Chapter 294 Don't worry, she's still young and doesn't understand

Chapter 294 Don't worry, she's still young and doesn't understand

Emma comforted Evelyn with a few words, temporarily left Edward at the Harrison Mansion, and rushed with Nicholas to the Jackson family estate.

Nicholas gripped the steering wheel with one hand while extending the other to gently clasp her ice-cold fingers.

His palm was large, dry, and warm.

"Don't worry. The two children are fine—they can't just vanish into thin air. Unless you think it's..."

His words cut off abruptly.

The two exchanged a sharp look as the same terrible thought struck them both.

Nicholas quickly handed Emma his phone.

Emma took it, her fingers flying to find Ethan's number and immediately dialing.

"Mr. Martinez, is Danny with you right now?"

The background was noisy with clinking glasses and chatter, like some kind of business reception.

"We're not together. She should be at the hotel. This afternoon she said she wanted to explore on her own, so I just had people follow her."

"Find her immediately! Call me back! This is urgent!" Emma's tone brooked no argument.

Ethan sensed the gravity of the situation. He excused himself from the private room and stepped out with his phone.

He dialed his security detail.

The bodyguard's response was clear,"Boss, we followed Danny to the mall this afternoon, then she went into a restaurant for dinner. She still hasn't come out."

At the Jackson family estate, chaos had already erupted.

Four security guards had turned the mansion and its front and back gardens completely upside down, finding nothing.

The butler and nanny had practically glued their eyes to the screens, reviewing the surveillance footage dozens of times without discovering anyone entering or leaving the Jackson Mansion.

The only anomaly was a one-second black screen in the footage.

But what could possibly happen in one second?

Evelyn hung up the phone, tears streaming down her face like broken pearls.

Daryl wrapped his arms around her consolingly. "Don't worry, sweetheart. The children will be fine."

"In all of Emerald City, you can't find anyone bold enough to target the Jackson family's children."

"I've already called the police. They'll be here any minute."

Just then, a taxi pulled up outside the mansion.

Luke strode in with long steps, travel-worn with fatigue etched between his brows, but his eyes remained sharp and alert.

He'd truly missed her and the children—coming straight here from the airport.

When Evelyn saw him, she seemed to find both her anchor and her outlet. Red-eyed, she rushed toward him.

She raised her fists and pounded twice against his solid chest.

"Where have you been? Why didn't you answer your phone?"

Luke's voice was hoarse with exhaustion. He let her hit him, explaining in a low voice, "Just got off the plane. My phone died. What happened?"

"Sadie and Annie are gone."

"Our children are missing!"

Evelyn's tears broke free completely, her whole body leaning softly against him, still trembling uncontrollably.

The children were gone?

Luke's heart jolted. He immediately pulled the woman in his arms tighter, his palm gently patting her back.

"Take it easy. Tell me slowly what exactly happened."

Daryl approached and quickly explained the situation.

They'd been searching for nearly an hour, combing through every inch of the house inside and out, but couldn't find the children. The surveillance revealed nothing useful either.

Luke reached out, his fingertip gently wiping away the tear tracks on Evelyn's face, his voice low but carrying a reassuring power.

"Don't be afraid. I'll bring the children back."

He released her, his sharp gaze quickly scanning the entire structure of the mansion before suddenly speaking.

"There's one place you haven't searched."

"Where?" Evelyn looked up at him with tear-blurred eyes.

Luke gazed at her deeply without answering.

He suddenly rushed to the nearby wall, crouched slightly, then made an agile vertical leap, arms pushing off as he vaulted onto the windowsill.

Then, using his hands and feet, he scaled the wall with fluid movements—second floor, third floor, rooftop.

The entire process was seamless and incredibly fast, requiring no external assistance. His skills rivaled those of elite special forces operatives in movies.

Daryl, Ruby, and the four burly bodyguards all stared in stunned silence.

What had they just witnessed? Was this humanly possible?

Evelyn was even more shocked, her eyes wide with amazement, her heart pounding wildly.

Within ten seconds, Luke's figure appeared at the edge of the rooftop.

He held a peacefully sleeping baby securely in each arm.

"It's the babies! They're on the roof!" Evelyn cried out in surprise and relief.

The crushing weight on everyone's chest finally lifted.

When Luke carried the two babies down, everyone's suspended hearts finally settled back into place.

Evelyn rushed over like an arrow, taking Sadie from his arms and immediately covering her with kisses.

"My precious darling, you scared Mommy to death."

Her eyes were red-rimmed as she leaned over to kiss Annie in Luke's arms as well.

Warm lips pressed against the baby's soft cheek.

Daryl remained puzzled, pacing back and forth in the hall, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the ceiling and chandelier.

"Something's not right. How did the children end up on the roof?"

Ruby suddenly piped up, "Must have been some blind fool of a thief trying to steal our two babies."

She became more convinced as she spoke.

"Halfway through the theft, she suddenly lost her powers, and holding a rope with one hand, she couldn't manage two babies. Seeing our whole family searching, she panicked and abandoned the children to save herself."

