Aurelia leaned forward, her eyes locked on Shawn's with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"His daughter claims he went back home, but he never left Elysium. And now, he's just vanished into thin air. Doesn't that strike you as odd?"
She paused for a moment, then continued, "If it were a kidnapping, why is Ramona unscathed? Normally, they would kidnap the child to extort the parents, not the other way around, right?"
Leopold's eyes narrowed slightly, reflecting the light in a mysterious glimmer that seemed to delve into the unknown.
"It all depends on what the kidnapper's after," he mused.
A chill ran down Aurelia's spine as an ominous premonition began to spread quietly through her thoughts.
"I'll talk to his daughter on Monday, and see if I can get a read on her."
The next day at noon, Aurelia made her way to the prestigious Pinnacle Ivy League School.
She booked a private dining room at the school's Western-style bistro.
Soon after, Skyler arrived with the kids in tow.
Aurelia gave Skyler a playful smile as he entered, "Skyler, you look handsome in a suit."
William chuckled, "Skyler's officially the coolest teacher at our school."
Ramona nodded in agreement, "Yeah, Skyler is the number one heartthrob at Pinnacle Ivy League."
Aurelia poured Ramona a glass of juice, "You know, Ramona, your dad and Leopold were classmates. Just the other day, he sent a message to Leopold, asking us to take good care of you."
At this, Ramona's eyes widened with urgency, "My dad messaged Leopold? When was this?"
Aurelia kept her tone casual, "Just a few days ago. I can't recall the exact time, but I heard it from Leopold himself. That's why I'm here today, to treat you all to a meal."
Ramona bit her lip, "But didn't you say your family has a powerful enemy?"
William replied confidently, "They've never been able to stand against us. They resort to dirty tricks because they always get beaten badly. But their days are numbered. Once Uncle Leopold is out of the hospital, he'll wipe them out."
Aurelia observed Ramona's expressions closely throughout the conversation.
She was now certain something had indeed happened to Shawn and his wife.
"If you kids ever run into trouble, seek help immediately. Don't be afraid. The bad guys are often paper tigers. You stand up to them, and they'll back down," she encouraged.
Wrapping an arm around William, she added, "You four are friends now, right? Friends help each other out. If anything goes wrong, go straight to the adults for help."
Skyler beat his chest confidently, "If anyone messes with you, give me a shout. I'll handle it."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The CEO’S Unplanned Heir novel (Aurelia and Leopold)