Chapter 998
With a soft coo that sounded like a "boom," just like Henry's chubby, adorable face, the sweetness was undeniable, much like the relationship between his parents at the moment-ready to explode. Mia was taken aback, cradling her little bundle of joy as he uttered a new word, "boom," and seemed to grasp that putting big Isaac together would result in a "boom"!
Anya turned into an adoring fan, gazing at the baby with hearts in her eyes.
"Who taught you "boom'? And even 'double boom'?" Mia playfully tapped her son's bottom and then had a lightbulb moment, "Henry! You're bunking with your grandpa tonight; you're picking up bad habits." Grandpa Hansen...Exclusive © material by Nô(/v)elDrama.Org.
The old man couldn't shake his gaming addiction.
At night, cuddling his grandson, Henry, Hansen would play card games on his smartphone, and over time, everyone underestimated the little boy's memory and learning skills. Spending so much time together, they both knew that tossing out two matching cards of different colors would trigger a "boom" sound from the phone.
Molly grinned, "Mia, maybe Henry shouldn't be sleeping over with Dad. With Dad's kind of mentoring, 'the apprentice' could either end up a card shark or a gambling addict. Henry's already showing promise at just one year old."
Anya curiously asked, "Auntie, do you think the baby could really become a card shark?"
Her daughter quipped back, "Anya, have you ever seen a 'gambler' raise a card shark?"
For the sake of the future and to instill good values, the three of them were firmly against all gambling.
Mia conceded, "Let's switch to a different game."
But Henry was keen on playing; even in his grandpa's arms, he'd help him tap "bombs" on the smartphone screen.
"Mommy Mommy," Henry whined in Mia's arms, wanting to join in.
Mia kissed her son, "Sweetheart, it's bedtime for you."
Outside, the sound of waves gently lapping against the shore was soothing, yet no one was asleep. Instead, the trio was busy taking selfies, striking various poses.
In the parking lot, three men sat.
Andre rhythmically tapped on his phone, a titan of the business world, now in a fix for upsetting his wife so much that she took their child and left. If he organized a big search, it might undermine his authority, as everyone knew his family was his Achilles' heel. Chad hesitated too. The head of the national economic investigation team had his wife disappear, and normally, he'd have to explain, "Why did Mrs. Su leave home?"
There had to be a reason. What would Chad say? That he skedaddled first because she was mad at him for not helping with her homework?
Even thinking about it made him feel embarrassed.
Leo was the most frustrated, "Uncle, great-uncle, you two have the clout, can't you pull some strings? I've hit a dead end. I don't even know how those three women managed to fly under the radar-no flight or hotel check-ins, no transactions.
In the middle of the night, with one pregnant, one young, and Mia all by herself, uncle, doesn't that worry you? Jade driving recklessly, great-uncle, aren't you concerned? You two aren't panicking, but I'm worried about my naive family getting duped." Andre dialed a rarely used number on his phone, but then a car's headlights flashed toward them, and the car sped off.
"License plate!" Andre suddenly realized.
Leo and Chad had an epiphany. Such a simple clue, yet their fixed mindsets had blinded them. Despite their intelligence, they'd been outsmarted by their own overthinking. One of them was even a police officer, and Chad found it hard to believe.
His usual tracking skills hadn't even come to mind because they all believed the women didn't want to be found, hiding away. Such an obvious clue, nearly overlooked.
Leo turned on his computer, "Should
we check the surveillance cameras in the parking lot tonight?" It would be a long night. The car's tracker had been disabled, probably by Molly.
Chad suggested, "Leo, check the traffic violations through the internal network; it'll be faster."
Speed cameras would have caught the car.
Chad added, "Molly drives wildly but follows traffic laws." His driving points for the year weren't enough to cover Molly's fines.
Leo looked at the computer screen, "Wow, really knows her. Ms. Anya is bold, daring to ride with her driving."
Chad had to defend his wife, "Molly might rack up fines and points, but she's not reckless, she follows traffic rules."
Andre used the traffic violation data to trace their direction.
"That area is all wealthy neighborhoods. Let's go, Mia wouldn't let them stay in a dangerous area." Andre turned off his phone, and Chad drove off into the night to find his wife.
The three women were under the covers, searching for a movie for over half an hour.
Henry, holding his milk bottle, cuddled quietly in his mom's arms, not wanting to disturb. "Mommy-"
"Alright, let's sleep. Tomorrow, mommy will take you out to play," Mia whispered, kissing her little bundle of joy. Anya was searching, and Molly was swiping through her phone.
The seaside night was clear, with the moon hanging like a gleaming disc, casting its light on the ink-dark sea.
The tranquil night, with the sea breeze blowing, was comfortably free.
"Auntie, do you like watching 'Boonie Bears'?" Anya suddenly asked.
Suddenly, Henry, who was halfway through his milk, sat up in his mom's arms, "Mommy, rrrrr, sizzle."
None understood Henry's baby talk, but Mia translated, "The 'sizzle' is the sound of Logger Vick's chainsaw."
The "Boonie Bears" were then projected on the screen, and the three men finally arrived at the location indicated by the car.
Since the vehicle hadn't entered a parking lot, there was no record of it, but Chad quickly spotted Molly's improperly parked sports car. Chad pointed at the car, signaling to the others.
Their hearts finally settled.
But usually, when a car is driven up
to the entrance of a hotel like that, the doormen come out to stop it. Why was this hotel so
accommodating?
Andre turned around, glancing at the name tag and understood. "I am the son-in-law of the owner of this hotel."
Chad and Leo both turned their heads, looking at the dominant figure who claimed himself as the son-in-law.
"No wonder they didn't have any check-in information." Leo had a moment of realization. "Ms. Anya must have been led astray by them." Entering the hotel.
There was another challenge ahead.
"Which room is your lady boss, Mia, staying in?" Andre asked.