someone to be messed with.
Benjamin wanted them dead.
“I’ll give you a chance to come clean. If you dare to hide anything from us…” Ethen flashed the woman a devilish smile that scared her out of their wits.
The woman told them what she had just told Arissa.
Benjamin’s face darkened, sending goosebumps to everyone near him.
The woman wanted to pass out so badly. That might have been preferable to meeting his gaze.
However, she did not tell him why he only had one child with him, instead of two. Deep down, she was convinced that the other child was dead, and Benjamin would definitely take revenge on them if he found out.
Benjamin’s heart broke when he learned about Arissa’s mistreatment prior to giving birth, and how she had been abandoned in the wild after the delivery.
She is telling the truth. He recalled how calm Arissa had been when she told her story. Benjamin’s heart ached some more. It must have taken a lot out of her to contain her fury.
“We don’t know what happened next. Ms. Adams, or Danna, summoned for us a few days ago and ordered us to kidnap Arissa again. We didn’t have the chance to do it. Then, we found that her children are still alive, so…” the woman went on, her eyes filled with fear.
A dozen bodyguards surrounded them. They might not get out of this alive.
“D-Danna has my daughter. She’s threatening us with our child’s life on the line. We have no choice but to do what she says!”
“Heh! You care about your child, but what about mine? Admit it. You are just a vicious hypocrite! You couldn’t kill them five years ago, and you wanted to do it again now!”
Rage surged through Ethen’s veins. He kicked them hard as vented his anger.
How dare they lay their hands on Mr. Graham’s children! No, Danna is the most detestable person here. Don’t judge a book by its cover. I didn’t think she’d be so vicious when she looks so innocent!
“Mr. Graham, what do we do now?” Ethen asked Benjamin for further instructions. The latter had a stern look on his face.
“Take them to the police! I want them alive!”
Benjamin spoke in a cold manner.
“Understood!” Ethen waved his hands at the bodyguards, gesturing them to take the couple out.
“Hand in all the evidence. I want that woman to suffer too!” Benjamin did not mention who, but Ethen could tell that he was referring to Danna.
They did not expect to receive such breaking news that day as they had yet to investigate the incident five years ago.
If the couple had not gone out of their way to harm Benjamin’s children, they might not have found out the truth so quickly.
Chapter 182 Arresting Danna
“What about Ms. York and Gavin?” Ethen glanced at Benjamin. They had yet to track them down.
Benjamin’s eyes flickered at the mention of their names. “I will look for them personally.”
He then turned and got into the car. Ethen assigned one bodyguard as his driver.
Benjamin tried to locate Gavin but to no avail. His eyebrows furrowed in frustration.
Arissa and the other two children could not be found.
Is she avoiding me? Are the kids with her? Even Gavin?
Benjamin rubbed his temples.
Meanwhile, Ethen and his men had arrived at the police station with the two culprits. They filed a police report pertaining to their crimes five years ago as well as the attempted kidnapping earlier that day.
All evidence pointed to Danna, the true mastermind behind everything. The police swiftly sprang into action.
Danna had been expecting for Benjamin. Her call eventually got through to him.
“Benjamin, my head hurts! When are you coming over?”
“I’ll be there soon!” he said coldly, and hung up soon after.
Danna did not notice the wrath in his voice. Clutching to her phone, her lips tugged into a sweet smile as a blissful sensation washed over her.
I know it! Benjamin loves me.
Unfortunately, the police had come for her.
When the door opened, Danna hopped off her bed. She intended to greet her lover with a smile.
“Benjamin-”
She jolted when she realized that it was not him at the door.
What are the police doing here?
“Ms. Adams, you are suspected of kidnapping. Please follow us!”
Danna’s face darkened, yet managed to pull herself together. She was a proud Adams, after all.
“I didn’t do anything. Believe it or not, I can sue you for slander!”
The police officer confronting her was not afraid of her arrogance. They had Benjamin as their backing. Between the Grahams and the Adams, it was a no-brainer when it came to deciding who they would choose to serve.
“We shall investigate, Ms. Adams. This way, please!” the police officer said firmly. If she still refused to cooperate, they would not hesitate to use force.
Danna was furious. Panic washed through her.
Who told on me? Is it those two?
“Can’t you wait till I fully recover? I’ve recently been hit by a car. My head hurts…”
“I’m afraid we have to take you away by force if you refuse to cooperate.”
The police officer waved the handcuffs in his hands, indicating his comrades to get ready.
