bChapter /bb232 /b

    London gasped sharply.

    She struggled to get up, and Cleo quickly reached out to support her. “Don’t be afraid,” Cleo reassured her, “We’re here to help you. These men are police

    officers.”

    London came to her senses and warily scanned the men before her. The team leader quickly pulled out his badge and held it up. “We’re police officers,” he said reassuringly, “There’s no need to be afraid.”

    London, still panting anxiously, nodded. Suddenly, as if she had just remembered something important, she tried to speak but could only make burgent/b, wordless sounds, frantically waving her hands in an attempt tomunicate.

    Cleo paused, surprised. “You can’t talk?” she asked gently.

    Cleo took out her phone and ced it in front of London. She asked gently, “Can you read and write? You can type what you want to tell us hereb.” /b

    London snatched the phone and, with trembling fingers, typed shakily: [Ms. Hudson has already escaped with the child!]

    She pointed a trembling finger toward the window, then struggled to her feet, staggered over, and leaned against the windowsill, urgently gesturing bin /bba /bspecific direction.

    Cleo had a sudden realization. “Are they heading that way?” she asked urgently.

    London nodded vigorously.

    Startled, one of the officers gasped, “Damn it! We need to contact headquarters immediately and dispatch a helicopter for the search!”

    A heavy snowfall hit just a few days ago, and despite the warmer temperatures, the snow on the mountains still hadn’t melted. If those two were to bget /blost up there now, their chances of survival would be next to zero.

    Cleo also realized the urgency. She immediately grabbed her phone and called Sebastian.

    Just then, Sebastian, apanied by two police officers, had only been moving through the vi for a short while when he came face–to–face with Hamlin, nked by his bodyguards.

    Hamlin’s expression darkened at the sight of him, but as the seasoned old hand he was, he quickly masked his distaste and said pointedly, “I didn’t expect Mr. Mason to barge into someone else’s home unannounced.”

    Sebastian was on the verge of losing it after failing to find Maxine, and was in no mood for Hamlin’s pleasantries.

    “Mr. Jenson, you didn’t even give me a heads–up before bringing my son here and locking him up!” Sebastian shot back.

    Hamlin’s expression shifted. He deliberately cleared his throat and said, “Mr. Masonb, /bI don’t understand what you mean. With the police right hereb, /bplease don’t make baseless allegations without evidence.”

    Sebastian was about to respond when his phone suddenly rang in his hand.

    Cleo’s urgent voice came through the phone, “Sebastian! I just spoke to the housekeeper. She said Maxine has already bescaped /bbwith /bthe child! bCheck /bball /bpossible exits immediately! The police have already dispatched ba /bhelicopter to search for them!”

    Sebastian hung up the phone. For a split second, a fierce, almost savage look shed across his face.

    With slow, deliberate steps, he approached Hamlin. Instantly, Hamlin’s bodyguards swiftly stepped forward, blocking bhis way/b.

    Hamlin fixed him with a stern look. “What are you trying to do, Mr. Masonb?/bb” /b

    Sebastian suddenly smirked and said bin /ba low voice, “Your housekeeper just told bme /bbthat /bMaxine bran /bout with bmy /bbson/bb. /bbIf /bbanything /bbhappens /bbto /bbthem /bbin /b

    bthose /bmountains, I’ll make sure everyst member of the Jenson family ends up behind bars.”

    Hamlin couldn’t hide his panic any longer. He shot Sebastian a furious re.

    Thetter smirked, menace clear in his voice. “Don’t think for a second I don’t know all the dirty dealings yourpany has been involved in. bEven /bbif /bMaxine isn’t here, I’ll make sure someone stands trial in her ce.”

    With that, without waiting for Hamlin’s response, Sebastian turned and strode out of the courtyard.

    Following Cleo’s tip, Sebastian first headed to the back entrance, where he spotted on–duty bodyguards. Without hesitation, he immediately made for the side door the housekeeper had mentioned.

    bAD /b