Chapter 102 Kidnapping Lauren
Lauren blushed as the surrounding laughter echoed in her ears.
The pregnant woman stifled her giggles and said, "I'm not laughing at you. It’s just that talking to the baby doesn’t always work. This is my third attempt at a 4D ultrasound, and my baby always turns away, hiding his face."
Lauren listened attentively. "Is there any way to make him turn around?"
The woman shook her head, smiling ruefully. "I've tried everything—climbing stairs, doing squats. Nothing worked. I had to keep rescheduling."
Lauren nodded thoughtfully. 'This could be more challenging than I thought. Hopefully, my baby cooperates. Otherwise, I’ll be coming back over and over.'
Finally, the doctor called her name, breaking her anxious thoughts.
Lauren entered the 4D ultrasound room with determined strides. The room was equipped with an LCD monitor hanging opposite the examination bed, much like a regular ultrasound room.
"Please lie down on the bed," the doctor instructed. "You'll see your baby on that screen."
Excitement bubbling within her, Lauren lay down and fixed her gaze on the screen, eagerly awaiting the start of the examination.
"Relax. Very good. Look, here’s the baby’s leg and foot," the doctor said gently.
Lauren’s heart swelled with joy as she saw the tiny foot on the screen. "That's my baby’s foot," she murmured, a smile spreading across her face.
"These are the baby’s arm and hand. You see, there are five complete fingers," the doctor continued.
Lauren nodded vigorously. "Doctor, is my baby healthy?"
The doctor paused, then replied, "We can’t say for certain yet. The baby’s left hand is covering his face, so we can't see the eyes, eye sockets, or nose bridge."
A sense of foreboding crept into Lauren’s heart. "What should I do?"
The doctor smiled reassuringly. "Put your clothes on and go eat something to stimulate the baby. Then climb some stairs and exercise a bit. Once he moves his hand, we can try again."
"Alright," Lauren said, though uncertainty clouded her mind.
Noticing her confusion, the doctor added, "You can eat some chocolate or bananas. Return when you feel the baby moving."
Grateful for the advice, Lauren left the room and headed to buy the recommended snacks. As she walked, she spoke softly to her belly, "Baby, aren’t you usually active? Why hide your face now? Are you shy? Please cooperate so Mommy doesn’t have to climb stairs!"
As if understanding, the baby gave a little kick, making Lauren smile with relief. To be sure, she decided to buy both chocolate and bananas. Eating more might encourage the baby to move.
Taking out her phone, she texted Ethan: "The exam isn't going smoothly. I'm buying something to eat and then trying again."
Ethan’s reply came quickly: "Be safe and eat plenty. I’ll come to pick you up soon."
Lauren smiled and replied, "Okay."
Unbeknownst to her, two men were silently following her.
The hospital’s supermarket was on the other side, requiring Lauren to cross a long parking lot. She had walked this route many times, usually amidst bustling crowds.
As she neared her destination, Lauren wiped the sweat from her brow. Suddenly, a hand clamped over her mouth, and she was dragged into a nearby car.
Lauren never expected to be kidnapped in broad daylight. She struggled fiercely, but a wave of dizziness overtook her. She lost consciousness, never glimpsing her captors' faces.
An hour later, Ethan grew increasingly anxious when no messages came from Lauren. Yet, he couldn’t leave his meeting; his father had arranged for him to meet someone important. He was impatient, hoping to conclude the meeting quickly and find Lauren.
Finally, the mysterious guest arrived. Ethan looked up, surprised to see Quentin.
'Why is he here? The Robinson Conglomerate and the White Group have never collaborated. This can’t be a coincidence,' Ethan mused.
Quentin approached with a meaningful smile. "Long time no see, Mr. White."
Ethan’s face darkened, preoccupied with Lauren’s absence. He pulled Quentin aside. "I can't reach Lauren."
Quentin’s expression flickered with concern but quickly returned to its usual mask. "And what does that have to do with me?" he retorted, annoyance evident in his voice.
"Quentin, I don’t believe you're heartless. Lauren is really missing. I’m not joking," Ethan said, regretting having to confide in Quentin.
"Forget it. I don’t have time for this. I need to find her," Ethan said anxiously, turning away.
Seeing Ethan’s distress, Quentin realized the gravity of the situation. Though he concealed his worry, he couldn’t ignore it.
"Alright, since Mr. White is too busy, I’ll take my leave," Quentin said, his tone indifferent.
As Quentin left, the White Group employees were puzzled but refrained from asking questions.
The moment Quentin exited, Ethan instructed his staff to return to their posts and swiftly drove to the hospital to search for Lauren.
A car was parked at the entrance of the White Group. Inside, Quentin watched Ethan drive away, his expression intense. "Follow him," he ordered.
Cecilia, his assistant, nodded. "But Mr. Robinson, what about the cooperation discussion with the White Group? Are we just leaving?"
Quentin’s gaze was steely. "We never intended to cooperate. This was just a ruse to gather information about Lauren."
Initially, Quentin had thought Ethan was testing him with the news of Lauren's disappearance. But encountering this situation on the very day Lauren went missing couldn't be mere coincidence.
'Whoever dares to harm Lauren will face dire consequences,' Quentin vowed silently.
Cecilia had long been puzzled by Quentin's sudden interest in cooperating with the White Group. Now, with the abrupt end to their supposed collaboration, her confusion deepened.
Despite working closely with Quentin for years, his motives remained an enigma to her.