Apparently, Danna could not afford to embarrass herself as a public figure.
“Fine. I will go with you!”
She gritted her teeth and stepped out.
She also let her hair down to conceal her face.
The police had caused quite a ruckus at the hospital. Many curious onlookers gathered at the scene. Very soon, the crowd erupted into chatter.
One of them recognized Danna.
“Hey, isn’t that Danna?”
“It looks like her. I watched her movies before.”
“Danna! Danna!”
The crowd swarmed at her.
Danna covered her face with her hands as the cameras kept flashing.
“Has she committed a crime?”
“I bet she did. Why else would the police be doing here? Pfft! Idols! Who knows how trashy they really are under all that glamor?”
“Well said! This is especially true of female celebrities. They are never as innocent as they claim to be!”
The sarcasm and mockery kept coming. Danna had no way to refute their statements, for she dared not show herself.
She quickened her pace. She hoped to get into the car as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, she knocked into a man, and exposed herself by accident.
“It really is Danna!” someone cried.
“Quick! Take her picture! This is shocking news!” The reporters and paparazzi who had blended in with the crowd shouted excitedly as they snapped one photo after another.
“No! Don’t!” Danna shrieked horrifyingly, but her demand served no purpose.
The crowd was simply unstoppable.
“Back off!” The police fended off the crowd.
The crowd retreated, but their cameras never stopped.
Danna was taken into the police car.
“Danna, why are you arrested?” asked a reporter.
Chapter 183 Gavin Abandoned The Necklace
“Hello, sir. May I know what’s her crime?” the reporter asked the police officer when Danna did not respond.
“We will announce it once we finish our investigations. Keep an eye on our website for more details,” the police officer replied and got into the car without further ado.
They left the scene with Danna.
Dumbfounded, Danna looked at an officer in front of her.
“Who reported me for kidnapping?”
No one answered.
At that point, she felt deeply insecure.
Benjamin told me that he would be reaching soon. Why haven’t I seen him yet? No, he could not have known what had happened. Maybe he is still on his way.
“Can I make a phone call?”
“What are you up to?”
The police officer stared at her sternly.
“I want to get a lawyer.”
Of course she would say that. She came from a wealthy family, after all.
“We will inform your family. Hand in your phone!”
Danna gritted her teeth furiously. Her face was smoldered with wrath.
She had no choice but to cooperate with the police.
Panicked, she clenched her fists tightly.
Who reported me? Is it that b*tch Arissa, or Benjamin? I must remain calm before I find out who’s responsible for this.
Meanwhile, Bradley and Arissa took to the road with the five children in tow.
They avoided the surveillance cameras cleverly and managed to evade Benjamin’s men.
“Mommy, Benjamin is coming for us!”
Zachary was keeping track of Benjamin’s whereabouts.
Scowling, he looked at Gavin suspiciously.
“Have you brought anything with you that could have given away our location?”
Gavin shook his head. “No. I’ve blocked all the signals.”
Suddenly, a thought struck him. He fumbled for his necklace, the one with the bullet shell.
After examining it, he found that it had been embedded with a tracker.
“We are exposed!” Zachary wailed.
The very next moment, Gavin lowered the window and threw it out of the car without hesitation.
“Sweetheart!” Arissa exclaimed.
“Mommy, we have to leave this place as fast as we can! Mr. Hinton, hit the gas! We must not let Benjamin catch up to us!”
Anguish flashed across Gavin’s eyes.
Daddy doesn’t care about me at all. So, that necklace shouldn’t matter to me.
Arissa’s heart broke as she took note of Gavin’s sadness. She gave him a hug and stroked his head affectionately.
“You didn’t have to throw it away, Gavin. We can hide it elsewhere.”
That necklace must have meant a lot to him. He would take it everywhere he went.
“Mommy, I don’t want it anymore. It hurts my neck!”
Gavin cuddled in her lap as she patted his head.
Feeling guilty, Zachary glanced at Gavin. He felt bad for suspecting the latter of betrayal.
“I will gift you one next time,” Zachary promised.
Arissa couldn’t help but smile at his kindness.
“Gavin, don’t be sad! You shall have many, many more presents in the future!”
Jesse tried to cheer him up.
Gavin was stunned by their reaction. I’m not sad. What’s all this about?
Jasper and Oliver nodded too.
“Next time, we will give you whatever you like!”
“I’m not sad!” Gavin pursed his lips and got back to his seat.
I’m just disappointed with Daddy for using such a dirty trick to track me down.
