Chapter 57 Finn and Cleo Are Taken Away by Joshua
"I don't know." Cleo pouted and put the photo album back in its place.
"But if not, why would Daddy keep Mommy's photos?" Finn muttered in confusion.
Footsteps sounded from outside, neither too light nor too heavy.
Finn looked toward the door alertly. "Oh no, someone's coming. We need to hide." To avoid leaving any traces, Finn first put Buddy back in its original position.
This study was connected to the adjacent room. Finn and Cleo opened the door and quickly hid in the other room.
The second the door closed, the study's main door opened.
Joshua loosened his tie and sat down at the desk, opened his computer, and started a video conference.
Meanwhile, at the entrance, the security guard saw a car approaching and was about to stop it, but when he saw the cold, ruthless expression on the woman's face inside the car, he immediately opened the gate without a second thought.
This woman was not to be messed with. The gate had just been repaired—better not let her ram through it again.
This time Ava entered the Thomas family estate smoothly.
"Mrs. Thomas?" A servant had just opened the door when Ava happened to walk in. Seeing Ava, she wanted to ask something, but meeting Ava's gaze, she swallowed the rest of her words.
Ava was in a rage. She glanced around the living room. "Where's Joshua?"
Hearing this, the servant immediately pointed upstairs. "Mr. Joshua Thomas is in the study... Wait, Mrs. Ava Thomas, I'll go call..."
"I'll find him myself." Ava coldly dropped this line and was already striding upstairs.
Seeing Ava's expression, the servant didn't know whether she should stop her, but figured she couldn't stop her anyway. Might as well pretend she hadn't seen anything—they couldn't blame her for that. She immediately went about her own business.
Ava was extremely familiar with every room in the Thomas Villa and went straight to Joshua's study door.
At this moment, Ava's heart was burning with rage. She could tolerate everything except taking the children away—that was absolutely unacceptable.
Ava pushed the door open without hesitation.
"Joshua, you're the biggest liar in the world."
When Ava saw Joshua, all her anger exploded.
Joshua shifted his gaze from the computer screen, slightly surprised by Ava's appearance.
He frowned.
The biggest liar in the world?
He glanced at her coolly and said nothing. The air fell silent for a few seconds.
The meeting on the computer continued, and suddenly two low chuckles came through, the voice teasing, "Joshua, sounds like you owe someone big time?"
Joshua looked away and raised his hand, closing the laptop.
"Where did you hide the children?" Ava got straight to the point.
He paused slightly. "What children?"
"You're still playing dumb? Joshua, is this fun for you?"
Joshua's expression darkened suddenly. He didn't understand why Ava had suddenly come to demand the children. "What are you freaking out about now? When did I hide any children?"
Ava took a deep breath, trying to stay calm, her gaze icy as she looked at Joshua.
"You didn't hide the children? Then where are they? The tracking shows Finn and Cleo are right here at your place. Joshua, you're still denying it?"
The coldness in Joshua's eyes deepened.
"I told you, I didn't take the children..." Joshua paused, his eyes shifting slightly, frowning. "You mean the children are missing?"
"Stop playing dumb!" Ava's eyes were red, she was truly frantic, thinking Joshua was deliberately stalling her, which made her even angrier. "Joshua, if you don't hand over the children, I'm not leaving."
Joshua's brow furrowed tightly. Ava looked completely ready to fight him to the death if he didn't hand over the children.
He took the children?
How would he dare?
Every time he mentioned the children now, she went crazy on him. He didn't even dare bring them up anymore, let alone take them. Was she kidding?
But the most important thing right now was that the children were missing!
Seeing the anxious look on his face, Ava sneered mockingly. "Joshua, you've been with Mia so long, you've learned to act too? Who else but you would take them? And now you're playing innocent? That's enough."
Joshua's mouth twitched. He wanted to speak.
Ava's angry voice rang out again. "Joshua, I don't care what you do to me, that's fine, but when it comes to the children, I told you I won't compromise, and I absolutely won't compromise. I won't give them to you. I know I'm no match for you. If you really want to take the children, I can't stop you, but if you really do this, I'll make you regret it. Even if it costs me my life, I'll make you regret it."
Joshua was speechless.
"Crazy."
He cursed under his breath, so angry he paced back and forth a couple of times, then grabbed his phone, held it to his ear, and said coldly, "Gather everyone."
"Mr. Thomas, what happened?"
Joshua was so angry his jaw clenched. "The children are missing. Find them. Everyone. Right now."
"...Yes."
"Also, go to the police station and mobilize the police force. Everyone search."
"The children are at the Thomas Villa. You hid them, and you're still pretending?"
"Ava, if the children are found at the Thomas Villa, you can do whatever you want with me!" Joshua slammed his phone down on the desk, his expression terrifyingly dark.
He didn't know who dared to kidnap his children and frame him, making Ava give him a piece of her mind. Joshua was furious. If he found this person, he would tear them apart.
Ava sneered. "Fine. You want to put on a show? I'll play along."
Ava's sharp eyes glared at him.
The atmosphere between them was at a standstill.
Joshua's dark gaze looked at Ava standing before him, tears in her eyes but her expression stubbornly defiant. A few flickers of struggle crossed his eyes, and he felt some reluctance.
Just then, Hayden rushed in excitedly, holding two children. "Joshua, I found two kids in your room. The boy looks exactly like you—like he was carved from the same mold."