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Novel Catalog
Chapter_272
“Hey, let’s not go down that road. Mom’s got plenty of admirers, but that’s not the issue right now. What matters is that I need to talk to her about something important,” Sammy said, waving his hand dismissively. “I saw you at the mall earlier, quite unexpectedly. Is she around?”
Danny shook his head. “Mom had something important today. She left me in the care of a friend.”
Sammy chuckled lightly. “Babysitting, huh? Looks like we’ve got to swap back then.”
Danny pouted, clearly reluctant. “Swap back already?” he murmured, a little upset. He had just snuggled into Mom’s embrace the night before, and time spent with Ludwik felt less cherished. “When will I get to see Mom again?”
Sammy noticed the longing in his little brother’s eyes and couldn’t help but ask, “What’s bothering you, Danny?”
Danny hesitated before speaking, his voice laced with unease. “I don’t want to go back to the mansion. I have to face Elaine. She forces me to go to preschool, and she deliberately puts me in a class where I get bullied. Every time I get hit, she’s happy about it. Then she tells Dad it’s my fault for being mischievous, making him think I’m always the one causing trouble.”
Sammy’s expression darkened, his usual calm replaced by a flicker of anger. “Man, that’s rough! If I’d known, I would’ve gone to preschool in your place today and taught those kids a lesson.”
But then, Sammy’s face softened as he smiled. “Don’t worry. After I talk to Mom, we’ll find a way to swap back. I’ll sort things out at school for you and expose that wicked woman’s scheme!”
For a moment, even the usually stoic Danny couldn’t help but chuckle, his heart warming. Having a brother was definitely a pretty great feeling.
“Deal!” Danny replied coolly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I should go back and continue to annoy Ludwik.”
They both shared a laugh, and Sammy pointed at their clothes, indicating it was time to switch back. After they quickly changed outfits, Sammy threw an arm around Danny’s shoulder, a sense of camaraderie forming between them. “Let’s get you a smartwatch. We can modify it a little so you can hide it. That way, we can keep in touch secretly.”
Danny raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “I can modify it myself.”
Sammy’s eyes lit up. “Really? You don’t look like it, but maybe you’re a hacking genius like me?”
Danny shrugged, a modest smile playing on his lips. “Mediocre,” he said. He had kept his skills hidden, not wanting to give Elaine any reason to target him further. Then, with a sly grin, he asked, “Who’s older, you or me?”
Sammy let out a loud laugh. “We’d have to ask Mom about that! But since she doesn’t know yet, let’s keep it a secret for now. Wouldn’t want her to faint when she sees two of us!”
“Right!” Danny replied, grinning.
The two made their way to the mall’s mask dispenser, each grabbing one before heading off to buy their matching smartwatches, quietly plotting how they’d stay in touch without anyone finding out. Sammy suggested they stop by the candy store, while he himself sprinted towards the mall’s train ride, eager to get back to the fun.
Meanwhile, Tiana was in full panic mode, holding Cherry close as she frantically searched for Sammy. “Sammy! Where have you run off to?” she shouted, her voice filled with frustration. “Damn it, this is the first day I’m taking Whitney’s little treasure out and I lose him!”
Her anxious cries quickly gathered a crowd, with a stunning couple about to enter a high-end French restaurant nearby. The man, wearing sleek glasses, glanced sideways at the commotion. Endora Melford, trailing behind Parker Doonan, noticed Tiana holding her daughter, desperately searching through the crowd.
Parker paused, his ear catching the familiar voice. “What’s the commotion outside?” he asked, his tone curious.
His subordinate, standing nearby, shrugged. “I’m not sure, sir.”
Parker’s gaze swept over the crowd, then he instructed, “Go check it out…”
But before the subordinate could move, Endora’s eyes flashed with recognition. She immediately clung to Parker’s arm, drawing his attention away. “It’s just a woman looking for her child,” she said dismissively. “What does it have to do with us? I’m hungry. Let’s order. This chef is my favorite, and he’ll be off soon.”