After ditching the tracker, they managed to lose Benjamin effortlessly.
However, they decided to take a different car anyway. They could not be too careful.
When Benjamin and his men reached the place where the necklace had been discarded, his face darkened. They were surrounded by crop fields, with no sign of the kids.
“Get me the necklace.”
Gavin, that little brat! He actually threw away the necklace, huh?
The bodyguards hurriedly searched for the item despite feeling pity for Gavin.
Gavin, please stay hidden, or else you shall face Mr. Graham’s wrath!
The bodyguards found the necklace in the mud some time later.
They returned it to Benjamin after giving it a wash.
Holding the necklace in his hands, Benjamin scanned the surroundings.
Chapter 184 A Bounty
In the wilderness, a village could be seen some distance away. There were no surveillance cameras in the secluded area.
Arissa, you better hide well.
After determining the direction, Benjamin continued the chase and commanded the bodyguards to extend the search range.
He had numerous methods to find Arissa and the kids as long as they did not go abroad.
Nonetheless, there were still ways to find them even if they did, but it would be more time-consuming.
At present, Arissa, who was dozens of kilometers away from Benjamin, let out a sigh of relief.
“How long will it take for us to get to Lightspring, Bradley?”
Bradley checked the distance and replied, “Hm… About an hour, if we’re fast.”
Arissa nodded and uttered, “We can have a meal there. After that, we shall continue our journey.”
They needed to get away as far as possible. Otherwise, Benjamin could easily capture them.
After arriving at Lightspring, Arissa examined the surrounding towns and eventually picked a quaint one. They skipped the dazzling shops and chose to eat at a plain-looking restaurant.
“Mommy! The evil woman, Danna, has been captured!” Jasper spoke in excitement upon seeing the entertainment news at the restaurant.
Arissa and the kids turned to take a look at the television. Indeed, the news reporter was announcing the incident.
Arissa’s forehead creased as questions popped inside her mind. Danna has been captured? Is Benjamin behind this?
The entertainment news ended shortly, and a broadcast appeared on the screen.
“Dear audiences, please be aware that the son of the CEO of Graham Group has been abducted. If you have any information or clues, do contact the police immediately! Ten million will be awarded if the child is found!”
Then, two portraits appeared on the screen. Other than Gavin’s, Arissa’s photo was also posted.
She was completely dumbfounded. What the hell! Benjamin offered a bounty to find us! Now I’ve become a human trafficker? Am I currently wanted by the police? What a cunning man!
The kids were confused at first. Soon, they were pissed.
How sly!
As for Bradley, he was shocked by the broadcast. Then, he noticed people in the restaurant were getting into heated discussions about the situation.
He whispered to Arissa, “Boss, why don’t we leave now?”
After all, it was too eye-catching for them to be with five children. When they first came in, people were already staring.
Just then, the restaurant owner, Nina Binder, approached them to take their order. “What would you like to have today?”
She was stunned upon seeing the five kids. Their faces seemed familiar.
Suddenly, she recalled the broadcast. On the next second, her eyes lit up.
Arissa’s heart skipped a beat.
“I would like to order a plate of spaghetti first. We are still deciding on the others.”
Nina peered at her and nodded. She did not dare to question them. “Okay. Please wait for a moment.”
As soon as she left the table, Nina contacted the police.
Realizing that, Arissa and Bradley exchanged looks. In the blink of an eye, they got up and escaped the restaurant, along with the kids.
Nina shouted, “Hey! Stop! They’re the human traffickers! One of the kids appeared on the news just now!”
Immediately, the customers got up from their seats and chased after them.
Bradley hurriedly started the car engine and drove off. He continued stepping on the accelerator, going as fast as he could.
What’s going on? There are still people behind us!
Everyone was persistent in capturing them. After all, ten million was a large sum of money.
Furthermore, all of them had a sense of justice due to their hatred for human trafficking.
Arissa, Bradley, and the kids were down to their nerves after getting rid of the people that were trailing behind them. It was an hour later when the police arrived at Lightspring, leaving them no choice but to head to another city.
“Bradley, we have to leave Lightspring at once! Take the shortcut!” Arissa ordered.
“Got it!”
After successfully getting out of Lightspring undetected, the group was exhausted and famished when they arrived at a new place.
Bradley went to buy some food, whereas Arissa stayed with the kids, afraid that someone might recognize Gavin if they were to head out together.
“Where are we, Mommy?”
Arriving at a farmhouse, Gavin was amazed by the scenic view of the mountains and rivers.
