Chapter 336: Uri Appears

Chapter 336: Uri Appears

Seeing Pax like this, Mia knew her guess had been right.

He had really heard it!

Pax pressed his small body closer into Max's embrace, his tears soaking large patches of fur.

Max felt this and lifted a paw to pat Pax's back comfortingly while baring his sharp claws at James, who had made Pax cry golden tears.

With a long howl, he brandished them threateningly.

"Pax, you’ve misunderstood..."

Ignoring Max’s warning, James stepped forward to explain when he heard Pax’s suppressed sobs.

"I didn't misunderstand. I heard it with my own ears! Mom said you don't want me, and you didn't deny it! If you don't want me, then stop pretending to be nice! I don't need your kindness!" Pax cried out as large tears streamed down his face.

He didn't want to listen anymore. He didn't want to be hurt again!

"Max, let's go now!"

Max understood immediately at his call.

He crouched down, and Pax quickly climbed onto his back.

Max sprang up nimbly and dashed forward.

"Pax, wait!"

Terrified, James lunged forward, trying to pull Pax down.

It was too dangerous!

But Max was too fast. James missed and fell to the ground, watching helplessly as Max carried Pax toward the depths of the back mountain.

Without hesitation, James chased after them.

Even though he knew Max wouldn't hurt Pax, the boy was only four years old—if he didn't hold on tight and fell off, it would be serious.

Human legs couldn’t possibly compete with a wolf’s speed.

James quickly fell far behind and lost sight of Max.

He could only follow the trail Max left behind, pushing through thorny bushes as he searched.

He didn't dare call out, afraid Pax would hide from him even more if he heard his voice.

After searching for what felt like forever, he suddenly heard Pax's familiar voice carried on the wind from above.

James looked up toward the source of the sound.

He spotted Pax perched in a tree not far away.

Max was nowhere in sight, leaving Pax sitting there alone.

In a low mood, he muttered sadly to himself, "He doesn't want me, so I don't want to like him either! I don't like him at all!"

Pax was utterly heartbroken.

That also meant Pax cared about him deeply.

James felt both bitter and heartbroken and couldn’t help calling out, "Pax..."

Pax hadn't expected James to catch up, even in the depths of the back mountain.

Max had protected him in his embrace and deliberately chosen a path through the thorny bushes.

Realizing James had overheard him made Pax very upset.

It felt as if he had been seen through, leaving him embarrassed and desperate to escape.

Pax climbed trees often.

His movements were skillful, and he'd never fallen before.

But today, eager to avoid James, he wasn't paying attention to his footing. He slipped, lost his balance, and he fell straight down from the tree.

He reached for a branch to steady himself, but his small hand caught only a few leaves.

His small body plummeted. He didn't scream like most children would—he simply pressed his lips together and waited for the sharp pain.

But the expected pain never came; he landed in a pair of strong, powerful arms.

That familiar sense of security returned.

He heard James's frightened voice in his ear. "Pax, are you scared? Don't be afraid."

James's heart shattered; the moment he saw Pax falling, it nearly stopped.

Even though he was confident he could catch him, he still feared the slightest chance of an accident.

He couldn't allow Pax to be hurt in front of him again, even in the slightest.

He held Pax tightly in his arms, gently patting his back.

Pax opened his eyes in his embrace and met his concerned gaze.

With his ear pressed against James's chest, he could hear his heart beating wildly.

Pax struggled slightly and whispered, "Let me go!"

James was still shaken and didn't dare let go.

He held Pax tightly, afraid he might run away again.

"Pax, whether you believe it or not, I need to tell you—I love you. I love you and your mom very much! Whether it's you or your mom, I'm willing to risk my life to protect you both. Give me one more chance—trust me just once, okay?"

Pax listened to James's heartfelt words and thought about how he had stood in front of Max and reacted when he was in danger.

He truly seemed nervous and deeply concerned about him.

His small body, tense from resisting in his heart, gradually relaxed as his mood changed.

Though he didn't fully agree, it was clear Pax had listened and was beginning to believe in his love.

"Mom is waiting for you. Let's go down first, okay?"

"Okay…"

Hearing that Mia was there made Pax feel guilty.

He had been so sad and upset, wanting to come back to find Dennis, but when he discovered Dennis was gone, he felt even worse.

That was why he ran to the back mountain to find Max.

He used a special whistle to call Max back, who had been searching for fruit for him.

Max came running with a branch of fresh fruit in his mouth.

Knowing they were heading back, he immediately crouched down.

"Do you want me to carry you down?"

He still didn’t feel the snow wolf was safe.

"Okay."

Faced with the two choices, Pax chose James.

He also didn't really want to leave James's embrace.

This made James breathe a sigh of relief.

Max whimpered at Pax in protest.