With that, Endora led Parker deeper into the restaurant, toward a lavish private room. But as they walked, Parker found himself pausing for a moment, his mind racing. That voice… it sounded so much like Tiana’s. He hadn’t seen her in years—three to be exact—and he’d heard from Nolan Fuller how poorly she was doing. But why had she rejected his help so vehemently all those years ago?
His feelings about Tiana were complicated. They had never been particularly close, but Whitney had often contacted him, making it seem like she had a soft spot for him. But when Tiana cut ties so cleanly, Parker couldn’t help but feel a tinge of regret and annoyance.
Endora, noticing Parker’s distraction, asked coyly, “What are you thinking about? You’re zoning out.”
Parker stiffened, his handsome features suddenly rigid. Damn it, why was he thinking about that irrelevant woman now? He had Endora by his side, and he was mostly grateful for her help that night.
“Nothing,” he replied, trying to shake off the thoughts. “Let’s go eat.”
Endora smiled and clung tighter to him, blocking his view. As the private room’s door closed behind them, her smile faded. The relief of Parker not noticing Tiana quickly turned into a calculating smirk. She couldn’t let Tiana continue to exist in Parker’s world like this. Not when it was clear how much Tiana’s daughter resembled Parker’s older brother, Barclay Doonan.
Endora knew she had to make a plan to link Cherry to Barclay somehow. Marrying Parker was her goal, and she wasn’t about to let anyone, especially Tiana, get in her way.
Back outside, Tiana was about to head to the service desk to make a missing child announcement when, out of nowhere, a small figure dashed toward her through the crowd. The little shadow chased after her for a few meters before a warm, familiar voice called out, “Pretty lady! I’m right here!”
Tiana turned around in shock to see Sammy, his appearance neat and calm, looking every bit the confident young boy. She blinked, utterly surprised. Did he really just call her a “pretty lady”? She took a deep breath and quickly rushed to her daughter, squatting down to scoop her up.
“Where have you been, Sammy?” Tiana asked, exasperated. “We were enjoying the train ride. I know you don’t like childish games, but your sister wanted to ride. If you didn’t want to, you should’ve just told me…”
Sammy flashed a small smile, his eyes twinkling as he saw Tiana struggling with Cherry. He stepped forward, extending his arms to scoop Cherry up, his voice full of earnest apology. “It was my mistake, sorry about that. I had a bladder emergency and dashed to the bathroom. Didn’t get a chance to tell you. Won’t happen again, I promise.”
Tiana was taken aback. She stared at him for a moment, her eyebrows arching in surprise. If not for his familiar face and clothes, she would’ve sworn this was a different person. Had the icy Alaskan Malamute suddenly transformed into a warm-hearted Golden Retriever?
Sammy, holding the 2-year-old with ease, looked down at Cherry, who stared up at him, drooling with excitement. “What a cute little thing,” he murmured, gently touching her soft hair. “Sis, where do you wanna go next? Big bro’s here to hang with you.”
Cherry’s eyes sparkled as she cheered, “Big bro, you like me now? Mommy, mommy, big bro’s so cool, even cooler than his tough guy act earlier…”
Tiana blinked in surprise. “And when you grow up, would you wanna marry your big brother?” Cherry asked innocently, repeating something no doubt picked up from TV.
Sammy’s lips curled into an innocent smile, clearly aware of the effect his cute face had on people. “I don’t know, maybe!” he teased, his tone playful.
Tiana was speechless. Was she hearing this right? She had to pause before responding, watching Sammy’s warm smile as a wave of empathy for Whitney washed over her. The boy had completely transformed into a different version of himself.
Tiana quickly pulled out her phone, sending a hesitant text to Whitney. It was five in the afternoon, but no reply came.
Meanwhile, in the CEO’s office, Ludwik had just closed the file in front of him, his sharp features giving away his inner frustration. He had to step in after the fallout with Whitney earlier. Taking a deep breath, he stood up, grabbed his blazer, and spoke to his driver through the intercom, “Bring the car around. I’m heading to Lanting Apartments.”
Lanting Apartments. That was where Whitney lived.
