As Ivan said that, Jasper massaged his own forehead, his gaze turning sad.
"That's where Selena can't take it, and where I can't take it too. It's as if the child just vanished without a trace. There hasn't even been scam calls telling us where the kid could be. It's like he's just vanished.
"We don't have a clue who did it and can't even take revenge. So I know how down Selena is feeling. If something had happened to the child, so long as we knew who did it, we could still take revenge, and have that drive Selena's thoughts for the child.
"But we don't know who did it, and they haven't bragged or mocked us. We have no news. Other than the message lying to Selena to take advantage of her, there haven't even been pranks, and nobody's given us any calls telling us about possible news of the child. There's not even a hint of hope."
Ivan patted Jasper on the shoulder.
"You've had it hard for this while, brother."
Jasper chuckled bitterly and shook his head.
"I can still take it. What's this to me? Selena's the mother. It's her who's in unimaginable despair. Besides, I can at least set people on watch and keep her from killing herself. It's fine for now, but Robert's condition worries me. You told me about the current situation over the phone. You couldn't even find a doctor to treat him. If it really does worsen, I can't imagine how it'll end up. Are there really no other solutions?"
"None. Even if they came up with hypotheses, because nobody's tested for it, that means that they'll have to use Robert's body as a test subject. A lab rat. There's no telling what the results could be, so Georgia and the others couldn't make a decision. They've been trying to look for a stable solution.
"But realistically speaking, I know that's not too probable. I'm in medicine too. To finish a medication, you need animal testing, then live patient studies. Even going on market, some medication can't be taken by pregnant women, children, or people with high blood pressure. Drug tests take years, decades, even, but Robert can't wait. Georgia and gang can't take risks, either. Only reliable treatment methods work, but I don't think it applies for this situation."
"You said that you'd come back for Riley. I didn't understand over the phone. What's this got to do with Riley now?"
Jasper asked strangely, and Ivan told him about Riley calling Georgia.
"I have to meet him in person now. There's no time to send people to investigate what his situation is. We can only negotiate with him face to face. Whether it's money or some other angle from which to profit, I need to see through his intentions. If he really does have a way to manage Robert's condition, I can't miss the change and delay."
"What does Riley mean by this? They've got a lot of industries they invested in on his side, but nothing in medical and biopharmaceutical fields. How could he have a way to treat Robert? Has the Price family done something in the shadows?"
"I'm not sure either. If Robert's condition is stable, we can set people on it, but there's no time."
"Let's go. I'll go see him with you."
Ivan nodded and the two drove straight to the Price home.
There was only Riley living here, though. He didn't live with his family.
When Ivan and Jasper arrived in the district, they gave Riley a call, and the man chuckled on the other end of the line.
"I knew you'd come to see me. Come on in. The door's open.
When they went in, Riley was sitting there alone in the living room. Not even a servant could be seen.
Riley himself was watching TV, looking carefree and casual.
Ivan sat down next to him, his face dark.
"Whatever you know or whatever deal you're trying to cut, Riley, you'd best speak out now."
"That's not the attitude you want when you're asking for help, Ivan. The person who has an issue is Robert. The one you're asking for help from is me. With your attitude and tone, it's entirely possible you'll offend me too much for me to help."
Ivan's face instantly changed. He didn't think that Riley would be threatening him now.
This really wasn't a decent character.
Jasper took Ivan's elbow and signaled for him to be calm as he turned evenly to Riley.
"Since you know something, you have to give Georgia a call. We've known each other for so many years, Riley. Whatever it is you want, just say it. I don't want to delay your time or mine. If you genuinely mean to complete this deal, this is your best change to negotiate."
Riley laughed.
"I'm taking you somewhere. We'll talk about our next step there."
Jasper and Ivan exchanged a glance, and in the end, they got in a car with Riley and went to the place he'd specified.
While overseas, Georgia and Aston pored over the data and discussed it for a whole night before she stayed stuck in the lab experimenting again, and discussing it with Aston.
They ran tests on animals, grasping every minute, every second.
By midnight, Georgia was too tired, and couldn't bear it. She fell asleep.
Not long afterwards, though, she received a call from a number she didn't know. After taking the call, a somewhat familiar female voice rang out from inside.
"I hear Robert's been saved, Georgia. Why have there been no news of him? Are you still overseas?"
"Who are you?"
Georgia asked the woman straight up.
"Can't you hear from my voice? I'm Tammy Wilkes. Wasn't Robert kidnapped before? I hear he's been saved. Why didn't you bring him back to the Powell family to dine? Is Robert hurt?"
While Tammy asked concernedly, Georgia's expression turned cold.
"I can't tell you much about my husband, Tammy. You know full well what the relationship is between the Powell family and myself. I don't feel like I need to come back for dinner. No need to concern yourself over my husband, Miss Wilkes. He's a married man, and needs to maintain some distance from single women, understand?"
Georgia was about to hang up when Tammy spoke frantically.
"What do you mean by that? I was just concerned about Robert's condition. You're Robert's wife but it doesn't mean he can't have female friends. I've known him many years ago before you were with him. Don't put on airs in front of me. Women have to be generous."
At Tammy's words, Georgia couldn't help but sneer.
"Tammy, my husband liked other women before. He had an ex-fiance and a lot of people who adored him in secret. You're not the only such woman. As for what I do with women who want to approach him, my husband has said that it's up to me. I don't have time to waste talking to you. I hope you learn some shame from now on and stay away from married men."
"You're just jealous, Georgia. I had a one-night-stand with Robert back then and a happy time of travelling. Are you afraid I'll steal your husband? I'm telling you, men always go for new women, and forbidden fruit is always the sweetest. Seems like you're not confident enough to let me meet and talk to Robert. Really, it's pitiful being a woman like you, on guard for every butterfly around her man..."
Tammy was still babbling when Georgia hung up.
One night stand?
Georgia told herself not to get mad. Robert was still unconscious, and it wasn't worth her getting mad.
And she had to trust Robert. After building up her mental barriers, Georgia went back to her research.
She didn't have the mood to sleep any longer.
But after working for an hour or two and when the sky was about to lighten, Georgia still fell asleep.
She slept the morning away, and when she woke again, Antonio turned to her and spoke.
"Ivan called me and said he's brought Riley and a few people over. They're going to arrive soon."
Georgia's face changed straight away, and a while later, she and Antonio walked out to receive them.
Seeing Ivan and Riley get out of the car, Georgia remained calm.
But the moment she saw Leda get out of the car, her face still showed surprise.