The servant watched Deanna's departing figure and quickly followed her.
"Miss, if you're looking for Miss Chloe and Master Gregory, I know where they were last seen."
"You know? Then take me there quickly!"
Deanna was worried about the two children, fearing they might be in danger, so she didn't notice anything suspicious in the servant's words.
Neither Shannon nor Nightingale noticed anything amiss either.
Like Deanna, they were very concerned about the two little ones.
They even suspected that the children's disappearance might be a scheme by the main family.
Thus, the three of them followed the servant further and further away.
Deanna looked around at the dilapidated yard, frowning deeply as she finally sensed something was wrong.
This place was so desolate; with Gregory and Chloe's love for cleanliness, they would never come here to play.
Realizing this, Deanna abruptly stopped.
Shannon and Nightingale noticed her serious expression and looked at her with concern. "Missus, what's wrong?"
Before Deanna could answer, the servant, standing by a small door not far away, noticed Deanna had stopped and quickly called out, "Missus, come quickly. Just beyond this door is where Miss Chloe and Master Gregory disappeared."
"You said earlier that my fiance had already sent people to look for the children. Why haven't I seen anyone else along the way?"
Deanna stood still, her sharp gaze fixed on the servant.
The servant's face changed instantly.
Just as she was about to explain, Deanna questioned again, "Also, you said Gregory and Chloe disappeared, but then you said you know where they disappeared. Don't you find that contradictory? Who sent you?"
Hearing this, the servant stared at Deanna for a long time before suddenly laughing.
"Miss Jones, you're quick to catch on. But unfortunately, it's too late even if you've realized it."
With that, she clapped her hands twice.
Seeing her actions, Deanna immediately sensed danger. "Let's go back!"
Shannon and Nightingale grabbed her hands and turned to leave.
The servant watched their actions and laughed disdainfully.
"You won't be able to leave this place."
Almost as soon as she finished speaking, Deanna and the others suddenly felt dizzy. Their bodies weakened, and they collapsed to the ground.
Before losing consciousness, Deanna saw several men in combat uniforms jumping down from the trees.
"Take all three?"
"Only take Deanna. Gag the other two and throw them into that dry well."
The servant's voice echoed.
The men quickly tied up Shannon and Nightingale, gagged them, and threw them into the dry well before silently taking Deanna away.
Not long after they left, Gunner finished his investigation of Craig.
"This is what you call poisoning? You gave the wrong antidote yourself and still have the nerve to accuse others of poisoning? I really doubt if all your years of medical training went to waste!"
He angrily scolded Brice.
Brice looked grim but surprisingly remained silent as Gunner berated him.
Craig, seeing this, weakly pleaded with Gunner, "Uncle Gunner, my father was just worried about me and misunderstood. Please don't be angry."
"You aren't worth my anger. Now that the matter is clear, prepare to move out of the old house. You don't need to attend today's apprenticeship ceremony."
With that, Gunner turned and left.
Because of this, he didn't see the strange expressions on Brice and Craig's faces.
Back at the ancestral hall, Gunner immediately noticed Deanna was missing.
"Where is Deanna?"
"A servant said Miss Chloe and Master Gregory were missing. Miss Deanna went with the servant to look for them."
A branch family member reported truthfully.
Hearing this, Gunner frowned deeply. "Why wasn't I informed about this?"
He said as he took out his phone to call Deanna.
But her phone was off.
With no other option, Gunner contacted Lance.
"Mr. Martinez."
"Is Deanna with you?"
Lance's puzzled voice came through. "Isn't Deanna with you at the ancestral hall for the ceremony?"
Upon hearing this, Gunner's face darkened. He continued, "What about Gregory and Chloe? Are they with you?"
"They are."
Lance paused for a moment as if realizing something. His voice grew serious. "Did something happen?"
Gunner confirmed with a hum and said, "I went to handle matters with the main family earlier. Someone told Deanna that Gregory and Chloe were missing. Now I can't reach her. I think she has been taken."
"What happened? How could Deanna be taken on your watch?"
Lance's tone carried anger by the end.
Gunner knew he was at fault and didn't mind Lance's tone. He replied gravely, "I'll give you an explanation for this. Right now, finding Deanna is the priority. Also, I suspect this has something to do with the main branch."
He had just been distracted by issues with the main branch when someone came for Deanna, as if deliberately drawing him away.