Chapter 17

The school doctor looked both amused and exasperated, "Ms. Baker, of course you're not a criminal."

"It's just that now, we've confirmed you have some minor mental health issues, and we simply want to help you get treatment."

"It's for your own good, and for the other students' good too."

"Besides, we've already explained your situation to your guardian, and your guardian has agreed to follow our arrangement and send you for medical care."

"Guardian?" I asked back.

"Yes, your father." The school doctor answered matter-of-factly.

The school doctor pulled out "my" psychological survey questionnaire. "Ms. Baker, the moment we discovered your mental health issues, we contacted your father."

"According to what we learned, your father said you've been somewhat manic at home recently, too. Not only did you hurt your brother, but you also talked back to your grandmother. All these signs indicate you do have manic tendencies, so Mr. Baker very much agrees with us transferring you to Harmony Mental Health Center for treatment."

Harmony Mental Health Center.

Emerald City's largest psychiatric hospital.

Mia's family's hospital.

"Ms. Baker, do you really think we would just take you away without any reason?"

The school doctor pulled out his phone and called Robert, "Here, listen to what your biological father has to say."

Robert answered quickly.

"Mr. Baker, we're now preparing to send Ms. Baker to the hospital for treatment. Since we saw her attempting to harm a classmate, we have no choice but to send her immediately!"

"To have more professional psychiatrists treat Ms. Baker."

"Although we already informed you earlier, Ms. Baker now seems not to believe that our taking her away is reasonable and legal, so we want to ask your opinion as her guardian."

"Could you please tell Ms. Baker whether you agree with us sending her to the hospital for treatment?"

"I agree."

Robert's firm voice came through the phone.

There was even a sudden cut-off "honey" on the other end.

It was Ava's voice.

"Ms. Baker, so? Can you come with us to the hospital now?"

David stood in the corner, glanced at my expression, then quickly lowered his head.

There was no triumphant satisfaction in his eyes.

Only the cowering fear of being retaliated against.

I said calmly and unhurriedly, "Okay."

The school doctor breathed a sigh of relief, "Ms. Baker, thank you for cooperating. We all know you're a good kid, just temporarily experiencing some mental health issues."

"However, as long as you cooperate well with treatment, you'll be discharged soon."

As the school doctor spoke, he stepped forward and patted my shoulder as if to comfort me.

I dodged his hand by moving aside, then brushed off my own shoulder with displeasure.

The school doctor looked a bit awkward.

But he continued with the process he needed to follow.

"Let's go, Ms. Baker."

I walked away.

Leaving the classroom and coming to the corner, I indeed saw Mia with a smug expression, arms crossed in front of her.

"Alice, didn't I tell you I'd make you unable to stay here?"

I glanced at Mia, "Your family's hospital - don't you want it anymore?"

Mia sneered, "You just go in and get treated properly. What crazy talk are you spouting here?"

"Don't worry, our family's psychiatric hospital is very professional. They'll definitely cure you."

Mia emphasized the tone of the words "cure you."

The school doctor coughed twice to interrupt, "Ms. Baker, let's go."

I followed the school doctor away.

Mia raised her hand and waved goodbye to me with a smile.

...

Seeing it was almost time for Alice to leave school, Emily completed the discharge procedures early.

When Alice arrived, she would take Alice to Silver Creek.

Finally getting that Silver Creek villa back from Robert's hands.

Emily was in a good mood.

That villa was a gift Robert bought for her after they got married.

However, it was under Robert's name.

Back then, after she gave birth to Alice, she recuperated in that villa.

That one month was her happiest month.

She had given birth to the daughter she longed for, and hadn't yet discovered Robert's affair.

Robert had said that the villa would be transferred to Alice in the future.

Robert's successful career was inseparable from the Johnson family's help.

She herself could choose not to fight with Robert, with whom she no longer had feelings.

But she had to fight for the property that belonged to her children.

When the time came, and she still didn't see her daughter, Emily felt vaguely uneasy.

She called Alice.

No answer.

She frowned and called the driver who picked up Alice.

"Mrs. Baker, Mr. Baker said there's no need to pick up Ms. Alice Baker from school today."

"What do you mean?" Emily was a bit angry.

The driver said helplessly, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Baker, I don't know the reason either. Maybe, maybe Mr. Baker plans to pick up Ms. Alice Baker himself?"

Impossible.

Emily was absolutely certain.

Continuing to question the driver was useless, so Emily hung up.

She called Robert.

Robert didn't answer.

So Emily kept calling.

She called until Robert picked up.

"Where's Alice?" Emily got straight to the point.

"How should I know?" Robert answered.

Emily's hands were shaking a bit. She was panicking, with a bad feeling in her heart.

She knew Robert would definitely hold a grudge about Alice slapping him twice.

But she never thought Robert would take revenge on his own biological daughter!

Her spine went cold, and she trembled with anger, "Don't play dumb with me, Robert. I'm telling you, if anything happens to Alice, I'll fight you to the death."

Robert sneered, "Something happen? With her thick skin, what could happen? On the other hand, I was slapped twice by her with that build of hers. I almost got a concussion, you know?"

"Emily, I was beaten like that by the good daughter you gave birth to, and you haven't asked about me once, have you?"

"You've disappointed me so much."

Emily had no mood right now to discuss their past emotional entanglements with Robert.

"Tell me, tell me what you did to Alice!"

"Emily, calm down. Look at yourself - do you look anything like a lady from a wealthy family? You're like a crazy person."

"I'm telling you, Alice is perfectly safe. You don't need to worry blindly!"

"I don't believe you!" Emily couldn't hold back the sob in her voice.

Robert, on the other end, was silent for a moment, then sighed, "In your eyes, am I really such a ruthless person? Would I really do something terrible to my own daughter?"

"I just think she might have problems both physically and mentally, and needs treatment!"

"What do you mean?"

Emily's pupils contracted.

The next second, Robert hung up directly without explaining.

Emily was frantic with worry.

She frantically called back.

But Robert had turned off his phone.

Emily was on the verge of breaking down.

However, she told herself this wasn't the time to fall apart emotionally. She had to first figure out where Robert had sent Alice!

Emily, tears streaming down her face, called James in a fluster.