Chapter 3

I had a feeling Alex was still alive. Maybe Nolan was hiding him.

Based on the candy and angel comments, I could guess where Alex was being hidden. Back in the day, when Nolan had married into my family, his mother had cut ties with him. I would bet that Alex was at her house.

I tossed and turned all night. I wanted very much to fly straight to Somerton to join the search, but I could not leave Lucy.

I heard the ping of a phone notification.

I looked at the message. My assistant, Sam, had sent me the results of the paternity test.

There was a 99.99% chance of a direct paternal relation of Nolan and Jackson.

I subconsciously gripped the fabric of my top within my fist, wrinkling it horribly. The disgust I felt was unbearable.

I breathed in deeply. It was time to head into the office.

In the expansive office, Nolan was focused on his work, his gold-rimmed glasses nearly buried in the screen.

He suddenly looked up to see me, and his eyes flashed with panic.

He swiftly closed the window on the computer and got up. He pulled me to a seat with him on the couch.

“Rosa, what are you doing here? Do you feel tired? You should be resting at home. Besides, Lucy and Alex are both still so young. They can’t leave you. You should rest at home tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of the company.”

Nolan had said this to me in the previous timeline as well.

It had taken a lot of time and effort to wean Lucy. But after that, she kept having to be admitted to the hospital because of allergies.

I had been exhausted, so I had no choice but to let Nolan deal with the company’s affairs.

Before I could blink, my position as president had been stripped, and my shares had been transferred away.

My lawyers, the people I trusted, had all called me numerous times. But back then, my phone line was tied up by doctors’ calls.

When I came back to myself, my gaze had darkened.

“I already said that I only ever have one Alex.”

Nolan paused in rubbing my shoulders.

“But you’re right. Lucy needs me right now. I’ll bring her along next time.”

Mrs. Volescu suddenly called, her video popping up.

I immediately got a sinking feeling in my gut.

“Mrs. Grey, Lucy is sick! I’m driving to the hospital now!”

I heard Lucy coughing, and the sound made my heart wrench.

I could see a rash on Lucy’s body. Her face was twisted up in agony. She was suffocating.

My heart pounded in my chest as I rushed downstairs to get into the car. I slammed my foot on the gas pedal.

“Turn around and go to the nearest children’s hospital. Look for Dr. Andersen!”

The security system at home only had the past one minute recorded and ready for replay.

However, my spy cam had recorded the footage of the nanny sneakily putting something on the milk bottle.

The results returned very swiftly. The doctor solemnly said, “It’s capsaicin.”

A ringing started up in my ears.

“Capsaicin?”

“That’s right. Based on its intensity, this did not come from a normal chili pepper. It’s much more potent. An adult might not be able to handle it, much less a baby.”

I touched Lucy’s boiling hot forehead and suddenly recalled that this had also happened in the previous timeline.

With all the times she had an allergic reaction and went to hospital, I thought she simply had a weak constitution.

Regret and rage roiled within me.

I had been given a second chance to get things right, but I still could not protect Lucy.

My phone vibrated with notifications of many new messages.

[Madam Bradley, there have been unusual transactions in your account. Would you like to put a freeze on your account?]

[Madam Bradley, there seems to be a malicious buyout happening with the company funds.]

[Madam Bradley…]

Blood rushed to my head, making me dizzy.

I clutched my phone so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I took a deep breath.

“Carry out the plan as we discussed. Collect evidence.”

Once the call was cut, I threw the phone hard at the wall. The device cracked, and glass tinkled to the floor.

“Nolan Grey, I’ll make you regret ever being born!”

...

Thankfully, Lucy had been brought to the doctor in time, and she was mostly fine.

I didn’t trust anyone else. I started caring for Lucy myself. I changed her diapers and fed her. I did not let her out of my sight for a second.

Nolan had not expected the nanny to get caught. When he took time off to see Lucy in hospital, he said casually, “Rosa, why did you pick a private hospital?”

I casually answered him. “I just randomly picked this one in my rush. By the way, have you heard anything from Alex today? Let’s hear it.”

“Oh, um. Yes, I did hear something.”

I got even more information from him, and I confirmed that he was mimicking Alex’s style of speech.

I had to find my dear Alex as soon as possible. He must be waiting for me.

A few days later, Nolan came to pick me and Lucy up from the hospital.

Before we walked through the front door of our home, I heard a familiar voice coming from the living room. My heart sank.

When I opened the door, I could not find Mrs. Volescu.

Instead, Angela was sitting like a queen on the couch. She was watching TV as she rocked the baby’s cradle.

When she saw me, her eyes flashed with cruel jealousy before the look faded. She smiled and nodded at me.

“Sir, Madam, welcome home.”