Chapter 57: The missing child
Giselle is on the mansion balcony, cherishing the peace she’s found amidst the recent events that unfolded while she was away. It’s been days since the scandal occurred, and the loyal maids and servants have split into two factions: one supporting Lorenzo and the other siding with Chantal. Currently, there are rumors circulating in the mansion that Chantal escaped during the night since no one has seen her. However, Giselle doesn’t believe in these rumors. She knows Chantal well enough to expect that she would depart in a dignified manner, likely bringing her children with her.
Giselle just closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she felt the cold breeze on her face.
“It’s so peaceful that it makes me doubt if it’s real,” Giselle murmured as she looked at the beautiful scenery.
“You should get this place, own it,” Giselle whispered while rubbing her belly.
“Madam Giselle, your visitor is already in the drawing room,” one of the servants politely announced as she opened the door wide.
Giselle just side-glanced at the servant as she walked out towards the balcony to greet her guest, Bryan.
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Bryan is in the drawing room of the mansion, and behind him is a handsome security personnel of the Monteverdes that makes Bryan blush and feel hot.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.
“Hey, you. Mr. Butler, want to have a side hustle?” Bryan flirtatiously said as he took out his business card.
“I know that the Monteverdes pay you well, but I can pay you more,” Bryan said as he licked his lower lip while looking at the security man.
“Oh, boy… Why are you not answering my questions? I can give you what you want-”
“Stop right there, Bryan. Don’t bring your perverted things inside this mansion,” Giselle said as she interrupted Bryan’s plans with the security man.
“Hey, I just want to recruit someone. And maybe this man needs extra income,” Bryan said in defense of himself.
“Your tricks will not work here. These men are highly trained for this family. Their bodies and souls were made to serve the Monteverdes, not you!” Giselle said as she walked towards her seat across from Bryan and sat down.
Giselle made a hand gesture to the people in the room, signaling them to go outside so as not to disturb their meeting. The servants and security immediately followed Giselle, silently leaving the room.
“Any news about that woman?” Giselle asked Bryan as she made herself comfortable in her seat.
“No, there isn’t any news from her. We’ve contacted all her friends and co-workers at the Bingo Center, but no one knows of anyone who might have kidnapped your mother-in-law. They all describe her as kind and believe no one would harm her,” Bryan replied, causing Giselle to wince, unable to believe the woman was kind based on her memories of her as a despicable person.
“Then find someone who was close to her, someone who knows her true personality,” Giselle suggested.
“That will be difficult, Giselle. Everyone around her speaks highly of her. She’s like the Mother Teresa of her community – always volunteering at the church, chatting happily with the kids, and helping organizations that support women facing domestic violence, widows, and teenage pregnancies,” Bryan explained, causing Giselle to raise her eyebrows.
“It seems she’s the Mother Teresa of her community, yet she can’t find the time to visit her own granddaughter? What a two-faced woman,” Giselle commented as she reached for her tea and took a sip.
“Why are you obsessed with searching for your wicked mother-in-law? Are you seeking revenge for what she has done to you?” Bryan asked out of curiosity, which made Giselle giggle.
“Revenge? I don’t need to do bad things to her. Our last meeting was enough to give her a warning to stay away from my child,” Giselle said as she wiped her mouth using a napkin.
“Do you remember the day when I got married to Lucas? You were there, acting like a bridesmaid,” Giselle continued, which made Bryan smile.
“Of course! I remember that day. Gosh, I was the first in the chapel at your request to have a look at the face of your husband, Lucas. I can’t forget that day. Lucas was undeniably gorgeous, and he was kind. He talked to me softly, and that’s the day I met my first love, and my heart was broken,” Bryan said while wiping his fake tears.
“Stop being dramatic. All the handsome men in the world are your first love,” Giselle teased.
“But going back to that day, your mother came to me and said something crazy, that a person would be glad knowing that I would be married to Lucas. That your mother had already fulfilled the wish of that person.”