“This is our home!”
Jasper remembered the house from the photo. He was the first to rush inside.
Gavin was surprised.
Arissa patted his head and said, “We are home now. Let’s head in!”
“Wow! Finally!”
Gavin followed his younger brothers and ran inside.
The kids were overjoyed yet overwhelmed with curiosity. They began running around to explore the place.
Chapter 185 Hiding In The Countryside
Looking at the bunch of excited kids, Arissa was glad that she brought them here.
The initial destination was an old village. However, she suddenly recalled having bought a farmhouse in the past, so they came here instead.
After all, she was familiar with the area. As long as they had enough food and water, this would be a safe place for them to hide.
Hm… We need to store some grains. As for vegetables, we can plant some ourselves. I think we can avoid Benjamin for some time if we are self-sufficient.
The previous owner of the farmhouse was selling the property as they intended to migrate out of the country. Arissa came across the notice and decided to take the opportunity to purchase it.
The farmhouse was located in a relatively remote area, and there were rarely outsiders. Thus, it would not be easy for Benjamin to track them down.
Soon, the kids returned from a stroll around the farmhouse. They were beyond satisfied and could not stop complimenting it.
Jasper said, “Mommy, it’s so beautiful here! There’s a clear stream just behind the house!”
Oliver chimed in, “Mommy, I saw some fishes and shrimp in the stream!”
Jesse cut in, “There are snails too!”
“Mommy, the air is so fresh!” Zachary commented.
Gavin exclaimed, “I love this place so much! Is this where you grew up, Mommy?”
Arissa was relieved that the kids were satisfied with their new place.
“No. I passed by during one of my travels. I thought it was great so I bought it!”
It had been some time since she made the purchase. Five years ago, she got into trouble shortly after leaving this place. Hence, she had never returned after buying the farmhouse.
However, when she was abroad, she would often hire people to clean the place once every few months.
Arissa guided the kids into the house. It was rather neat but dusty as it had been vacant for a long time.
The last time it was cleaned was a few weeks ago.
“Let’s get some rest, kids. Mr. Hinton will be back soon with some food, and we’ll clean the place up once we’ve eaten.”
“Why don’t we clean now, Mommy?” suggested Zachary.
Arissa chuckled. “Aren’t you all tired?”
The kids shook their heads and answered in unison, “No!”
All of them groaned about hunger in the car. Now, they were energized.
“Okay. Let’s do some cleaning!”
Arissa then led the kids to clean the house while waiting for Bradley to return.
An hour later, Arissa and the kids sat on the floor inside the clean, bright house. They were all worn out after giving the house a much-needed cleanse.
By the time they were done, the sky was already pitch black.
Jesse rubbed her tummy and muttered tiringly, “Mommy, why isn’t Mr. Hinton back yet? I’m so hungry!”
She had been repeating the same question since a while ago.
“Mr. Hinton must be getting us roasted chicken. It takes a longer time to cook. That’s why he’s late!” Jasper began drooling at the thought of scrumptious roasted chicken.
Upon hearing that, they imagined the smell of the roasted chicken, and their stomachs began growling, including Arissa.
She had been staring at the gate for some time.
Why isn’t Bradley back yet? Did he get captured by Benjamin?
Still, there was nothing she could do other than wait while coaxing the kids. She dare not contact Bradley as Benjamin might discover their location.
Her energy replenished after some rest. After that, she went to the kitchen to have a look.
Unfortunately, there was nothing to be found.
“Oh no! There’s absolutely nothing for me to cook!”
She sighed in disappointment. That’s fine. I can still boil some water.
After boiling a kettle of water, Arissa poured each of the kids a glass of water to drink. After that, the six of them sat in the living room, staring at one another.
The kids were sweaty and dirty after cleaning the entire house, and Arissa could not help noticing. Hence, she suggested, “Why don’t we take a shower?”
They’re like dirty kittens after playtime. How cute!
“I’m too tired for a shower!” groaned Oliver while laying his face on the dining table.
“Do you want Mommy’s help?”
Arissa could still bear the hunger. Nonetheless, she was worried about the kids. She forgot to bring food with them due to the rush. The kids must be starving…
Oliver sat up straight and responded, “No!”
Arissa put on a sad expression.
“You must be tired too, Mommy. We can shower after eating. After all, there’s no need to rush now,” added Oliver in an attempt to console their mother.
Arissa ruffled their hair and urged, “Drink more water, then! It will make you feel better.”
