Chapter 420 Just Smash the Door Open
Sharon followed her gut and opened the first drawer on the left side of the desk. Sure enough, there it was—the photo album from her childhood.
She pulled it out, the weight of nostalgia palpable in her hands. Brushing off the dust, she flipped open the album.
The first page had a picture of her as a one-month-old baby. She was lying in bed, wearing a pink knitted hat with colorful flowers and matching knitted clothes and pants, all handmade by Carolyn.
Seeing the chubby-cheeked baby, Sharon couldn't help but smile.
Seb had somehow snuck up behind her and, peeking over her shoulder at the album, grinned. "You were such a cute kid."
Sharon turned around and handed him the album. "Take your time with it. I'm gonna check if we need anything."
Seb nodded. "Sure thing."
Sharon left the bedroom and noticed Robert wasn't in the living room. After a quick search, she found him on the balcony.
Robert was standing by the railing, gazing at the playground of the nearby elementary school with a nostalgic look in his eyes.
He had lost a lot of weight during his hospital stay. Even his smallest-sized clothes now hung loosely on his frame, accentuating his frailty.
Sharon pressed her lips together and walked over. "Dad, what are you looking at?"
He pointed to the kids running around on the playground, smiling. "You used to go to this school. Remember?"
Sharon nodded. "Yeah, I remember."
"When you were in first grade, Carolyn would watch you from here on Wednesdays because you had gym class. Sometimes, I'd join her when I got home. You were only this tall back then." He gestured with his hand, his face full of memories. "You've grown up so fast."
Her memories of elementary school were fuzzy, just bits and pieces. She had no idea Carolyn used to watch her from the balcony. Robert and Carolyn had never mentioned it.
Seeing the sadness in Robert's eyes, Sharon didn't want to dwell on it and make him more upset. "Hey, Dad, it's not easy for you to live here alone. How about I hire someone to help out?"
Robert shook his head. "No need. I'm still capable of taking care of myself, and I don't want anyone else living here."
Sharon frowned. "How about I hire someone to come over daily to cook and clean? They can leave after they're done, so they won't be in your way."
Seeing that Robert was about to refuse, Sharon added, "You don't want me worrying about your meals every day, do you?"
"Alright," Robert said.
"The wind's pretty strong out here. Let me help you back inside to rest," Sharon said.
After helping Robert back to his room, Sharon realized the house was missing some essentials and decided to hit the supermarket.
She walked into the bedroom and saw Seb still engrossed in the album. She raised an eyebrow. "Still not done?"
Seb looked up and handed her a photo. "Is this your mom?"
Sharon glanced at it and nodded. "Yeah, she didn't like taking photos much, so we don't have many pictures together."
Seeing Seb staring intently at her mom's photo, his eyes deep in thought, Sharon frowned. "Why are you staring at my mom's photo?"
"I feel like I've seen her somewhere before," Seb replied.
"My mom passed away when I was in elementary school. You couldn't have met her," Sharon said.
Seb's eyes flickered, and he nodded. "Yeah, maybe she just looks like someone I know."
Sharon didn't dwell on it. She put the photo back in the album, closed it, and said, "I'm heading to the supermarket to grab some stuff. You coming?"
"Sure," Seb said.
Putting the album back in the drawer, Sharon and Seb left the house together.
At the supermarket, Sharon walked ahead, picking out items, while Seb pushed the cart behind her. Their good looks caught a lot of attention.
After grabbing the essentials, they reached the kitchen supplies section. She turned to Seb. "Should I buy some ingredients and cook at my dad's place tonight?"
"Up to you," Seb said.
"What do you want to eat?" Sharon asked.
"Anything's fine," Seb replied.
Sharon fell silent for a moment, scrutinizing Seb's face, a bit annoyed. "You've been distracted since we got here. What's on your mind?"
Seb shook his head. "Nothing. I feel like having grilled fish. Let's pick out a fish later."
Seeing that he didn't want to talk, Sharon frowned but didn't push it. She turned and walked into the seasoning aisle to pick out spices.