“Who is that person?”
“I don’t know, but I have a hunch, and Lucas’s mother will be the one to confirm my hunch about the person behind my marriage to Lucas and their family’s involvement,” Giselle said seriously.
“Then?”
“I have a strong feeling that this person was connected to this family,” Giselle added, making Bryan furrow his brow.
“How could that have happened? Are you suggesting that your escape on your father’s side was planned?” Bryan asked.
“I don’t know. But maybe, who knows?” Giselle said as she leaned back in her seat.
Bryan slowly shook his head as he let out a deep breath. After minutes of peaceful time inside the room, Bryan’s phone suddenly rang, causing his right eyebrow to raise.
“Huh?” Bryan said when he saw the number on his phone’s screen.
“The orphanage is calling,” Bryan said to Giselle, getting her attention.
“Quickly, answer it!” Giselle urged as she leaned towards Bryan.
“Yeah…” Bryan said as he immediately answered the call.
“Hello,” Bryan greeted as he stood up from his seat.
“Yes, I am Bryan. Yes, the guardian. Oh, please, I’m Bryan Narcio!” Bryan said in a loud voice, almost shouting, which made Giselle feel nervous because Bryan wasn’t the type of person to lose his temper easily.
“What?! When did that happen?! Wait! I’m going there. I will talk to you in person!” Bryan said as he walked closely to Giselle.
“Giselle, first, I need you to calm down. Think about your situation right now, and I will help you, no matter what happens!”
“What happened, Bryan? What happened to the orphanage?” Giselle asked in a firm voice as she tried to control her emotions at this moment. She was hoping it wasn’t bad news, but based on Bryan’s reaction, something had happened to her daughter Clara.
“Clara is missing, Giselle, same with her grandma. The head of the orphanage said that they both went missing,” Bryan slowly explained to Giselle.
“What?!”
“Giselle, calm down,” Bryan said, trying to comfort his friend when Giselle suddenly lost consciousness.
“GISELLE!” Bryan called out as he caught Giselle in his arms.
“Oh my gosh!” Bryan exclaimed as he carried Giselle and left the room. He forcefully kicked the door open, and as soon as he stepped outside, all the security personnel rushed to help him carry Giselle.
“What happened?” one of the security personnel asked while carrying Giselle.
“She just suddenly collapsed. Oh my gosh! Bring her to the hospital!” Bryan said, panicked, as they rushed Giselle to the hospital.
As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Giselle was quickly admitted. The security personnel are now contacting Xander and Rolando, while Bryan is in the process of getting his personnel to prepare his car, as he intends to personally go to the orphanage.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Bryan mumbled while dialing his assistant’s number. After one ring, his call was answered.
“Hello, bring my car to Rivera Hospital, near Frenx Cafe. I want my car in front of the hospital in 10 minutes!” Bryan said before ending the call.
“Why are they suddenly missing? Did they go somewhere, or was someone kidnapped them? Is it Giselle’s father, or the same people who kidnapped the Wicked Witch?” Bryan whispered to himself, sounding frantic, in the middle of the hospital hallway.
“Clara, I hope you are safe. Giselle will go crazy if something happens to you,” Bryan whispered to himself. After a few minutes, Bryan quickly left the hospital building to wait for his car in front of the hospital. He couldn’t wait inside, as he felt anxious seeing children the same age as Clara.
After 5 minutes, his car finally arrived. He quickly got into his car as he needed to get to the orphanage as quickly as possible. Time was crucial for Bryan right now, as he knew there was a chance that Clara might have been kidnapped by bad people, given how the world operates. Clara was beautiful and innocent, and one look at her, and she would surely grow up to be as beautiful as her mother, Giselle. But he hoped that nothing had happened.
“Gosh, Clara, I hope you’re nearby,” Bryan mumbled as he pressed the accelerator and sped down the highway.