Charles’ POV:
Once we were at the airport, I escorted Scarlett to the security checkpoint, but I was reluctant to let her.
She let out a sigh when she realized I didn't want to let go of her hand.
"Charles, if I don't go in now, I'm going to miss the flight."
"But, I don't want you to leave," I replied, embracing her.
"We're only going to be apart for a day."
Scarlett wrapped her arms around my neck and pecked my lips.
In response, I cupped her cheeks and kissed her.
At long last, I reluctantly let Scarlett go and watched her walk into the security checkpoint.
It wasn't until she disappeared from my sight that I withdrew my gaze and turned to Richard and Janet
as they stood beside me.
"Why are you two here?"
"She did ask us to keep an eye on Rita's movements," said Richard.
After a brief moment of hesitation, he asked, "Shall we go to the company now, sir?"
I shook my head and walked aside towards the big LED screen, staring at Scarlett’s fright
information.About ten minutes later, the info on the LED screen displayed that the flight to New York
had taken off.I sighed and walked towards the airport's exit.
People were coming and going around me, and most of them walked in groups.I saw many men and
women embracing each other.
The smiles on their faces were beautifully sincere.
Somehow, it made me feel like my heart was melting.Soon, I stopped at the exit.
"Is something the matter?" Richard asked as he walked up to me.
I chuckled at his question, staring back at him.
"Book the next flight to New York for me."
At first, Richard was surprised by my command, but he quickly gathered his composure.
"Yes, sir!"
Right after that, I called Amy and told her to cancel my schedule for the next few days.
Scarlett's POV:
After getting off the plane, Tracy and I went straight to the hospital.We noticed that the security checks
at the entrance of the hospital were particularly strict.They required everyone to show their ID.
"What do you think happened?"
I murmured.
I had a bad feeling about this.
Tracy appeared to be serious.
"Generally speaking, hospitals don't usually set up security checks that strict.Unless..."
We exchanged glances, and rushed to James' ward after going through the security checks.
But upon our arrival, we saw that the ward was empty, and only a nurse cleaning up the bed was left.I
grabbed my wrist to prevent myself from trembling.
"Excuse me, was the patient here a boy? Where is he right now?"
Stunned, the nurse looked at me vigilantly.
"And you are...?"
"I'm the mother of that child, Scarlett Moore.His names is James Moore, right?"
"Yes, ma‘am, it is.But he, uh..."
The nurse was hesitant to continue.I strode forward, grabbing her hand.
"What happened to my boy? Please, don't scare me like that." My voice was trembling as I spoke.
Unable to bear it any longer, the nurse replied, "He's missing.We have no idea who took him away.At
the moment, the entire hospital is under martial law, but we haven't heard anything yet."
I staggered backwards, refusing to believe what had happened.
"Scarlett!"
Tracy held me up just in time.
As I held onto her hand, I tried to calm myself down.
"Tracy, call Charles.Now!"
Having heard my command, Tracy frowned and called Charles.
"I can't get through to him.It seems that he's turned off his phone."
After taking a deep breath, I decided to call Alice.
As soon as the call connected, I anxiously asked, "Have you found James?"
After a moment of silence, Alice replied, "We've already contacted the police, but right now, we still
haven't found him.I'm sorry, Scarlett.I was too careless..."
I bit my lower lip, and soon tasted blood.
After comforting Alice, it dawned on me that William was inNew York, too.
Thus, I immediately dialed his number.
"Scarlett? You rarely ever contact me.What's up?"
William sounded surprised.
Right now, I wasn't in the mood to chitchat, so I went straight to the point.
"Sorry about springing this onto you, but could you do me a favor? I need your help to find
James.He's...he's missing."
I began to break into tears.
This time, William sounded serious.
"Tell me what happened, Scarlett.What can I do to help?"
After I told him everything I knew, William agreed to help at once.
I expressed my gratitude and hung up.
Soon, Alice and Lawrence rushed back to the ward.There was a frown on Lawrence's face.
And as soon as Alice saw me, she held me and broke down.
"We'll find James, my dear.We'll get him back safe and sound.Who on earth took our precious little
angel away? Whoever it was, why did they take James away?"
My heart felt like it was being clenched, and I couldn't breathe for a moment.
‘Who would take my little angel away?’
It was then that a particular name came to my mind.And the more I thought about it, the more flustered
I became.
While anxiously waiting for any news, we kept on contacting people to help in the search for James.
When the phone rang, I was over the moon.
However, the name that appeared on the screen was Rita's.
"Why is she calling?" Alice frowned, visibly upset.
My heart was racing at this point.I tried not to think of the worst and just answered the phone.
"Scarlett, are you okay?" Rita teased.
I clenched my phone and gritted my teeth.
"You're the one who did it, didn't you, Rita?"
Right after I said that, I heard her laughing over the phone.
"When did you become so stupid? You didn't figure it out until just now? Do you know how long I've
been waiting for your call? God, I even had to contact you myself!"
Anger rose from the pit of my heart, and it almost burned out my rationality.
"You are a fucking lunatic! If you want your revenge, come at me! Why did you have to involve my
child? He's innocent!"
Suddenly, Lawrence put a hand on my shoulder.He gazed into my eyes and shook his head.
It was then that I realized that Rita was manipulating my emotions, so I took a deep breath and tried to
calm myself down.
Not a minute later, I heard Rita swiping at me with harsh remarks.
It seemed that she was testing my patience.
"Yes, I am crazy.And you're the one who drove me to insanity! Because of you, I lost everything.And
I'm going to make you feel just how horrible it feels to lose your one true love! That seems fair.Am I
right, James?"
I heard a familiar voice on the other end of the line.
"Momma! Momma!"
James was whimpering and he burst into tears.
The sound of his cries over the phone almost shattered my will.
"James!"
At this point, I could no longer compose myself.
"Scarlett, come to the seaside villa in thirty minutes.I'll send you the address.Remember, come here
alone and don't contact the police.Otherwise, I can't guarantee your boy's safety," Rita warned.
After scoffing at me, she hung up the phone ruthlessly.
While I was still dazed and uncertain of what to do, Alice grabbed my hand.
"What's going on? Is James okay? What does that witch, Rita, want? We'll give her whatever she
wants!"
Attempting to comfort her, Lawrence hugged Alice.
"Calm down, honey."
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