Chapter b212 /b

    bChapter /bb212 /b

    Panting heavily, Maxine rushed downstairs, but it was already toote. She only managed to see two men shoving a struggling child into the back of ba /b

    bvan/b.

    She finally got a clear look at the child’s face. It was Brian, whom she hadn’t seen in days.

    “Brian!” Maxine screamed in panic, her legs almost buckling as she stumbled after the van. The man restraining Brian in the back tried to yank the door open to drag her in too, but the driver snapped, “You idiot! Just get the kid out of here now! Cops’ll be here any minute!b” /b

    The higher–ups only gave them ten minutes. Even though this was the back entrance, there were still plenty of people around, and someone might spot them and call the cops. If the police showed up, they’d both be screwed.

    Maxine could only watch helplessly as the van merged into traffic, utterly powerless ito /iistop /iit. All she could do wasmit its license te number to

    memory.

    She forced herself to calm down and wanted to pull out her phone to call the police, but when she fumbled in her pockets, she realized she hadn’t brought it with her. Not only that, she was only wearing her loungewear, and the biting cold wind made her shiver uncontrobly.

    Barefoot and still in her loungewear, she dashed into the deserted lobby. Seeing andline at reception, she hurried over and frantically dialed for help.

    “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” the receptionist eximed, snatching the phone from Maxine’s hand.

    The receptionist suddenly snatched the phone from Maxine’s hand with a startled cry, frowning at her suspiciously. But when she got a clear look at Maxine’s face, her expression abruptly changed. “Ms. Hudson?”

    Maxine gulped, her voice shaking as she stammered, “Please… call the police for me.”

    The receptionist’s face drained of color. She gasped, “What happened?”

    About ten minutester, Maxine sat huddled on the manager’s office sofa, wrapped tightly in a thick nket. She wore a pair of hastily bought slippers from the convenience store nearby, while across from her sat the questioning officers.

    She tried to remember everything that had just happened, but she had no idea how those men ended up at her door. By the time she realized what was going on, they were already running downstairs.

    The female officer reached out and gently patted Maxine on the shoulder. “Based on your description, it seems they’re only after a ransom. They’ll likely reach out to you soon. Once they make contact, we’ll have a real chance to rescue your child.”

    Maxine nodded, her voice trembling as she said, “Thank you for your help…”

    Just then, a man burst into the lobby, still clutching his phone and bags of food and fruitb, /bsweat pouring down his face. The moment he spotted Maxine sitting there with uniformed police officers, his face instantly paled.

    In just a few strides, he charged toward Maxine, his hulking frame instantly alerting the surrounding officers, who moved to intercept him.

    Thankfully, the bodyguard kept hisposure. Forcing a tense smile, he said, “Excuse me, I’m Ms. Hudson’s bodyguard. Could you please let me through?”

    Maxine, seated on the sofa, looked up at the sound. The officer beside her sought confirmation, and the bodyguard hastily exined, “Ms. Hudsonb, /bMr. Sebastian sent me, I’ve brought Mr. Brian to you.”

    Maxine shot to her feet, eyes red–rimmed with tears. “Where the hell were you just now?i” /ishe demanded.

    At this critical moment, the bodyguard was no fool, he instantly grasped what had happened. Clenching the bags tighter, he forced himself ito /istayposed. “Mr. Mason asked me to buy some things for you, but he refused toe with me,” he exined, his voice tense.

    The bodyguard had rushed to get the food as quickly as possible, but when he returned, Brian was nowhere to be seen. bAssuming /bbhe /bbhad /balready gone

    bupstairs/b, he took the

    b2/2 /b

    elevator bup /bhimself.