Seeing that Pax's mind was made up, he glared resentfully at James.

He was stealin Pax from him!

"Max, lead the way!"

Hearing Pax's command, Max shook out his thick fur and walked ahead with his head held high.

James carried Pax in his arms as he walked steadily down the mountain.

After walking for more than forty minutes, they saw lights in the distance.

It was Mia coming up the mountain to look for them.

When the servants woke up, she learned that the forbidden area wasn't actually dangerous—it was simply off-limits to others.

But when Pax and James didn’t come down for so long, everyone grew worried, so she came up to find them.

"Mom!"

Pax was set down and rushed straight to Mia, throwing himself into her arms. "I'm sorry."

He had run off recklessly and frightened Mia.

"Baby, you can't run off by yourself like that again, okay? Mom and Dad will worry so much."

"Okay!" Pax nodded obediently.

Mia kissed Pax, glanced at James, and led Pax down first.

Max stood at the mountain entrance, brushing Pax gently with his tail in reluctance.

Pax was reluctant to leave, hugging Max for a long while before letting go.

Max watched them leave until they disappeared from sight, standing there the entire time.

He didn't know when he'd see Pax again.

After a long while, Max finally swished his tail and turned back inside.

...

Pax fell asleep in the car, and by the time they got home, it was already late at night.

Everyone was utterly exhausted.

Having found Pax, both of them felt conflicted.

She didn't send James away either.

The three of them slept in one bed, with Pax in the middle.

Early the next morning, Mia headed to the company.

James stayed home to work while keeping Pax company.

Pax lay beside James, his little hand clutching James's clothes as he slept soundly.

Early that morning, James had already given Robert instructions.

He established a foundation to help trafficked children and women.

Led by the Smith Group, it received an overwhelming response.

The Smith Group also set up a special reward fund—anyone who could provide credible and effective trafficking leads would receive a reward, greatly motivating the public.

Later, restaurants and hotels under the Smith Group displayed information about missing and trafficked children and women throughout their venues.

The foundation would also provide assistance to families who found their children but were in difficulty.

For children who had experiences like Pax’s, he wanted to do his best to help them return home and suffer less.

Throughout the morning, many opposing voices arose in the board meeting, but he suppressed them all.

Pax woke up around noon.

When he opened his eyes, he found James sitting nearby working.

Almost instantly, the coldness in James's eyes faded, and he looked at Pax gently.

"Pax, you're awake? Mia has a meeting at the company, so I'm staying home with you today. Let's get up first—I’ll make you something to eat."

He lowered his head, kissed Pax's forehead, and picked him up.

He squeezed toothpaste and poured water for him, then went to prepare food while Pax washed up.

Pax finished washing up, changed his clothes, and came out.

As soon as Pax appeared, he heard Max.

Max?

Pax turned toward the sound.

He quickly spotted Max in the garden.

Pax hurried over and opened the door.

Max didn't dare pounce, worried he might knock Pax over.

Once they were closer, he sat obediently, waiting for Pax to run into his embrace.

Max lifted his paw affectionately to pat Pax's back.

Pax hugged his neck and nuzzled into his soft fur.

"Pax, go wash your hands and get ready to eat. Later, we'll go to the company to pick up Mia, buy Max some toys and snacks, and get bath supplies to give him a bath."

"Okay!" Pax nodded happily.

He let go of Max, washed his hands, and ate obediently.

He was hungry and ate all the food James had prepared.

At the scheduled time, James went to pick up Mia.

The family of three went to buy supplies for Max.

He drove a seven-seater and filled the back completely.

Mia had handled the company's affairs in the morning and brought the remaining work home.

After getting home, Pax was still a child at heart.

He was excited about giving Max a bath.

Once home, the two of them rolled up their sleeves and began bathing Max.

Max didn't want a bath at all.

He also knew it was James who had suggested it, that was why Pax was going to do it.

His fur was already white and smooth—he didn't need it, but seeing how excited Pax was, Max obediently accepted his fate and let Pax wash him.

Max's body was so big that Pax worked up a sweat washing him, while James helped him.

After the bath, Pax's clothes were soaked through. Worried he might catch cold, James said, "Pax, go take a shower first. I'll handle the rest."

Pax nodded and walked inside.

As soon as he left, Max, freshly bathed, suddenly stood up and shook his fur vigorously.

Water droplets flew everywhere.

James's face was splashed with water.

Revenge!

Pax happened to turn around and see the scene. He and Mia, who was sitting on the sofa working, both burst out laughing.

James, who had been slightly annoyed, saw them laughing and decided not to hold it against Max.

Max, understanding human nature, had successfully gotten his revenge.

He looked smugly satisfied.

Seeing that James had no reaction, he even gave him a provocative look.