The kids remained indifferent as they already had too much water. Instead, they whined, “Come back soon, Mr. Hinton…”
Chapter 186 Must Be Starving
After waiting for a long time, Bradley finally returned.
Initially, he had brought a couple of men along with him. However, traveling in a large group was far too eye-catching. Hence, Bradley tasked them with roaming the town and informing him if they spotted anything suspicious.
“Mr. Hinton is back!” Gavin exclaimed in joy upon noticing the shining headlights of the car through the window.
“It’s Mr. Hinton!”
The other kids were thrilled too.
Arissa got up with a smile plastered on her face.
“Finally, you are back! We almost starved to death, Bradley!”
Bradley explained apologetically, “One of the car tires punctured on my way back. Hence, I got stalled.”
He quickly grabbed the food from the car.
“Let’s eat first and leave everything for later.”
Arissa took some of the food and hurried into the house.
Bradley placed the food on the table. After washing his hands, he joined them for dinner.
The kids were gobbling up the food, except for Gavin. Still, he ate faster than usual.
“Slow down!” Arissa chastised as she was worried the kids might choke if they gobble up their food too quickly.
Jasper teased, “How could you say that, Mommy? You’re eating really quickly too!”
He was finally feeling energized after eating a hearty meal.
“I’m an adult, whereas you’re all kids! It’s different,” protested Arissa as she took another bite of her food.
“This tastes really good!” exclaimed Gavin as he took another slice of pizza.
Amused by his reaction, Zachary commented, “Of course! Pizzas are the best!”
“Pizza?” Gavin stared at him in confusion. Then, he turned to look at Arissa. “Are all of these pizzas?”
Arissa grinned. “Yes. These are pizzas of different flavors. Each of them tastes great!”
This was Gavin’s first time having pizza.
“I’m glad that you liked it. Don’t worry. I bought lots of them, and I also got us some pasta!”
Bradley got up to serve them the pasta. At that point, he had already finished several slices of pizzas as he was starving as well.
Anything would taste exceptionally delicious when one was hungry. Furthermore, it was hard for pizza and pasta to not taste good. Hence, Arissa and the kids could not stop complimenting the food as they ate.
Half an hour later, the group was stuffed after finishing up their scrumptious dinner. They were all satiated and reluctant to move. Hence, all of them remained on their seats, leaving the table as it was.
Arissa glanced at Bradley and the kids. “What a hungry day, isn’t it?”
Bradley chimed in, “No doubt! Luckily we were able to escape. Otherwise, we would be famished!”
Jasper patted his tummy and said happily, “This is the hungriest day of my life, Mommy!”
Amused, Arissa chuckled and turned to Gavin. “How about you, Gavin?”
Gavin nodded.
Indeed, it was his first time to experience such hunger. In the past, Danna would often leave him without food, but the longest he had gone hungry was half a day.
“I can still handle the hunger!”
The corners of Zachary’s mouth quirked upward. “Then, why did you eat so much just now?”
Gavin retorted, “You guys were eating, so I ate too. Wouldn’t it be weird if I just watched?”
Arissa watched the two bicker in amusement. Gavin has become so lively now.
“Mommy, I want to watch cartoons!”
Jesse grabbed her hand and gazed into her eyes.
Bradley suggested, “Which cartoon do you want to watch? I’ll play it for you.”
He got up and turned on the television, intending to play the kids some cartoons. Coincidentally, the news channel popped up almost instantly, and they were reporting about the kidnapping incident.
Arissa and the kids were utterly speechless.
Zachary scoffed angrily, “It’s going to be much more difficult for us to hide now. All thanks to Benjamin! He’s so cunning!”
Earlier, Gavin had taken a look at the location of the farmhouse and realized it was a strategic hiding spot. Only keen eyes would be able to notice the house. “He will never find us as long as we stay indoors!” he consoled.
Chapter 187 At Least Ten Billion
Oliver pouted in disagreement. “We can’t stay here forever. There are still a lot of things to be done!”
I want to earn lots and lots of money…
Jasper commented with a grin on his face, “We shall hide for some time and get out when Benjamin stops the search!”
Oliver flicked Jasper on the forehead and retorted, “Are you nuts? Benjamin already knows of your existence. There’s no way he’s going to give up now!”
Jasper ran out of words. Instead of arguing, he rubbed his head and approached Arissa. “Mommy! Did you see that? He hit me!”
Arissa chuckled. “You should fight back!”