At that moment, Nicholas and Emma rushed in urgently.

"Where are the babies?"

Evelyn hurried over with the children. "Found them! Luke found them!"

Emma let out a heavy sigh, hand on her chest, glaring at her.

"You scared me to death. Every time something happens, you just panic."

"How could the children just disappear out of nowhere?"

Nicholas looked completely puzzled. "What happened?"

Evelyn was still shaken, tightening her grip on the child. "The two babies somehow got onto the roof by themselves. Thank God for Luke."

Emma and Nicholas exchanged a glance, their eyes holding communication others couldn't understand.

She said simply, "As long as the children are safe."

Emma walked over to Luke, extending her hands. "Let me hold her."

Luke handed Annie over to her.

Nicholas gave him a look, and the two men walked outside one after the other in tacit understanding.

Inside, Ruby was still puzzling over the female thief.

"Which thief had such good taste to target two babies? No way—we need to strengthen security. We should install electric fencing on the roof too. Next time she dares come back, we'll fry her!"

Emma jumped in alarm, quickly intervening. "That won't work! What if the babies get hurt accidentally?"

Ruby saw the logic and nodded, abandoning the dangerous idea.

Outside, the night breeze was cool.

Nicholas offered Luke a cigarette, lighting one for himself and taking a deep drag.

On the way over, he'd received a call from Ethan.

Nina had slipped away. The bodyguards lost her, but she'd returned to the hotel ten minutes ago.

Nicholas exhaled a smoke ring, his voice somewhat heavy. "It was probably Nina. She wanted to see the babies and got anxious, so she took them up to the roof."

"With people constantly in the hall, she couldn't find a chance to come down. When she saw you going up, she quickly left."

Luke nodded, ash falling from his cigarette.

"Seems I underestimated the power of those energy stones. But I don't want this happening again."

Nicholas nodded, exhaling another thick cloud. "Don't worry. Emma will talk to her. Don't get upset—she's young and doesn't understand."

Nina was his and Emma's savior. No matter what, he had to protect her.

As soon as he finished speaking, his phone began vibrating frantically.

The moment he answered, Robert's frantic voice exploded through the receiver.

"Nicholas, Edward is missing!"

"He just finished feeding and was sleeping peacefully in his crib. The nanny just went to wash a small towel—three minutes at most—and when she came back, he was gone!"

"Don't panic, we're coming right back!"

Nicholas hung up, his temple throbbing with rage.

He kicked the stone column beside him. "Is Nina getting addicted to stealing children?"

Luke flicked his ash, saying casually, "Don't worry. She's young and doesn't understand."

Nicholas glared at him fiercely, then rushed inside to pull Emma away, heading straight back to the mansion without looking back.

Luke returned to the hall where the two children slept peacefully in their cribs, faces rosy and breathing evenly.

Daryl and Ruby had gone upstairs to rest, leaving only the nanny keeping constant watch nearby.

His gaze fell on Evelyn.

She looked somewhat tired but kept her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the children, afraid they might disappear from her sight again.

Luke approached, keeping his voice low.

"I haven't eaten yet. Come keep me company."

Evelyn paused, then shook her head.

"I don't want to go. You go by yourself."

She only wanted to watch over the children now, not go anywhere.

Luke's expression darkened, his tone carrying self-mockery and displeasure.

"What's this?"

"Found the children for you, and now you want to burn your bridges?"

"Don't I even qualify to have a meal with you anymore?"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word struck Evelyn's heart, carrying hurt and accusation.

Evelyn's heart softened suddenly.

He was right. If not for him today, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

She pressed her lips together and compromised.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Something delicious, of course." Luke's mouth curved in a victorious arc.

Not giving her a chance to reconsider, he directly took her hand and led her outside.

Luke drove her car that was parked outside.

The vehicle sped along the road before stopping at an unfamiliar location.

Sky Mirage—another luxury residence situated by the river, facing Crown Heights across the water.

"What is this place?"

Evelyn looked puzzled as he pulled her from the car.

"Aren't we going to eat?"

"There's good food upstairs." Luke gripped her hand tightly, his tone carrying undeniable authority.

He led her into the brightly lit lobby, straight to the elevator, his elegant fingers pressing the top floor—49th level.

When the elevator doors opened, they revealed a private entrance foyer.

Luke used his fingerprint scanner, and the lock clicked softly.

The door opened.

He pulled Evelyn inside and closed the door, plunging the entire space into pure darkness.

Fresh rose fragrance filled the air, intoxicatingly rich.

Before Evelyn could adjust to the darkness, a burning body pressed against her, pinning her firmly against the cool wall.

The next second, domineering kisses rained down overwhelmingly.

He kissed her fiercely and urgently, with punishing intent, domineeringly drawing sweetness from her mouth as if he wanted to devour her entirely.

Evelyn could barely breathe under his pressure.

The man's presence completely enveloped her, filled with intense possessiveness.

A burning hand slipped rudely under her shirt hem, touching her delicate waist.

He was like a beast that had been starving too long, finally finding its prey.

He'd missed her so desperately he was going mad...