CHAPTER 231: CHAPTER 231: JUDE SINCLAIR ESCAPES

Thinking of Jude Sinclair’s disheveled appearance earlier, it didn’t seem like he had been sent back home.

Jude cried for a while until he finally calmed down and then slowly began to explain.

As it turned out, Jude wasn’t deceived. Naturally, he wouldn’t easily follow a stranger. After asking the man many questions, he discovered that the man knew Desmond Fairchild quite well. Nevertheless, Jude didn’t fall for it.

The man then directly attempted to grab Jude. Jude initially thought he could handle him but hadn’t expected that the other man was trained in martial arts; despite having trained for so long, Jude couldn’t break free.

He was about to call for help and hoped his teacher would rescue him.

But then, he heard the man’s sinister laugh by his ear: "If you dare call her to help you, she’ll be the first to die today."

The man took the risk of kidnapping in broad daylight. Jude believed that if he cried for help, this man would definitely harm his teacher, so he had no choice but to pretend to comply and get into the car.

Upon hearing this, Desmond Fairchild understood.

No wonder the teacher didn’t notice anything unusual, and no wonder Jude was taken away.

Eric Holt, you’re really courting death.

Jude continued, "The man thought I was an ordinary child, so he didn’t tie me up after we got in the car. I deliberately cried and caused a scene to annoy him."

Later on, the annoyed man wanted to smoke but found that he was out of cigarettes, so he parked the car by the roadside to buy some. Before he did, he locked the car windows, not at all worried that a little kid could escape.

But Jude wasn’t just any ordinary child. While others’ backpacks held textbooks and comic books, his contained a computer, phone, and some tools.

He pulled a small hammer out of his bag and, taking advantage of the man’s absence, furiously smashed the car window and escaped through it.

Since it was his first time doing this, he wasn’t very skilled; he jumped down and rolled onto the mud-covered grass, resulting in his disheveled appearance.

Additionally, the car had already driven to a relatively secluded place with no big stores and where it was impossible to hail a cab, so Jude knew that even if he jumped out of the window and ran, he wouldn’t get far before being caught again.

He could only take a gamble and, after jumping out of the car, hid in a nearby pile of grass.

When the man returned from buying cigarettes and saw the smashed car window and the missing person, he instinctively believed that Jude had run away and immediately drove off to give chase.

Who would have thought that Jude hadn’t run away but stayed put until the car disappeared from sight? Then Jude ran frantically in the direction they had come from.

He remembered there was a police station not far away on the way there. The kidnapper wasn’t stupid, and when he couldn’t find Jude ahead, he would definitely turn back. Jude had to run to the police station as quickly as possible to seek help.

From there, things went relatively smoothly. He ran all the way to the police station and told them he had accidentally gotten lost while playing, after which they sent him back home.

Desmond Fairchild patted his head affectionately, "For the time being, don’t go out. I’ll arrange for someone to protect you."

It was partly because Jude was smart that he was able to return safely this time, but mostly because the perpetrator had let down his guard with a child and underestimated Jude.

If this happened again, they wouldn’t be so lucky.

"Okay," Jude nodded obediently. "Dad, can we not tell Mom about this? I’m afraid she’ll be worried."

"Sure," Desmond’s brows furrowed tightly.

Telling Seraphina really doesn’t make much difference. As long as they stay together, situations like this will keep happening, just like before, today, and even in the future. Being with him won’t be safe.

After Jude finished dinner, he went back to his room to sleep, exhausted from such a long afternoon, he quickly fell asleep.

Around ten o’clock in the evening, Seraphina Sinclair called, "So? Did you pick up our son today?"

"Yes," Desmond replied coolly.

"Why haven’t you gone to bed yet? Are you busy with work?" Seraphina didn’t seem to notice Desmond’s unusual behavior.

"Yes," came the same cold reply.

Seraphina sighed, "Even though it’s already March, it’s still pretty cold here. Take good care of yourself and the kids at home."

Desmond’s lips pressed together slightly, taking a few seconds to respond, "Got it."

"You seem a bit off today. Is something at work bothering you?" Seraphina, being attentive, noticed that while Desmond usually spoke this way, he wasn’t like this with her; why was he so cold today?

Checking herself, it didn’t seem as though she’d done anything excessive these past few days. What was up with Desmond?

She was about to ask, but Desmond suddenly claimed that he had work to tend to and promptly hung up.

Seraphina stared at her phone, totally baffled, and could only fume, "Damn man, you better have a reasonable explanation, or when I get back, I’ll stew you."

After wrapping up the contract signing ceremony, Seraphina eagerly boarded a return flight; just the thought of Desmond’s attitude last night was enough to stoke her anger.

What on earth was wrong with this man all of a sudden? Could it be that time of the month for men?

Upon returning to Bayside City, Seraphina headed directly to Azure Cloud Shores, charging straight into Desmond’s study as soon as she entered: "Desmond Fairchild, what was with that sarcastic tone on the phone yesterday? What got into you?"

She swung open the door, but the study was empty.

Turning around, Chloe Irving’s voice came from behind, "Ma’am, Master Fairchild hasn’t returned yet."

"Really?" Seraphina glanced at her watch, "It’s nearly nine o’clock, and he’s still not back?"

"Perhaps he’s working late," Chloe said, handing Seraphina a hot towel, "Ma’am, wipe your face first; I’ll go prepare dinner."

Seraphina nodded slightly, "Okay."

Since Desmond wasn’t there, she’d have to confront him another day.

She turned and walked into Jude’s room, finding that the little boy had fallen asleep on his bed without even covering himself with a blanket.

It’s early spring in March, a time for warmth, yet the mornings and nights still hold a chill.

Seraphina sighed helplessly, gently tucking Jude in.

With her son asleep and desmond not yet home, and with dinner still a bit off, Seraphina picked up a book to pass the time.

"Ma’am, dinner’s ready," Chloe said with a bright smile, knocking on Seraphina’s study half an hour later.

Looking at the abundant spread of dishes on the table, Seraphina, remembering that Desmond was still working late, signaled Chloe over, "Chloe, help me pack these dishes."

"What’s this?" Chloe was puzzled.

"I’m going to Cloudsea Group," Seraphina smiled.

Chloe quickly understood, and the servants hurriedly packed the meal into Seraphina’s car.

Having been to Desmond’s Cloudsea Group before, Seraphina confidently made her way to the executive offices. But before pushing open the door, she heard a coquettish female voice inside, "President Fairchild, don’t forget what you promised me..."

Before the voice could finish, Seraphina pushed the door open, her gaze landing on the two inside.

The woman, delicate and pliant as if she had no bones, was sitting on Desmond’s lap, her slender, graceful arm wrapped around Desmond’s neck, in an intimate manner.