Watching her walk away, Seb's eyes were deep, and his face thoughtful. He was sure he had seen Sharon's mother before.
But according to Sharon, her mom had passed away when she was in elementary school and had always lived in Metropolis, so it was impossible for them to have met.
Seb had been brought back to the country by Tyler and Sandra when he was fifteen. His formative years were spent abroad.
Seb's phone suddenly vibrated. It was Paul. "Mr. Smith, I've sent Jesse's information to your email. By the way, Mr. Thomas had a lot of contact with him abroad, and their companies have close cooperation."
"Got it," Seb said.
Hanging up, Seb opened his email and downloaded the information Paul had sent.
Jesse's information was straightforward. His parents were from the United States of Atlantis, and he had immigrated as a child, growing up abroad. He had always excelled academically and was directly admitted to Scholar's Haven University in Stellaria. After graduation, he joined MK Group, became an executive in three years, and was now the vice president of MK, worth billions of dollars.
From Jesse's information, he had no connection with Sharon and no reason to investigate her.
Seb's eyes darkened, and he called Paul again, speaking in a low voice, "Use Falcon to investigate."
Falcon was a group of hackers Seb had trained abroad to dig up all sorts of information. There was almost nothing they couldn't find out.
Paul's expression changed, and his breathing became rapid. "Mr. Smith, it's just Jesse. There's no need to use Falcon."
"Do as I say," Seb said.
With that, he hung up the phone.
Paul sighed and dialed an international number.
At that moment, in a manor in Stellaria, a dozen men and women were having a party. All of them were around 6 feet tall, with handsome men and curvaceous women, making for a lively scene.
Suddenly, the phone of a man sitting by the pool, Norberto Tackett, rang.
Instantly, the previously lively manor fell silent, with all eyes turning to Norberto's phone.
Norberto picked up the phone and answered it. After listening for a moment, he responded with a simple "Got it" and hung up.
"Mr. Tackett, is it time to get to work?" A stunning woman in a red bikini sauntered up to him with a glass of champagne, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
They hadn't been called for a job in years, and everyone was getting antsy.
Norberto took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of striking eyes that outshone all the women present. "Alright, pack up and get ready to work."
As soon as he finished speaking, the dozen or so men and women around him immediately put down their glasses and headed into the manor.
The second floor of the manor, originally comprised of four separate rooms on the left wing, had been transformed into one expansive, rectangular command center filled with a dozen computers.
Everyone quickly took their seats, firing up their computers in synchronized efficiency and looking in unison at the last man to enter.
Norberto opened his computer, his face expressionless. "I'll assign the tasks now."
Soon, a document popped up on everyone's computer. After reading it, the room was filled with the sound of keyboards and mice clicking.
Back in Metropolis, Sharon and Seb returned home with groceries. The cleaner had already left.
Sharon carried the groceries into the kitchen, and Seb followed her.
"Sharon, let me help you," Seb said.
Sharon didn't hesitate and handed him the vegetables. "You can start by washing these."
"Okay," Seb said.
Seb placed the bag of fresh produce in the sink, then deftly retrieved a colander. Rolling up his sleeves, he turned on the faucet.
One washed the vegetables while the other chopped them, and soon the food was ready.
Sharon asked Seb to call Robert for dinner while she tidied up the kitchen.
Robert walked out of the bedroom and saw the delicious food on the table, a complex look flashing in his eyes.
Sharon, who once couldn't cook at all, could now prepare a meal so quickly.
Thinking carefully, Robert realized he had not only wronged Carolyn but also Sharon.
Seeing his sad expression, Sharon handed him a bowl of soup. "Dad, let's eat."
"Sharon, have you had a hard time these past few years?" Robert asked.
If Robert hadn't sided with Karen back then, Sharon wouldn't have cut off contact with him for five years. Every time he thought about it, his heart ached unbearably.
"It's all in the past; there's no need to bring it up," Sharon replied.
A look of disappointment flashed in Robert's eyes, and he felt even more guilty.
