Chapter 42
Ella hung up the phone with Dorian.
Just as she was about to drive away, Joshua's call came through.
She pressed answer, and before she could speak, he said, "Bring me the desserts you bought to room 801."
Ella glanced at the back seat—the desserts were indeed still there.
But she needed to hurry back to find her child. She had no choice but to refuse, "Patricia just called me saying Aurora ran off and can't be found. She wants me to come back right away to look for her."
Though Ella figured Aurora was probably just somewhere in the villa.
Aurora was just hiding really well and couldn't be found for the moment.
To reassure Dorian, she had to go back first.
On the other end, Joshua's voice left no room for argument.
"Just bring it when I tell you to. Where could a little kid run off to?"
He hung up.
Ella hesitated.
Thinking about how Joshua could do anything when angered.
Plus, now that both Aurora and Dorian were by her side, she'd better just comply.
She took the desserts and personally delivered them to the hospital room.
When she arrived, Ella hadn't expected that the patient in the room was Scarlett.
She didn't look sick at all—leaning against the headboard with perfect makeup and rosy cheeks, just one foot exposed to the side with some medicine on it.
Ella didn't pay much attention and walked over with the desserts to hand them to Joshua.
"I'm leaving now."
Ella turned to go.
She didn't want to breathe the same air as those two.
"Ella."
Scarlett called out to her, explaining sweetly, "Don't misunderstand, I just twisted my ankle. Joshua is just here keeping me company."
Ella stopped. Since the other person had greeted her, wouldn't it be rude not to respond?
She turned to look at Scarlett, smiling brightly. "It's fine. He'll divorce me and marry you sooner or later anyway. You two are the real couple, so you don't need to explain to me. I won't disturb you then."
Without even wanting to glance at Joshua sitting nearby, Ella suppressed the pain in her chest and turned to leave again.
Joshua's icy voice rang out, "Just wait for me at the door. Grandpa has people watching me, otherwise I won't be able to explain later."
He opened the desserts and personally brought them to Scarlett.
Scarlett looked at him, acting coquettish and pleading, "Joshua, I feel like my hands have no strength at all. Can you feed me?"
Joshua's expression didn't look good.
His gaze swept over Ella at the door.
She didn't seem to care at all?
How wonderful.
A woman full of lies—Ella had clearly said she loved him before.
Now that he was with someone else, she didn't care at all and was even happy to let it happen.
This was love?
Joshua felt stuffy in his chest.
He agreed to Scarlett's request and fed her personally.
Ella couldn't bear to watch Joshua taking care of another woman.
She suppressed that feeling of caring and left the room.
But she didn't dare go far, just waited by the door.
From inside the room, Scarlett's gentle, playful laughter could be heard from time to time.
The two of them seemed very happy.
Ella took out her earphones and plugged her ears, forcing herself not to listen, not to look.
Joshua could tolerate her child being around—she was already grateful for that. Why should she care about him being alone with another woman?
She pulled out her phone, wanting to ask Patricia if she'd found the child.
Before she could dial the number, a call from an unknown number came through.
Ella didn't know who was calling but still answered.
An extremely unfamiliar voice came through, "If you want your daughter, come alone to the beach on the west shore."
Ella froze, her entire nervous system instantly tensing up.
She pressed for answers, "Who are you? Did you take my daughter?"
The other person didn't say much, just held the phone to Aurora's ear and let her speak.
Aurora was terrified, crying into the phone, "Mommy, I'm scared. There are so many bad people here, they're hitting me."
Hearing that it really was Aurora's voice, Ella panicked.
She urgently asked into the phone, "Aurora, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"
Before Aurora could continue, the phone was moved away.
The other person continued, "If you want your daughter, come alone to the beach on the west shore. Listen, if you dare call the police or bring a second person, you'll never see your daughter again in this lifetime."
With that, the call was cut off.
Ella stood there stunned, panic in her heart.
Her Aurora had been kidnapped?
How was that possible?
She didn't want to believe that something that only happened on TV could happen to her.
Ella frantically dialed Patricia's number.
As soon as the call connected, Patricia's tearful voice came through, "Ms. Garcia, we've searched the entire villa and still can't find Aurora. Are you back yet? Should we call the police?"
Hearing Patricia's words, Ella knew the earlier call was real.
Aurora had really been kidnapped.
But what kind of person would kidnap Aurora without asking for money, just telling her to come alone to the beach?
It was getting dark—why were they telling her to go to the beach?
Thinking Joshua might help her.
Ella suddenly pushed open the hospital room door, urgently saying, "Joshua, Aurora she..."
Before she could finish, she stopped herself.
Seeing Joshua feeding Scarlett, the two of them looking very affectionate.
And the kidnapper had warned her that if she brought a second person, she'd never see Aurora again.
No, she couldn't.
She couldn't disregard Aurora's safety.
Ella didn't finish her sentence and turned to run off.
She rushed to get the car and headed to the beach the kidnapper mentioned.
Joshua watched Ella's urgent manner, not knowing what had happened.
He put down the desserts and told Scarlett, "Rest well, I'm going back."
Scarlett quickly reached out to grab his hand, lowering her head with tears in her voice, "Joshua, I know you're filial and don't want to go against the elders' wishes to divorce Ella. I won't pressure you, and I'm willing to let you go and start a new life, but can you stay with me tonight? This is the last time."
Joshua's mind was full of images of Ella running off.
Thinking she must have something going on.
He removed Scarlett's hand, his voice turning cold, "You're not really that sick. Why stay in the hospital? Either I take you home, or you stay here by yourself."
Scarlett saw that Joshua seemed a bit impatient.
She quit while she was ahead, compromising, "Okay, then take me home."
Joshua had no choice but to get a wheelchair and take Scarlett back.
When they got downstairs to the inpatient department, Ella had already driven off in his car.
He stood by the roadside, calling Ella.
But her line was constantly busy.
Joshua was somewhat annoyed and finally had to have Brian come pick them up.
At that moment, Ella was following the kidnapper's directions, speeding toward the beach on the west shore.
Night was gradually falling. Through the open car window, the sea wind rushed in wildly, blowing her hair into disarray, her heart burning with anxiety.
From time to time, she could hear Aurora's weak crying through the phone.
Afraid they would hurt her Aurora, Ella called out hoarsely, "I can give you whatever you want, but don't hurt Aurora. She's still so young."