Then he sat in place, waiting for James to blow-dry his fur.

James's face showed nothing. He stood up, raised his hand, and turned the door, rotating the mirror hidden behind it toward Max.

This made him face himself in the mirror.

He looked like a drowned wolf.

Max whimpered, his pride hurt, quickly pulled his face back, and covered it with his paws, unwilling to look.

You win!

"You're so childish!"

Mia was speechless.

James raised an eyebrow. After Pax went into the bathroom, he walked over, pressed her onto the sofa, and kissed her.

"Except for you and Pax, no one can get the better of me."

After the kiss ended, he went off in a good mood to get the special blow dryer to dry Max's fur.

...

After finding the cause of Pax's condition, they contacted Dwayne and scheduled a time to start his treatment.

After half a month of psychological counseling, Pax's condition stabilized.

That evening, Mia and James asked for Pax's opinion.

Mia had always wanted Pax to be around people and didn’t want him to feel so lonely.

Pax nodded gently, agreeing to go to kindergarten.

With James's arrangements, Pax was able to start school on Monday.

On Monday morning, James and Mia took Pax to school together.

It was Pax's first time being around so many people, and he was nervous and uncomfortable, his small body clearly tense.

"Baby, you're the best—you can definitely do it! Go for it!"

Mia's gentle, affirming voice gave Pax tremendous encouragement.

Even at such a young age, his heart had always been lonely.

Looking through the car window at the children outside, he let go of Mia's hand and opened the car door. "Mom, see you tonight!"

He straightened his back and stepped out of the car.

He could do this!

"Pax!"

At the agreed time, Lily's car arrived as well.

Seeing Pax, Celestia immediately got out and rushed over to him.

"Mia, Mr. Smith!"

After sweetly greeting them, she took Pax's hand and patted her chest with her other, promising, "Pax, I'll look out for you!"

She was the prettiest and cutest girl in the whole kindergarten.

Everyone liked her.

With her around, no one would dare bully Pax.

Celestia led Pax into the kindergarten.

Even after the gate closed, Mia still stood by the car, watching the entrance worriedly.

Lily walked up and opened the surveillance feed for her.

It was the best private kindergarten in Imperial City, completely enclosed.

The entire campus was equipped with surveillance cameras, allowing parents to check on their children anytime.

James couldn't get close to Lily's phone, so he leaned over to look using his height advantage.

He saw that although Pax was nervous, Celestia was indeed protecting him well.

After downloading and installing it on his phone, they parted ways with Lily. Arriving at the company, both James and Mia couldn't focus on work throughout the day.

They were practically glued to their phones.

It wasn't until four in the afternoon that they went together to pick up Pax.

As soon as Pax saw Mia, he walked over. "Mom."

Pax looked up. In front of others, he always had a cool poker face, but in front of Mia, he looked adorable, like an ordinary child seeking her praise.

"Baby, you did great. I'm so happy and proud of you."

For Pax, joining a crowd was harder and required more courage than for other children.

After being praised, the corners of Pax's mouth lifted.

He was very happy.

"Pax, you did great."

James also looked relieved and proud, as if Pax had done something incredibly remarkable.

He raised his hand to touch Pax's soft hair and held his hand.

Mia also held his other hand.

Pax looked at his left then his right hand, his lips curving upward.

They said goodbye to Lily.

James took them both home.

Although Pax hadn't called him dad yet, he could clearly feel Pax's heart drawing closer to him little by little.

He wasn't in a hurry—the future was long.

He would wait for the day when Pax willingly called him dad.

...

In the suburbs, there was a villa known as a famous haunted house.

Several murders had occurred there, and no one had lived in it since.

At this moment, in the master bedroom on the second floor, Uri leaned on the sofa while Orla helped treat his wounds.

He had just arrived that afternoon.

During this time, a kill order had been placed on him, which nearly ruined the plan he'd been setting up for so long.

This lasted until three days ago, when Dennis died at Black Hawk's hands.

With Black Hawk's protection, the kill order was lifted.

Only then could he return to Imperial City according to his original plan.

Halfway through bandaging his wound, there was a knock at the door.

His trusted aide brought in an envelope, which he opened.

Inside were photos from the past few days, taken from a distance, showing Mia, James, and their family of three.

Uri’s expression turned sinister and crazed.

God had been too kind to James—the child he and Mia had was actually still alive.

It allowed Mia and James to repair their relationship.

Looking at the photos in his hand and the three people with bright smiles, Uri sneered and tore up the photos.

He put Mia's half into the pocket over his chest, while for James and Pax's half, he picked up a lighter, set it on fire, and threw it into the ashtray, watching it burn to ash.

Mia belonged to him.

James and that child should be like the photo—reduced to ashes and disappear from this world.