Chapter 182: Denial to the End (Part 1)
“Aimée, listen to me! If you dare hurt Sophia, I won’t let you off the hook. And don’t even think about marrying Jack. You’ll get what’s coming to you!” Alison had never spoken with such intensity before.
“Alison, I told you I didn’t take your daughter! Don’t pin this on me! I don’t have time for this. Hanging up!” Aimée pressed the button and ended the call.
Alison slumped back, dazed.
She desperately wanted to call Jack and tell him his daughter was missing, but she couldn’t.
If Aimée were really behind this, her goal was to rip Alison and Jack apart.
Tears finally spilled down her cheeks.
She sat numbly, waiting for whoever had taken Sophia to reach out.
“Alison, I’m sorry.” Aidan returned, his face etched with guilt.
If he hadn’t been chatting with Alison, Sophia might not have gone missing.
“Aidan, it’s not your fault. Take me home.” She couldn’t bear to stay there another moment; her heart was torn with panic.
She wept silently—a sight that tugged at his heartstrings.
Aidan reached out his hand. “Alison, don’t be afraid. You still have Ethan and me. Sophia will come back.”
She gently placed her hand in his, trying to calm her nerves.
Their hands clasped.
Aidan gave a gentle tug, and she stood.
He bent to pick up Ethan. “Come on, I’ll take you home first.”
Ethan gazed at Alison. “Mummy, maybe Sophia went to play somewhere. Let’s wait for her at the gate.”
Those words struck Alison.
Yes, that’s possible!
She hurriedly pulled Aidan toward the exit.
Standing at the gate, she scanned the crowd, desperate to spot Sophia.
“Alison, call the police.” Aidan had held back for a long time, but it was still the safest course.
Alison wiped her tears and shook her head. “No, I can’t call the police.”
She couldn’t risk provoking the Polar Bear Alliance. If they lashed out in desperation and harmed Sophia, she would never forgive herself.
Night fell, and the onlookers gradually dispersed.
With Alison refusing to call the police, the KFC staff could only watch helplessly.
Alison pulled Ethan over and sat him by the roadside, her eyes fixed on the pavement.
She pleaded silently: Sophia, please come back. If you return, Mummy will really take you to see Daddy. I won’t lie again.
Tears streamed down her face, leaving her fragile.
Aidan clasped her hand tightly, comforting. “Alison, trust me. Sophia will be fine. Who could hurt such a sweet girl?”
Alison asked, trying to convince herself. “Did Sophia just go to play somewhere? She’ll be back soon, won’t she?”
She longed for the words to be true.
Aidan soothed her, “Yes, just wait a little longer and she’ll be back.”
He wiped her tears, but more kept falling.
“Alison…” He gently drew her head onto his shoulder, whispering, “Trust me, Sophia will come back.”
He had already sent people to search discreetly.
Alison leaned against him. Closing her eyes, she pulled Ethan close, wanting to rest for a moment. But reason told her she couldn’t just sit there, enduring the strange stares of passers-by. She needed to go home and wait for news.
She was certain news of Sophia would come.
Taking deep breaths, she finally stemmed the tears.
Opening her eyes, she murmured, “Aidan, help me up. I need to go home.”
Just then, as dusk deepened, a white Lamborghini glided slowly past.
Jack, in the driver’s seat, stared intently at Alison and Aidan by the roadside.
In the back seat, Aimée smirked.