Upon hearing that, Jasper backed down. Now that Oliver is in charge of the finances, that’s not a good idea. What can I do? Hmph! I will just let it go!
While wearing a pout, Jesse added, “I shouldn’t have wanted to turn on the television. What a party pooper!”
Everyone was amused by her reaction.
Gavin chimed in, “Indeed! Party pooper!” He never expected Benjamin to take such measures.
What a bad guy! How could he? Mommy will be accused as a human trafficker!
Bradley quipped, “Boss, do you think Benjamin will give me ten million if I turn all of you in?”
As soon as the words left his lips, the kids glared daggers at him. “Mr. Hinton, that isn’t the right thing to do! We had a hard time escaping!”
Zachary narrowed his eyes and gave the older man a sharp stare. “Are you willing to sell us out for only ten million?”
At that moment, he looked like Benjamin.
Bradley was amused. “I was joking!”
Jasper commented, “Mr. Hinton, I’m absolutely sure that you won’t get the money if you turn us in. Moreover, you’ll be blacklisted by Daddy!”
Oliver adjusted his spectacles and nodded. “That’s right. He might even give you a beating!”
Bradley was shocked. “Seriously?”
A gentle smile appeared across Arissa’s face as she watched the banter unfold. She then added, “Don’t you think turning us in for ten million is a loss? At this point, I’m pretty sure Benjamin knows about Oliver and Jesse as well. There’s no way five children are only worth ten million.”
Bradley’s eyes instantly lit up. “It should be at least fifty million!”
Arissa’s grin widened as she remarked, “No. At the very least, five hundred million.”
If Benjamin had offered five hundred million, she might even consider turning in the kids herself.
The kids rolled their eyes.
Are the adults currently discussing our value?
Oliver was the first to object. “Mommy, do you think we’re only worth five hundred million? How disappointing!”
We’ll definitely be able to earn way more than that sum in the future.
“That’s right, Mommy. Your expectation for us is too low! Do you really think five hundred million is a lot of money?”
Zachary’s expression turned sullen. In fact, we have more money saved up, but Mommy doesn’t know about that. Maybe that’s why she assumed five hundred million is a huge amount.
“Mommy, I have five hundred million in my bank account. You should request for ten billion instead!”
Gavin’s words caught everyone off guard, and the others turned to look at him in astonishment.
Bradley was dumbfounded. “Did you just say you have five h-hundred million?”
Gavin nodded indifferently.
Noticing Arissa’s shocked expression, he explained, “That’s the money that I have saved up so far!”
Even if Daddy wanted to, he can’t do anything to the money.
Arissa was amazed. “Sweetheart, it looks like I’ll be depending on you from now on. You’re amazing!” With that amount of money, I won’t have to worry about a single day of my life after taking revenge.
Gavin beamed and nodded. “Sure. You can count on me, Mommy!” he replied in a serious tone.
As for the four other kids, they were overwhelmed, staring at one another.
Apparently, they were stunned by the news.
Although Jesse might not know how great the sum was, Zachary, Oliver, and Jasper understood its value.
They were well aware that they would have to work hard for a long, long time to be able to have that much money.
Chapter 188 When Will Benjamin Find Us
“Hmm! Do you think Benjamin will offer a bounty of ten billion?”
Zachary glanced at Gavin.
“I don’t know!” Gavin replied truthfully.
The four children were speechless.
Arissa smiled. “All right, let’s not talk about this. Take a shower and get to bed.”
They would be staying here for a while.
Whether or not they go back depended on what Benjamin would do.
If he wanted to take the children away from Arissa, she would rather raise them alone.
The children meant everything to her. No amount of money would make her surrender them.
Bradley rose to clean the table.
The children joined in.
Arissa did not intend to stop them. When they were done, she said to Bradley, “You’ve worked hard today. Have a shower and rest up!”
“You too, Boss. I have given my men their assignments. Benjamin won’t track us down anytime soon. When he gets here, my men will inform us at once,” Bradley told Arissa.
Arissa nodded. Then, she took the kids up for their shower.
Jesse showered in her bedroom.
After that, the other four joined her in her room.
“Mommy, can we sleep with you tonight?” Gavin asked.
“Sure! I’m going to take a shower first.”
Arissa hugged and kissed the children before heading toward the bathroom.
She watched the five children have fun on the bed before closing the bathroom door.
“Benjamin is in Lightspring now! Haha!”
Zachary giggled when he managed to locate Benjamin.
The man must be furious to have lost them.
