Chapter 369: Chapter 369

Chapter 369

Pattie, who was already emotionally scarred, was more sensitive than the average child and had a lack of security. What she feared most was abandonment.

Anastasia felt a pang in her heart, pulling Pattie into her arms. “No, darling. Mom will always love you. I won’t abandon you.”

Salma grumbled irritably, “That old woman! How could she say such a thing to a child?”

Angry as she was, Salma didn’t have the nerve to confront Cynthia, who was her own sister after all.

Herman held Pattie’s little hand, saying, “Now you have my surname. Your name is Paradise. You are my daughter. Remember that, nobody can change it. Hold your head high and have confidence in life, okay? You’re our pride.”

Pattie nodded, not fully understanding but gradually stopping her tears. “Daddy, I won’t cry anymore.” She was their daughter, their pride. She needed to be confident, not inferior.

“Alright, alright, let’s eat. We’re all hungry,” Salma called everyone to dinner.

Pattie was no longer timid and obedient.

After dinner, Katelyn and Feiman left first. Anastasia, feeling sleepy, went to her room for a nap.

Feeling reassured with Anastasia at home, Herman went to the office.

Salma took Pattie for a walk around the neighborhood. Just as they reached the playground, Salma saw Tavon approaching.

Tavon, carrying bags of health products, noticed Salma and approached her with a smile. “Salma, you’re here,” Tavon laughed. “I came to see Ana. I was in Willowbrook for a few days, and just got back today. I heard Ana’s pregnant, isn’t she? That’s fantastic. Our daughter’s really made us proud.”

Salma frowned. “What do you mean by ‘our daughter’? She’s my daughter. Tavon, just leave.”

“Salma, we were okay before. Why are you angry again?” Tavon cajoled with a grin. “You know why I went to Willowbrook? I’ve divorced Ashley. Here, take a look.”

As he spoke, Tavon showed Salma the divorce papers.

Salma was shocked. She picked up the papers and glanced at them. Then she looked at Tavon incredulously, “You really divorced Ashley?”

“Yeah, it’s true, Salma,” Tavon said with a deep, earnest look. “I’ve always loved you. Marrying her, it was all out of desperation. I know I’ve hurt you before, but I promise to change, to treat you well.”

Tavon’s acting was superb. The divorce papers were nothing but a fake, procured from some shady dealer. Ashley wouldn’t let him go that easily.

However, this expensive fake made Salma believe Tavon’s words. Salma didn’t expect Tavon to actually divorce Ashley. She looked at the divorce papers, and then studied Tavon’s sincere smile. She asked, “If Ana didn’t marry into the Salstrom family, would you come to find us from Willowbrook? Would you

divorce?”

Tavon sighed and said, “Salma, I won’t hide it. To be honest, these years I’ve been suffocated by the Stanton family. I’ve always wanted to escape from Ashley, but I had to be loyal to my family. I’ve always loved you. Ana’s marriage has boosted my confidence and helped me confront the Stanton family.”

His words were half-truths and half-lies. Salma’s heart wavered.

“Tavon,” she said, “I don’t care what you and Ashley have been through, but please don’t use our daughter’s name to do anything that might hurt her. I’m very disappointed in you, Tavon. I trusted you once, so I won’t trust you again. Who knows if you’re playing some kind of game with Ashley, trying to use my daughter’s bone marrow.”

“Salma, I swear, this time it won’t be like that. Sandy’s had a bone marrow transplant, and it was Sean who donated it.” Tavon vowed, and indeed, he had given up on Sandy and Sean.

Sean had saved Sandy without a word. After the bone marrow donation, Sean was bound to be useless. Now Taven had to cling to Anastasia and align with the Salstrom family.

Salma was aware of the bone marrow match between Sean and Sandy, so she didn’t doubt Tavon’s words.

Just as Salma was about to say something, she saw a group of police officers approaching, heading straight for the building. Salma curiously asked a woman walking her child in the neighborhood, “Hey, why are there so many cops in the neighborhood?”

“You didn’t hear? There’s a missing child.” The woman said, “The little boy from the West family in building three is missing.”