Chapter 662 Julian's Revenge: He Has Never Been This Ruthless 1
At four o'clock, Taylor left work early.
She told Molly she would be taking two days off.
Molly smiled warmly. "Dr. Montague, you've earned it. You work nonstop — you barely have any time for yourself."
Taylor gave a faint smile, changed out of her uniform, and headed downstairs to her black Bentley.
Julian was still in a meeting, so she didn't call him. Instead, she drove straight to Luna's private kindergarten — one of the most prestigious in the city, with every amenity money could buy.
The weather was perfect. The late afternoon sun spilled gold across the streets.
Half an hour later, Taylor parked outside the school and sent a message through Facebook to Luna's teacher, asking if she could bring Luna to the gate. If not, Taylor would come in to get her.
Thirty seconds later, her phone rang. The teacher's voice carried a note of confusion. "Dr. Montague, Luna's mother already picked her up."
Taylor froze. Cressida?
Her voice sharpened. "Ms. Lawson is neither on Luna's contact list nor her legal guardian. Without Mr. Learmond's consent, why would you release Luna to her?"
The teacher hesitated. "Ms. Lawson brought a birth certificate."
Taylor closed her eyes for a moment in the driver's seat.
She could already guess Cressida's game. Like Zenobia, she would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. Whether Luna might be hurt had never once crossed her mind.
Taylor didn't waste time. She didn't even consult Julian first. She dialed a number. After a few rings, a warm, paternal voice answered. "Taylor. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Her tone was tight. "I need your help. Urgently."
The man's voice shifted instantly to business. "Tell me."
By the time Taylor hung up, every DNA testing facility in Evergreen City had been quietly shut down. An online search confirmed Cressida's location — a private clinic.
Inside GeneTech Analysis Lab, Cressida had already filled out the paperwork and was about to have Luna swabbed.
Then everything stopped.
Holding Luna close, Cressida demanded to know why the staff refused to proceed.
The technician, already briefed, kept his tone polite but firm. "I'm sorry, Ms. Lawson. The city's medical systems have gone down. We can't run any tests today."
Cressida didn't believe him and asked for the director.
The director, a seasoned man with decades in the field, happened to be a former student of the person Taylor had called. When he saw Cressida, he stalled further, even taking Luna into his arms and speaking to her gently.
Luna's eyes filled with tears. "She's not my mommy."
The director glanced at Cressida, his gaze sharp.
Cressida quickly produced the birth certificate. "She's my biological daughter, but she wasn't raised by me. She doesn't recognize me yet."
The director gave a dry chuckle. He checked his watch. "We close in half an hour. If the system comes back online, we'll do the test right away. Save you another trip."
His cooperative tone lulled Cressida into lowering her guard. She thought her reputation — and perhaps her looks — had swayed him.
While Cressida waited, Taylor had already called Julian and was on her way. By chance, they arrived at the clinic at the same time.
Without wasting words, they headed straight upstairs. They knew exactly where to find Luna.
She was pressed against the director's side, looking small and frightened, refusing to go near Cressida.
Cressida removed her sunglasses. The gesture was meant to be disarming, but with her expression, she looked more like a predator sizing up prey.
"Luna," she said.
Julian's voice cut in. "Luna."
The little girl turned at once. The moment she saw him, her big eyes brimmed with tears. They spilled over in fat drops as she ran to him, throwing herself into his arms and sobbing.
Julian rarely showed vulnerability, but now he held her tightly, as if afraid she might vanish again. Relief and fury warred in his chest.
Luna's cries softened, but she didn't let go. Taylor watched quietly, understanding more than she could say. She had never had a child, but she knew what it was to fear losing something small and precious.
When Luna finally looked up, she reached for Taylor. Taylor gathered her in without hesitation, and Luna clung to her like she would never let go.
Julian smoothed a hand over his daughter's hair, then lifted his gaze to Cressida. Whatever warmth had been there before was gone. His eyes were ice.