âWhen you went to the countryside with your classmates...â Damien began; his voice was soft and gentle.
âThe two with you: This is Lucy and Mandy.â
â| know Lucy, but who is Mandy?â Cherise inquired, her curiosity piqued.
âShe is also one of your closest friends...â Damien explained.
Within the halls of Adania Hospital, Sebastian lay upon the sterile sheets of his hospital bed, his expression etched with concern.
âWhat's that you're telling me? Alexis has vanished?â His voice held a note of urgency.
Yolanda, standing by his bedside, pressed her lips together in a tight line, her gaze dropping to the floor before she softly confirmed, âYes, heâs gone.â
â| had a disagreement with Cherise in the auditorium She stormed off afterward. When Mrs. Lydia escorted me to locate Alexis, he was nowhere to be found.â
â| instructed Mrs. Lydia to review the surveillance footage, but the person who took Alexis remained elusive. All we discerned was a figure clad in navy attire...â
Yolanda cast a pained glance toward Sebastian, her voice conveying remorse. âTruly, it wasnât my doing. | never imagined someone would dare to venture to the orphanage and snatch away a defenseless child.â
âHeh, but heâs no ordinary orphan,â Sebastian interjected, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
âAnd when does the old man intend to release you?â he inquired further.
âTomorrow,â Yolanda replied with resignation.
âVery well,â Sebastian conceded.
Sebastian drew in a deep breath, his resolve evident in the steely glint of his eyes. âJoin me this afternoon at the Lenoir Residence.â
âThe Lenoir Residence?â Yolanda echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief âYes, Damien and Cheriseâs home precisely,â Sebastian affirmed without hesitation.
Yolandaâs eyes widened in alarm. âSebastian, are you truly considering this? They hold such animosity toward you. Venturing there seems like inviting trouble.â
âEven if their hatred runs deep,â Sebastian retorted with a hint of icy amusement, âdo you truly believe they'd dare to murder me within the confines of their own abode in broad daylight?â
Yolandaâs lips tightened into a thin line as her gaze flickered to Sebastianâs tightly bandaged thigh.
The memory of Damienâs callous act, firing a bullet into Sebastianâs leg at the bar under the Weiss Group, lingered in her mind like a haunting specter.
Here was Sebastian, willingly putting himself in harmâs way by personally confronting Damien at his own residence. What if Damienâs rage once again spiraled out of control, leading to irreversible consequences this time?
Anxiety gnawed at her, and she hesitated. âCould |... perhaps opt out of this?â
Sebastian's cold stare pierced through her hesitation. Nothing untoward will occur. Donât succumb to fear so easily.â
He paused, a wry smile on his lips as he regarded Yolanda. âFurthermore,â he continued, his voice carrying a hint of intrigue, âdonât you wish to see Damien, the man you once admired, within the confines of his own domain?â
Yolanda was rendered speechless.
In truth, her fascination with Damien had waned over time.
Alainâs admonition, likening her desire to a toad aspiring to dine on a swanâs flesh, had prompted introspection.
Perhaps she realized that her attraction to Damien had been manipulated by Gwenn and Sebastian all along.
Deep down, she acknowledged that Damienâs character wasnât indeed to her liking.
The figure beside him, fair and noble in demeanor, seemed far more appealing in comparison.
âThen itâs settled,â Sebastian declared, his gaze piercing as he locked eyes with Yolanda. âJoin me at the Lenoir residence this afternoon.â
âI'm determined to discover who's behind Alexisâs disappearance,â Sebastian affirmed, his resolve unwavering.
Yolandaâs brow furrowed with concern, her long-held doubts spilling forth. âWhat tyeRatyOsth& - &
WiiRotnee of this Alexis?
Considering heâs just a child, is he truly worth all this effort?â
Moreover, heâs an unwanted orphan!
Sebastianâs eyes narrowed, a faintly sinister smile dancing on his lips. âHis identity holds significance; otherwise, my concern wouldn't be so pronounced.â
Amoment of silence passed as Sebastian contemplated the situation. âFortunately, Cherise suffers from amnesia now,â he mused aloud. âOtherwise...â
The implication hung heavy in the air. If Cherise retained her memories, any hope of adopting Alexis would be dashed.
Yolanda pressed further, her al evident. Wore ef your intentjangonde yourrsd opted this iid? Will you truly be a nurturing aie figure to him?â
âYes.â
Sebastian's laughter rang out, cold and calculated. âRest assured, Ly Wi mold thi is chilgrintocnyroln Cor and, Nis utilize him as a tool to settle scores with Damien and Lennon. It will be just right.â