Celia was hesitant, but the child's crying interrupted her suspicions. "Hurry up, then. I left the apartment in a rush just now, so I didn't bring his milk bottle and diapers with me. I suppose he's hungry now."
Raymond replied with a smile, "Sure."
Around 30 minutes later, the black sedan car drove past a door carved with floral patterns. As Celia looked around the unfamiliar place, she couldn't help but grab Raymond's sleeve. "Is Miss McKinney really waiting for us here? I don't think—"
"Don't worry. We'll arrive shortly."
Soon, the car moved past a garden and pulled up in front of a building. When Celia looked out of the window and saw those unfamiliar and stern faces, the uneasiness in her heart expanded.
Before she could say anything, the car door was opened from outside. A man stepped forward in an attempt to take the child from Celia. Naturally, she wouldn't let the child go. "Who are you? What are you trying to do?"
Just then, Raymond was heard speaking from the driver's seat, but unlike his usually gentle demeanor, he sounded cold at this moment. "You'd better give him the child, Celia. Otherwise, you'll get hurt."
Flabbergasted and infuriated, Celia turned to him. "Are you part of them? You…"
Knowing that it was useless to say such things, she turned to the man who was trying to snatch the child. "Do you know whose child it is? If he finds out what you've done, he won't let you off! If you're after money, I'll contact him. I'm sure he'll give you the money. You mustn't hurt the child."
Just then, a walking stick was heard clicking on the ground in the darkness. Before Celia could react, Gordon's figure came into her sight as he sneered. "Although Aidan is powerful, he can't do whatever he wants."
Celia was startled the moment she saw the older man. "Old Mr. Pearson?"
"I'm glad you know who I am. Then, I don't have to waste my time introducing myself to you."
Then, Gordon signaled for his subordinate to snatch the child away while Celia was in a dazed state. She regained her senses at once and tried to get the child back, but she was soon held down.
Without sparing her a glance, Gordon looked at the child and ordered, "Lock them up together."
The subordinate nodded and knocked Celia out before dragging her into the building. Another person opened the car door and lugged Naomi out of the backseat.
Seeing that the child never stopped crying, Gordon beckoned to the two nannies. "Bring him inside and find out why he's crying. It's the middle of the night now. Get him to stop, or other people might discover him."
Both of them replied simultaneously, "Yes."
One of the nannies took the child and walked past the building where Celia and Naomi were confined before moving further away.
While clutching his walking stick, Gordon pocketed his gaze and turned to Raymond, who had gotten out of the car. "Alright, you may go back now. Don't let Aidan discover anything. I'll transfer the money to you soon."
Raymond replied with a smile, "Thanks, Old Mr. Pearson."
Not willing to speak to him any further, Gordon waved his hand and motioned for him to leave. Raymond looked in the direction where the nanny had taken the child and squinted before leaving.
After he was gone, a subordinate went over and said, "Old Mr, Pearson, if we place them here, Young Master Justin might discover them. Why don't we lock them up in a different place?"
Gordon replied grimly, "Justin hasn't been to this place for years. He doesn't usually go beyond the garden, so there's nothing to worry about. Sienna is my only concern now."
"She…"
"She has been looking for Naomi for a long time, and she's a little disturbed now. If she finds out that Naomi is here, she might do some irrational things and derail my plan." After a pause, Gordon continued, "Keep guard at this place for several days. No one can go in without my permission."
"Yes."
When Gordan was done speaking, he shuffled toward the main building with the walking stick's help. The Pearson Family Estate was huge, so it wasn't hard for him to hide a person or two.
Inside the building, Celia and Naomi were locked up together. When Celia awakened, she felt soreness in her neck. The moment she saw Naomi lying on the bed, she pushed her repeatedly. "Please wake up, Ms. Fletcher!"
Naomi had passed out because Raymond used a drug on her. As Celia called out repeatedly, Naomi slowly opened her eyes. While enduring a headache, she asked, "Where are we?"
"We… We…" Celia replied chokingly, unable to finish her sentence.
Naomi looked around and came to her senses abruptly. "Where's the child?"
Celia fell on her bottom and bawled her eyes out. "They took the child away. I'm so sorry, Ms. Fletcher. It's my fault. If not for me, all of this wouldn't have happened."
Naomi frowned. "What's going on? Calm down and tell me about it."
Celia then related the story to her and said sorrowfully, "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have trusted him. If I never followed him, we wouldn't have…"
Naomi closed her eyes. "Alright, there's no use crying now. Moreover, according to what you've told me, your so-called boyfriend and the Pearsons are well-prepared. You've been used."
"I… I… What about the child, Ms. Fletcher? Will they hurt him?"
Naomi's expression turned gloomy in an instant. "Since it's the Pearsons' doing, I know what their intention is. The child is safe for now."
Celia wiped her tears with her hands. "Don't worry, Ms. Fletcher. I'll try to break free from this place and ask President Pearson to save you."
Naomi let out a sigh without uttering a word.
…
It was 3.00AM when Leanna woke up. As she sat up in bed, she realized that her throat was sore and her back was soaked in sweat. She then recalled that she had a nightmare earlier.
The fire 20 years ago seemed to have been mixed up with the fire incident at the apartment in her dream. She could see that the sky had been dyed red. Moreover, she could vaguely hear a baby crying amidst the fire.
She lifted the quilt and went downstairs to pour herself a cup of water. Then, she headed upstairs and returned to her room. While lying on the bed, she realized she couldn't fall back asleep.
At this moment, she felt hollow and apprehensive. Perhaps it had something to do with the nightmare. She picked up her phone from the bedside table and wanted to send Aidan a message to ask him how he was doing, but she decided to delete the message in the end. I'd better not disturb him.
She put down the phone and closed her eyes, forcing herself to fall asleep. She had been staying in the hospital for the past few days. Although Freddie would take care of the Crossley Group, there were still some matters she had to handle herself. Moreover, they still hadn't managed to deal with the problems Jimmy left behind. We have to settle those issues as quickly as possible.
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