Chapter 220 His Father
"We've already taken your toothbrush for DNA testing. The results will be ready soon. In the meantime, you'd better think about how you're going to face this child."
With that, Zachary stood up. Quinley took Cheese's hand and headed for the exit. The boy looked completely oblivious, happily eating a lollipop.
"Zach, come back! Don't go!"
Alicia started to panic. She pounded on the table, trying to make Zachary stay, but no one stopped for her.
On the way back from the detention center, they headed straight home. Cheese fell asleep in the car. Quinley held his small body close, maternal warmth filling her eyes.
"Cheese is so pitiful."
She said sincerely. Susan had been arrested, and Alicia was about to face legal consequences. What would happen to this five-year-old child? How would his life go on?
"Yeah, he's only five."
Zachary sighed as well.
"What if we adopt him?"
Quinley said it on impulse. Zachary's brows furrowed. Every instinct told him to say no.
"Let's think this through carefully first."
The reason for his caution was mainly the two women connected to Cheese. Zachary worried that one day, when they were released, they might come back to hurt Quinley. Right now, she was his entire world. Every decision he made had to put her first.
Quinley didn't push the issue further.
When they got home, Elise was already waiting anxiously in the courtyard. The moment the Maybach stopped, she hurried to the car door.
"Cheese."
As soon as the door opened, Elise scooped up the sleeping child and held him tightly.
"Let me raise Cheese. I've already packed my things. I'll take him back to Lakeside City right now. I won't let any of this trouble you."
As she spoke, she headed into the house and quickly returned carrying a suitcase. Quinley rushed to stop her.
"Mom, what are you doing?"
Zachary also stepped in front of her. "Mom, please calm down. You can't take the child."
"Why can't I? He's my daughter's son. He's my grandson."
Elise's eyes were turning red with urgency. Zachary let out a soft breath. He understood how she felt, but he had to tell her the truth.
"This child isn't Susan's. He's Alicia's child. You're not his grandmother."
"What?"
Elise asked in shock.
"Mom, let's go inside. I'll explain everything slowly."
Quinley took the suitcase from Elise and supported her arm. Once inside, Quinley carefully laid out the entire story. Elise listened in stunned silence.
"This poor child. Born and separated from his mother right away. What about his father?"
That was a question only Alicia could answer—if she even remembered.
"Mom, Cheese will stay with us for now. When we find his biological father, we'll respect his and Cheese's wishes, okay?"
Elise was reluctant, but she nodded.
Later, when Cheese woke up, the first thing he did was cry for his mother. Elise held him and tried to comfort him for ages, but nothing worked. Cheese cried, and Elise cried with him. Quinley's heart ached watching them.
"Maybe we should have Detective Wilson look into this? He might be able to find the child's father."
Zachary leaned back in his study chair, his brow deeply furrowed.
"Tonight, come with me to see Adela. She might know."
Quinley didn't refuse Zachary's decision.
That night, the two of them returned to the detention center. When Adela was brought out, a cold smile played at her lips.
"What's this? Coming here so late—are you here to apologize? Or do you need something from me?"
Zachary and Quinley sat down across from her. Quinley's calm gaze fell on Adela in her yellow detention uniform. She was clearly scared but trying to act defiant.
"We're here about Cheese."
The moment Quinley spoke, Adela laughed again, this time even more smugly.
"What do you want to know? Though I'm not sure I'll tell you."
She held herself with an air of superiority. This time, Zachary spoke up.
"Where did you get him from?"
Adela fixed her gaze on Zachary's face, leaning forward slightly.
"You really want to know?"
"Do you know that child trafficking carries an even heavier sentence?"
Zachary's voice was firm.
Adela's smile vanished. "Do you have proof? Without proof, can't I sue you for slander?"
The atmosphere turned tense. Just as Zachary was about to say more, Quinley grabbed his wrist, signaling that she'd take over.
"We're trying to help you."
"You sent me here and you're trying to help me?" Adela crossed her arms, looking down at Quinley coldly.
"I never would've thought that even though we came from the same mother, your life turned out so much better than mine. You were adopted by good people, went to college, met a top-tier man like Zachary. If I'd been the one adopted back then, Quinley, everything you're experiencing now would be my life."
Resentment simmered in her words, as if she was looking for an outlet to vent.
"I sympathize with what you went through, but we're both victims, aren't we? Cheese is innocent. He's only five. He was separated from his biological parents at birth. Do you really want him to end up like you?"
Adela's face showed no emotion.
"Whether he ends up like me or not is his fate. I didn't traffic him. Someone dumped him on me."
"Who?"
Zachary and Quinley asked in unison. Seeing this, Adela started making demands.
"Let me out, and I'll tell you who it was."
A vein throbbed on Zachary's forehead. "Don't push me."
"I am pushing you. So what?"
Adela dug in her heels. Just as the tension was about to explode, Quinley stood up. She grabbed Zachary's arm and headed for the exit.
"Why are you leaving? This is no fun. If you'd been nicer to me, I might have told you."
Adela's voice called after them, but Quinley pulled Zachary out with unwavering determination.
"Why did we leave?"
Zachary was still angry, but Quinley had her emotions completely under control.
"She won't tell us."
Quinley said with certainty.
"So what do we do now?"
Zachary let out a long breath.
Quinley seemed to remember something. "Actually, it's not that hard. If we find one person, we'll definitely know the truth."
"Who?"
Zachary asked, confused. But this time, Quinley kept it mysterious.
"Don't worry. I'll tell you once I find him."
That night, Quinley contacted Detective Wilson. He hadn't been working cases for a while and was quite surprised to see Quinley.
"What's this? Got another job for me? I should warn you upfront—your status is different now, so my rates are different too."
"Fine, you set the price. But I need to find this person immediately."
"Who?"
Detective Wilson was curious about who could make Quinley so urgent.
"Kevin."
Quinley said the name. Detective Wilson looked confused.
"Wasn't he Harold's assistant at the Davis Group? Why are you looking for him?"
"Same rules as always—I pay, you work. Don't ask so many questions. I need to see him within forty-eight hours."
"Forty-eight hours? Isn't that a bit rushed?"
Detective Wilson sucked in a breath. Finding people wasn't difficult for him, but he had a habit of not making firm promises, always giving himself extra time.
"Detective Wilson, we've worked together for years. I know how efficient you are. Stop being modest."
Detective Wilson grinned. "Alright, just for that compliment, I'll start a full search right now."
Quinley was generous, immediately transferring two hundred thousand dollars to him. Money really did work wonders. With payment in hand, Detective Wilson only needed one night to locate Kevin's hiding place.