Chapter 215

Chapter 215

Matthew quickly stood up and grabbed the report from the desk to look at it.

The test results showed there were trace amounts of hydrides in the food, which meant someone had deliberately poisoned it!

Matthew forcefully threw the report on the desk, braced both hands on the table, his face full of anger, "damn it, they didn't even spare the children. What absolute scum!"

Chris said angrily, "who could it be? Who would do this to children?"

Just then, his phone rang. Matthew picked it up to answer, "this is Matthew!"

The voice on the other end said, "Mr. Moore, we've found an important lead that we think you should know about."

Matthew's pupils contracted, and his hand gripping the phone unconsciously tightened, "what lead?"

The voice continued, "we questioned all the kitchen staff at the kindergarten. One of them said that yesterday, when she came back from shopping, she ran into a strange woman. This woman looked at what was in her bag and even reached in to look through it. So we have reason to believe this woman is our main suspect!"

Matthew couldn't wait and raised his voice, "then why aren't you out there catching this woman and asking her why she tried to hurt the children! Whatever her reason, she must be severely punished!"

The voice paused, "Mr. Moore, we've already started investigating, but unfortunately there's no surveillance on that stretch of road, so we can't get a description of the woman or any leads for now. But give us some time, we will find this suspect!"

Matthew sighed helplessly, "alright, I'll wait for your good news!"

After hanging up, Matthew gave Chris a look. Chris understood and left the office, closing the door behind him.

Matthew found his private investigator's number and dialed it.

"Mr. Moore, what can I do for you?" The private investigator's low voice came through the phone.

Matthew said coldly, "do you know about the children getting poisoned at my kindergarten?"

The private investigator replied, "I do! Does Mr. Moore want me to investigate?"

When it came to the Moore family's affairs, even the smallest things were big news to the people of Emerald City, let alone something like mass poisoning. Emerald City was already buzzing with talk about it!

A cold gleam flashed in Matthew's eyes, "there are two types of people I hate most—human traffickers, and scum who take revenge on society through children! These two types don't deserve to live in this world. You understand what I mean?"

The private investigator had handled many matters for Matthew and naturally understood this major client's needs, "Mr. Moore, I understand. You mean after finding this person, you want to handle it yourself, right?"

Matthew gritted his teeth, "good that you understand!"

It wasn't that he didn't trust the police, but the police had to follow procedures. Matthew didn't want to give anyone who hurt children any chance to survive.

Hospital, afternoon.

Elise was reading a fairy tale to Atticus in the hospital room when Zander walked in carrying a bag of snacks.

"Daddy!" Atticus called out happily, though his voice was weak.

Zander glanced at Elise, then came over to hug Atticus, "Atticus, how are you feeling now?"

Atticus answered honestly, "not so bad anymore! Last night my head hurt a lot, but after that man rubbed it for me, it doesn't hurt anymore!"

"Which man?" Zander put the snacks on the table. "A doctor?"

Atticus shook his head, "the man who serves food in the cafeteria!"

Zander frowned, "the man who serves food in the cafeteria?"

Atticus explained further, "the person who hit you at the airport that day."

Zander's face immediately darkened, "he came to see you?" Zander asked, very displeased.

Atticus sensed Zander's unhappiness, and fear showed in his eyes, "Daddy, don't you like him?"

Zander said through gritted teeth, "a rude, barbaric person like him—I wish he would disappear from the face of the earth! Atticus, don't see him again. I'm worried he'll be a bad influence on you!"

"Zander!" Elise looked at Zander disapprovingly. "Don't say these things in front of the child, okay? Matthew is after all..."

Zander hesitated, then suddenly grabbed Elise's hand. Elise gasped in pain, "let's talk outside!"

Zander pulled Elise all the way to the balcony at the end of the hallway.

"Zander, you're hurting me! Let go!" Elise's brow furrowed slightly.

But Zander didn't let go. Instead, he stared intently at Elise, "Elise, what do you mean? Do you want Atticus to recognize Matthew, that bastard?"

Elise said, "that's not what I mean! But Atticus is Matthew's child—that's beyond dispute. Please don't badmouth his father in front of the child from now on. It's not good! And it's low!"

"Low?" Zander's face turned bright red, his chest heaving violently. "Elise, saying that really hurts me! Do you know who you're defending? Someone who hurt you countless times! Can't you see Matthew's intentions? Getting close to Atticus to win you over—he's never given up on you! From that perspective, he's the one who's low!"

Suddenly Zander's eyes became extremely sharp, as if trying to pierce through Elise's soul, "Elise, you're not planning to let Atticus recognize Matthew as his father, and then get back together with Matthew, are you?"

Elise's eyes wavered, and she turned her face to look elsewhere, "that's not what I mean. You're overthinking it, Zander! I'm already engaged to you. How could I get back together with Matthew? It's impossible, it will never happen!"

However, the more Elise said this, the more it sounded like she was making excuses!

She was trying to convince Zander, and also herself, that she and Matthew were impossible!

Zander asked suspiciously, "are you speaking from your heart?"

Elise nodded, "yes!"

However, she changed her tone, "I am me, and the child is the child. They have a father-son relationship—that can never be changed, and we can't artificially prevent them from seeing each other! Right now Matthew is being reasonable and hasn't done a paternity test. He could easily sue us based on a paternity test for not giving him visitation rights!"

Hearing this, Zander fell silent for a moment. What Elise said did make sense. Once Matthew demanded a paternity test, they would be in the wrong.

If Matthew then made this public online, saying the Lawson family deliberately concealed Elise's identity and took Matthew's son as their own, the Lawson family's reputation would be ruined!

"Fine, but you tell Matthew that Atticus has already accepted me as his father in his heart. Atticus won't be his son anymore. Tell him to give up that idea!"

Images of Matthew and Atticus interacting suddenly flashed through Elise's mind, and her feelings were complicated. Atticus wasn't like Zander—he didn't reject Matthew so strongly.

Though Elise thought this in her heart, she still said, "I've already told Matthew not to tell the child about their relationship face to face, or I won't let them see each other anymore!"

Hearing this, Zander's face finally showed a smile. He let go of Elise's hand, cupped her face, and kissed her forehead, "Elise, I'm sorry if my tone was a bit harsh just now! I just can't stand seeing Matthew acting so arrogant and looking down on everyone!"

"To be honest, I am worried about Matthew. I'm worried he'll use all kinds of tricks to deceive you. Elise, I love you. I can't live without you! If I lost you, what would be the point of my life? I'd rather be dead!"