Robert was really crazy. He didnât even let the child off!
For the first time, Xiao Meng hated her weakness and incompetence. If she had called the police the first time Robert treated her roughly, then Robert would not have had the chance to do these wrong things! There would not be so many people who died tragically!
Xiao Meng looked at little Clarice with grief in her eyes.
âChild, Iâm sorry. I canât let you go.â She tugged at the chain on her hand and said in despair, âHe even locked me up. I canât help you. Child, Iâm sorry. I apologize on his behalf.â
Clarice chuckled and asked Xiao Meng, âYouâre not the one who wants to kill me. Why are you apologizing to me?â
Xiao Meng looked at the child in shock, feeling that this child was too calm.
Clarice suddenly asked Xiao Meng, âDo you know what your husband asked your child to do?â
Xiao Meng did not know. She only knew that her husband was very strict with Xiaobao. Could there be something else?
Seeing Xiao Mengâs reaction, Clarice knew that Herbert had never told the person in front of her about those things. She wanted to hit that bad person. Clarice pursed her lips and said to Xiao Meng, âRobert asked Herbert to help him destroy the evidence.â
Xiao Mengâs face turned pale, and her breathing became heavy.
âW-What!â
How could he treat a child so cruelly!
Clarice said nothing more.
She felt especially uncomfortable with her body tied up.
Clarice did not want to die, but it was obvious that she could not escape from the current situation. She did not expect Robert to be kind enough to let her go, and that was impossible. She could only pray secretly that the police and bodyguards would discover Robertâs true colors sooner, preferably before she died and save her.
At this moment, the basement floor suddenly opened.
Then, light footsteps entered the house.
Clarice rolled her eyes and saw a small, thin child standing beside her. Clarice stared at the child and said, âYou do know the murderer.â
Herbert said nothing.
Clarice asked him again, âWhy didnât you call the police?â
Herbert finally spoke.
He said, âThe first time, I wanted to call the police. He left this on me.â As he spoke, Herbert pulled open his shirt and revealed the painful scar on his heart. It was also the first time Xiao Meng saw her sonâs wound. She was so shocked that she could not speak.
After a while, Xiao Meng cried out sadly, âGod, Xiaobao, what did that beast do to you!â
Herbert looked at Xiao Meng calmly and said, âThis is the man you married.â
Xiao Mengâs face turned pale and her heart ached.
Herbert looked at Clarice again and said, âThe second time, the police came to visit. I made a distress signal on the cup where they were drinking tea.â Herbert curled his lips into a despairing smile. âThen she was almost beaten to death. And I.â Herbert lifted his fringe to reveal a pink scar.
âI asked for help. Robert wouldnât let me go. The police couldnât save me,â Herbert said. âNo one could save us except to save themselves.â
Clarice fell silent.
She had been silent since she saw the scar on Herbertâs chest.
There was a short silence in the room.
After a while, Herbert asked Clarice, âI clearly told you to leave. Why didnât you listen?â
Clarice was stunned. âWhen did you say that?â
Herbert thought of something and smiled even more awkwardly. He said, âYou didnât look at the photo.â
Clarice froze at the thought.
âW-Didnât you want to cut ties with me?â Did he say those words on purpose? Was his goal actually to give her the photo and let her see the contents of the photo? âWhat does the photo say?â
Herbert said, âNothing. Forget it if you didnât see it.â
Clarice knew that she could not get an answer from Herbert, so she gave up.
Herbert said, âYou wonât die.â Then he left.
Clarice pondered his last words.
She would not die.
What right did he have to say that?
Late at night, Robert returned from work and was surprised to see so many police officers in town. His car was also stopped. When the police came to ask questions, Robert answered honestly. After answering, he asked the police, âWhatâs going on? Did something happen in town?â
The policeman said, âA child is missing.â
âWhat?â Robertâs expression changed slightly. He said anxiously, âSir, my son is home alone. His name is Herbert. Can you tell me the name of the missing child?â
The policeman lowered his voice a little. âThe missing childâs name is not Herbert,â he said.
Robert seemed relieved to hear this.
In the distance, Jimmy stared at Robertâs reaction and frowned.
This personâs reaction looked too normal.
Could it be that he was wrong?
It was past ten oâclock when Robert got home. There was no peace in the town that night. Under the circumstances, Robert could not calm down and study it properly, so he decided to have a good nightâs rest. He got home, took a shower, and saw that Herbert was eating noodles. He said, âA child is missing from town.â
Herbert could not be bothered to act with him.
He said, âI saw her already.â
âIs that so?â
Robert smiled as he walked over to Herbert, who poured himself a cup of water. Seeing Robert standing to the side, he poured him a cup as well. He handed the cup to Robert and lowered his head to eat. Robert twirled the cup in his hand and asked him with a smile, âSo, child, do you know what you should do?â
Herbert hesitated before saying, âI wonât tell the police where she is. Sheâs close to me, but I care more about my mother.â
Robert was especially satisfied.
However, Herbert whispered again, âDaddy, can you let her go?â
Robert wagged his finger. His gentle voice sounded like a demon tempting someone to commit a crime. He said, âYou canât.â
His big palm touched Herbertâs head. Robert drank the cup of water and turned to go upstairs to his room to rest.
Herbert continued to eat.
â¦
Late at night, Jimmy returned home from work.
His girlfriend, Rachel, was back. Rachel had just returned and her heart ached for Jimmy when she heard what had happened today. Rachel hugged Jimmy and kissed him before asking, âAre you tired? Are you hungry? Iâll cook you something to eat.â
Jimmy said, âIâm hungry and tired.â Thinking that Rachel had been busy recently, Jimmy said, âRachel, if youâre tired, you donât have to cook. Letâs just sleep.â
Rachel was already in the kitchen. âItâs okay. If you have nothing to do, you can put the unwashed clothes in the washing machine first. We can eat together later.â