Sharon spoke calmly, "Don't think too much about it. I stopped blaming you a long time ago. Besides, if it weren't for those five years, I wouldn't be who I am today."
With Robert still around, Sharon felt she could fully embrace her role as a devoted daughter while also enjoying the love and companionship of Seb and their son.
People had to look forward. If they always wallowed in self-pity and blamed the world, life would only get harder.
Seeing her calm demeanor, Robert sighed. "I've lived so many years, but I haven't figured things out as well as you have."
"The most important thing for you now is to take good care of your health and enjoy your later years. Don't worry about anything else," Sharon said.
Robert smiled. "Alright."
He should learn to be content. After all, for the past five years, he had prayed every day for Sharon to be alive. Now that his wish had come true, he shouldn't ask for more.
After dinner, Sharon and Seb sat with Robert for a while before leaving. On the way back, Sharon got a call from Randy, asking if Sophie was with her.
Sharon, who had been feeling drowsy, instantly woke up.
"Sophie isn't with me. You can't reach her?" Sharon asked.
"Yeah, Sophie told me this afternoon that she was going to a class reunion tonight. I said I'd pick her up, but I got delayed by a meeting. When I arrived, the private room was empty, and she isn't answering her phone," Randy replied anxiously.
Sharon frowned. "Don't worry. Did she tell you which reunion it was?"
"It seemed to be a high school reunion," Randy answered.
"Alright, I'll ask around," Sharon said.
In high school, Sharon and Sophie were in neighboring classes, so she knew many of Sophie's classmates.
After hanging up, Sharon opened Facebook and found someone from the neighboring class, asking if they knew who was at the dinner tonight.
Upon learning that Sophie couldn't be reached, the person immediately asked around and soon called Sharon. "Sharon, I just asked Domingo and the others. Domingo said a man came to pick Sophie up. They were all a bit drunk and didn't think much of it, assuming he was her boyfriend."
Sharon's heart tightened. "Alright, thank you."
She ended the call and immediately contacted Randy, asking him to check the restaurant's surveillance footage to see if they could get the license plate number of the car that had taken Sophie.
"Alright, thank you, Ms. Roach," Randy said.
Randy turned and walked into the restaurant. Knowing he wanted to check the surveillance, the manager immediately took him to the control room. "Mr. Smith, this is the footage from around 8:50 PM."
In the footage, Sophie and a dozen classmates walked out of the restaurant, their faces flushed and eyes a bit dazed.
Soon, a black Maybach pulled up at the hotel entrance. A man who looked like an assistant got out, helped Sophie into the car, and quickly drove away. Unfortunately, the restaurant's surveillance didn't capture the car's license plate.
Seeing Randy's grim expression, the manager began to sweat, wiping his forehead nervously. "Mr. Smith, maybe we should check the street surveillance. It must have captured the license plate."
"No need. Rewind the footage by one minute," Randy said.
The operator quickly complied, rewinding to the moment the assistant opened the car door and helped Sophie in.
"Pause," Randy asked.
The footage froze, revealing half of the other man's face as he opened the car door. Randy's lips curled into a cold smile.
Though he was smiling, the atmosphere around him was oppressive.
"Mr. Smith," the manager stammered, his legs almost giving out from fear.
Randy ignored him and quickly walked out of the control room.
The secretary hurried to catch up. "Mr. Smith, what should we do next?"
"Go to The Thomas Villa," Randy's voice was icy, each word sending chills down the spine.
The secretary shivered. "Yes, sir."
On the way, neither the driver nor the secretary dared to breathe loudly. The air pressure in the car was so low it was suffocating. Randy sat in the back seat like an ice sculpture radiating cold, capable of freezing anyone in an instant.
When the car stopped at The Thomas Villa, dozens of well-trained men in black were already standing outside.
As soon as Randy got out, the leader of the men in black stepped forward. "Mr. Smith."
Randy's expression was indifferent, his lips barely moving. "Break down the door."
"Yes, sir!" The men in black said.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