“We can’t let him find us because he’s in cahoots with Danna!” Jesse snapped.
She no longer trusted Benjamin.
Jasper patted his sister’s head. “Is Benjamin the one behind Danna’s arrest?”
“That’s possible!”
Oliver nodded in agreement. “After all, Mommy hasn’t done anything yet. Furthermore, it’s hard to believe that the man and the woman would surrender.”
Zachary turned his attention to Gavin, who was in deep thought.
Zachary then gave the boy a nudge. “You’re awfully quiet.”
Gavin glanced at Zachary. He looked troubled.
“Daddy cares so much about Danna, so why would he let the police arrest her? Why had he changed so much in such a short time? Is it possible that he’s not the one behind this?” he voiced his concerns.
“That’s possible!” The four children glanced at him.
Jesse came over to sit next to him and gave him a hug.
“Cheer up, Gavin. You have us, and you have Mommy too. We’re not going anywhere.”
Jesse’s sweet and mellow voice was so soothing that it calmed Gavin down.
“Okay!” Gavin’s doubts instantly dissipated.
“She’s right! We’ll stay with you forever!”
Jasper patted his head.
Gavin didn’t like that. He frowned, releasing a fierce aura.
Jasper immediately retracted his hand and smiled cheekily. “It’s just a pat!”
“How rude!” Oliver mocked.
“What did you say?” Jasper huffed.
Zachary smiled at them. “Say, how long do you think it will take Benjamin to find us?”
Gavin shot him a glance and uttered calmly, “Don’t underestimate him. As long as we remain in the country, it won’t take long before he finds out where we are. So, we have to be careful!”
“No way! Is he that good? We’re hiding in the middle of nowhere. Do you think he can find us so soon?”
Jasper frowned in disbelief.
“Our disappearance is all over the news. The locals are going to recognize us sooner or later,” Gavin explained.
Chapter 189 Not His Biological Mother
The four children agreed that Gavin had a point.
“What should we do?” Jesse muttered and turned her attention toward the other four.
It took them a long while before they managed to escape Benjamin’s clutches. She was worried that the man wouldn’t be kind to them once he found them.
“Don’t worry. At least he won’t find us in a while!” Gavin’s lips curved into a smile.
“We already know that!” Zachary hissed at him.
Arissa stepped out of her shower to find that her five children were still wide awake.
“Why aren’t you asleep yet? Aren’t you sleepy?”
When they heard their mother, the children turned toward her and grinned. “We’re waiting for you!”
Arissa smiled at the quintuplets.
“Give me a minute!”
She spent some time cleaning up the place, and went to bed soon after that. The rest could wait.
“Good night, everyone!”
She hugged her children and kissed them on their cheeks.
“Good night, Mommy!”
The children returned Arissa’s kisses, and went to bed as well.
It did not take long before they fell asleep. After all, it had been a long and tiring day.
Meanwhile, in Lightspring, a man stood before a window as he stared at the night sky in the distance.
His eyes were dark, and he exuded a cold aura from head to toe.
Ethen came up to him from behind and reported, “We’ve lost contact with Ms. York and the children after they disappeared from Lightspring. I’ve arranged for my men to track them in all four directions.”
He gulped as he observed the towering figure. He did not dare to speak out of line.
He had been excited when he found out he had actually fathered five children, but Arissa suddenly ran away with Gavin.
Benjamin broke the silence with his cold voice. “Any news from the police?”
Ethen tensed. Instinctively, he straightened his back and replied, “No. Not yet.”
Ethen glanced at Benjamin, who was practically purple with rage, and uttered, “Their disappearance was on the news just now. Once they show up in public, I’m sure we’ll get updates from our informants!”
Benjamin’s eyes flickered when he heard that, but he still had other things on his mind.
After some time, he uttered, “I want no harm to come to them. Assure their safety!”
“Sure!” Ethen replied with a nod. That was needless to say.
Then, Benjamin turned and headed toward the door. Stunned, Ethen followed suit.
“Mr. Graham, where are you going at this hour?”
“Back to Dellmoor!” Benjamin replied shortly, confusing Ethen even more.
“Are we giving up the search?”
“Increase the bounty!”
Ethen’s eyes shot wide. He probed, “How much?”
For him, ten million was more than enough.
“One hundred million!” Benjamin’s lips trembled.
He was sure that the woman would not be able to hide forever.
Ethen blinked and pushed his glasses up. That’s rather excessive, isn’t it?
Just then, Benjamin’s phone rang.
It was a call from the Graham family.
