âDuke, I want to hear the truth. Please donât lie to me. Iâm an adult.
I can handle anything.â
âIâm sorry, Addy. Iâve failed to safeguard our daughter, but rest assured that I have located her and will soon be able to find her.â
Adina pursed her lips, âOkay, you have to let me know immediately if thereâs any update.â
She hung up, looked at Earley, and said, âYou sent someone to abduct my daughter?â
âYou make it sound so awful. I was just inviting your little girl to hang out at my place for a short time.â A wry smile appeared on Earleyâs face, âIf she remains obedient, nothing will happen.â
Adina clenched her fingers tightly when she heard what he said.
Earleyâs words implied that if Mel disobeyed him, something might happen.
Mel grew up without a father and was diagnosed with autism when she was two years old. She had lived in her own world for so many years since then.
If Mel was threatened, would she retreat back into her tiny little shell?
The thought of this possibility made Adinaâs heart ache.
She took a deep breath and said, âYou just want me to agree with that human biological project, right?
Okay, Iâll do it. Iâm ready to sign the contract.â
âUnfortunately, my company was ruined by Duke! â
Earleyâs voice was cold to the extreme as he enunciated each word carefully.
He spoke coldly, âThis time, your daughterâs fate is not because you did not agree to cooperate, it was because Duke stood against me, so I can only use the child he cares about the most! If you have any grievances, go to Duke. It has nothing to do with me! â
Adina clenched the back of her teeth, pretending to be calm as she asked, âThen what exactly do I have to do before youâre willing to give me back my daughter?â
âGet in the car. Iâll take you to your daughter.â
Earley said coldly.
Adina clenched her palm tightly. She knew she could not mess up, absolutely not!
As Duke searched for Melâs whereabouts, all she had to do was to distract Earley.
If she accidentally provoked this man, with a single command, something could happen to Mel.
She took a deep breath and opened the back seat door.
âThatâs more like it.â
Earley turned the steering wheel, started the engine, and the car drove in the direction of a rural area that was completely devoid of people.
Duke sped all the way and finally arrived at the destination.
He arrived at the suburban zooâs entrance. When he got out of the car, he saw Mel was blowing bubbles with a group of children, while Mrs. Winters was sitting at one side of the grass watching Mel.
This scene was warm and harmonious. Where was the danger?
âDuke, why are you here?â
When Mrs. Winters saw him, she hurriedly greeted him, her face full of surprise.
Duke pursed his lips and said in a slow voice, âDidnât you take Mel to go jewelry shopping? Why did you come to visit the suburban zoo?â
âSomeone said that today the zoo has the childrenâs favorite pink alpacas, so I brought Mel over to take a look.â Mrs. Winters smiled and said, âWhen Mel saw the pink alpacas just now, she smiled happily.â
Duke narrowed his eyes and asked, âWho sent you both to come over here?â
Mrs. Wintersâ face seems a little taken aback. Her eyes were looking around, with a guilty look.
âHeh, itâs Earl Wynters!â
Duke sneered, and his eyes showed a piercing coldness.
Mrs. Winters hurriedly explained, âAfter Earl knew you had a daughter. He was also very happy. He was the one who asked around and discovered that there were pink alpacas in the zoo here, so he made arrangements for the driver to pick Mel and me up. As you can see, we are safe and sound. It can be seen that Earl genuinely likes Mel, so you shouldnât always look at him with the same eyes as before, okay? He has changed for the better.â