âMommy isnât really hungry. How about we go to the amusement park now?â
âNo! Mommy, you should drink a glass of milk and eat a piece of cheese at least!â
âThatâs right! Otherwise you wonât have the energy to bring us around!â
Nicole chuckled at the serious expressions on Juan and Kyleâs face. She sped toward the dining room and gulped down a glass of milk. After that, she wolfed down some cheese.
âAlright, letâs go!â
She got four excited nods in response.
The amusement park was like the childrenâs playground.
The moment they entered, the kids charged straight for the Ferris wheel.
Nicole and the accompanying maid followed along behind them. The adults did not take their eyes off the children as they called out for the kids to be careful.
Despite their vigilance, something unfortunate still happened!
The kids got off the Ferris wheel and were about to head for the pirate ship when they noticed Maya was missing.
âWhereâs Maya?â Nicole asked as she looked down at the three remaining children.
âShe was just behind us!â
âYeah! I swear she was still giggling behind me a moment ago!â
âMommy, do you think she could have gone off to buy something to eat? Sheâs very gluttonous.â
âCâmon, we have to find her! Keep close to us and donât stray!â Nicole ordered as she searched frantically for Maya.
Yet even after searching through the entire amusement park, there was still no sign of the little girl.
Nicole was way beyond panic now. She prayed that nothing had happened to Maya.
She kept imagining Mayaâs chubby, adorable face, smiling innocently.
Her fingers were clenched so tightly her nails were digging into her sweaty palms. Worry and anxiety set her heart racing.
âMommy, call Daddy.â
âDaddy will be able to find Maya!â
âOkay, okay.â
She hurriedly fished out her phone and scrolled through her contacts for Evanâs number, tapping on it. She wondered how she was going to break the news to him.
How is he going to react to the news I lost his precious daughter? Will he blame me for it?
The call connected and Evanâs deep voice drifted out, âHelloâ¦â
âE-Evan, Maya is missing! I lost Maya!â Nicole cried out in a quavering voice.
âWhat?â
Evan was taken aback by her words. However, he could tell from her tone of voice that she was absolutely terrified.
âCalm down. Tell me where you are right now. Iâll head over immediately!â
âWeâre at the amusement park. Iâll send you the address.â
âOkay. Donât panic, okay? Iâll be there in a moment!â
After he hung up the call, Evan rushed out of his office. He bumped into Susan the moment he stepped out of the elevator.
âEvan, whatâs wrong? Where are you going in such a hurry?â
âThe amusement park!â
âIâll go with you!â
Evan did not even stop to answer her as he strode out of the building. Susan hastily followed him.
The noise and bustle of the amusement park seemed to have been put on mute. Nicole could not hear a single thing as her head spun wildly. Only one thought was running through her mind right then.
I have to find Maya!
âMaya!â
She kept screaming Mayaâs name as she continued forward numbly.
Suddenly, she tripped and stumbled a few steps. Unfortunately, she was unable to regain her balance and went crashing to the ground.
âMommy!â Juan yelled anxiously.
She sat on the ground, staring at Juanâs small figure sprinting toward her. Out of nowhere, there was a sharp pain in her head. Time seemed to come to a halt as images flashed through her mind. She saw Juan when he was still a toddler, learning how to walk. Then, another image flashed in her mindâJuan had only just learned how to runâ¦
Next, her head began to throb dully and she cradled it gingerly. Like a broken dam, wave after wave of images crashed upon her relentlessly. They played out in her mind like a video that was hastily patched together.
It started out with her giving birth to several babies. Then, it was the children crying, smiling, feeling cold and feeling hungry.
Next, it was images of her returning to the country and meeting Evan againâusing her identity as Dr. Tussaud to cure Kyleâs illness. There was the time when Evan tried to fight for the custody of their children, and when Evan was in a plane crash. Finally, she remembered when Evan followed her to K Nation to discover her real identity as the daughter of a duke.