An old man’s voice rang out from the other end of the line. “Benjamin, where are you? Come back now!”
It was Darius Graham, Benjamin’s father.
“What’s the matter?” Benjamin replied calmly.
Darius took a while to suppress his anger before he spoke. “The Adams family is here!”
“Just send them away,” Benjamin replied coldly.
“What’s going on? They said you’ve had Danna arrested?” Darius demanded an answer.
“That’s right,” Benjamin confessed.
Darius was shocked to hear that. “Oh, dear! What happened between you two? Release her at once!”
“That’s impossible,” Benjamin replied curtly.
“Are you trying to piss me off? No matter what happens between you two, she’s still Gavin’s mother! What will happen to Gavin if she’s in jail?”
“She’s not Gavin’s biological mother.”
With that said, Benjamin ended the call and headed to Dellmoor.
Chapter 190 Darius Is Infuriated
The Graham family erupted into chaos.
Darius could not believe his ears. He thought he might have been hearing things.
He called Benjamin again.
“Dad.”
Darius did not like the sound of Benjamin’s rude tone, but he decided to let it slide for now.
“What did you say? Danna is not Gavin’s biological mother?”
“That’s right,” Benjamin replied flatly.
“How is that possible?”
Darius was confused.
“Watch the news. You’ll get your answers there.”
Just like that, Benjamin ended the call again.
In truth, Darius had just returned from the village. He had not caught up with the news. The Adams family had arrived the minute he returned. He had absolutely no knowledge of what had happened when he was away.
“Turn on the news. Quick!”
He urged Edwin to switch on the television. At the same time, he scrolled through the news on his phone.
“Attention to all viewers. Kindly contact the number below or the local police should you have any information about their whereabouts. The reward is one hundred million.”
Darius and Edwin were shocked.
“What’s going on? Is Gavin missing? What are you waiting for? Call him!”
Darius felt rage rising within him.
He failed to take note that the news was talking about five children, not just Gavin, but he had gotten worried when he caught sight of Gavin’s picture.
Frowning, Edwin tried to call Gavin. “Old Mr. Graham, I can’t reach him!”
Darius slapped his thighs in annoyance. “Why didn’t that b*stard inform me about his son’s disappearance? He’s such a horrible father!”
“Don’t worry, Old Mr. Graham. I’m sure Mr. Graham has ordered a search party.”
Edwin quickly comforted the old man.
Darius’ face grew dark as his anger simmered. He scrolled through his phone some more before finally landing on a news article.
As he read the content, he nearly smashed his phone onto the floor.
“Old Mr. Graham, what’s in the news?”
Edwin noticed that the old man had gotten even more furious.
“See for yourself. That b*tch! How dare she do that to my grandson!”
Darius passed his phone to Edwin before he exited the study, supported by his walking cane. The Adams family had not left.
Zayden and Vivian got to their feet the moment they saw Darius.
“Mr. Graham, what did Benjamin say?”
The couple was frowning, looking troubled. After all, Benjamin had suddenly arrested their daughter, and they couldn’t bail her out.
It took some time, but they eventually found out that it was Benjamin who ratted Danna out. They tried to contact him, but the man would not answer their calls. Hence, they could only beg Darius for mercy.
Darius shot the couple a cold gaze as he stood there. His walking cane supported his weight.
“Please leave, and don’t come back.”
The Adams exchanged glances before Vivian spoke up, ridden with anxiety.
“Mr. Graham, we are out of options. We can’t get in touch with Benjamin. Youngsters these days are so mean. They shouldn’t have made such a fuss. It will be bad if the public finds out about Danna’s imprisonment.”
Darius chuckled. “Benjamin may be mean, but he’s nothing compared to your daughter!”
The couple’s faces fell. They worried that Darius might have gotten wind of the truth.
Darius gave the two a deadly stare as he exuded a terrifying aura.
He knew what they were thinking.
The two had come begging, taking advantage of the possibility that he knew nothing about the case.
Darius would have felt sorry for Danna, but that time had passed.
“Your daughter mistreated my grandson! How dare she! I suppose she didn’t have what it takes to love him because she’s not his biological mother. What on earth do you take us for?”
Zayden’s face instantly paled. Does he know?
“What are you saying, Mr. Graham? Danna is not that kind of person. Of course she’s Gavin’s biological mother!”
Vivian continued to play innocent, insisting that their daughter had not done anything wrong.
“Do I look stupid to you? Do you take me for a senile, old man?” Darius retorted.