Estelle’s heart skipped a beat, and she asked, “Are you trying to threaten me?”
“No, I’m simply having a conversation,” Geoffrey clarified. “If you let go of Mr. Mysterious, you’ll still have your family and friends. However, if he chooses to be with you, he will lose everything.”
As they were talking, the car gradually came to a halt.
Geoffrey glanced outside and smiled, saying, “We’ve arrived at Yohan’s school.”
Estelle immediately looked out of the car window and spotted Yohan’s school across the road. Many students were coming out, and parents were waiting at the school gate.
“Miss Hudson, take your time to think this through. Mr. Mysterious’ benefactor wanted me to convey that he saved him once, but he can also destroy him if necessary. He hopes you won’t make a decision you’ll regret,” Geoffrey advised.
He then opened the car door and gestured for Estelle to step out.
“Our conversation hasn’t been pleasant. Since you don’t need a ride anymore, please go ahead and leave the car. Yvonne will be taken to the Hans’ House later,” he added.
Estelle asked, “Where is Mr. Mysterious now?”
“He…” Geoffrey said meaningfully, “You will see him today. Don’t worry. His benefactor still values him very much. He won’t be ruthless to Mr. Mysterious unless he has to.”
As soon as Estelle stepped out of the car, the door was closed behind her.
She stood there, watching the Lincoln limousine drive away slowly until it vanished from sight. The whole encounter felt surreal as if it had been a dream.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
It was Mr. Mysterious who called her.
Startled by the sight of over thirty missed calls from Mr. Mysterious, Estelle quickly answered the phone without hesitation.
“Hi, Sir.”
“Estelle, where are you now?”
“I’m at the gate of Yohan’s school. I’m here to pick him up.”
“Why didn’t you answer my phone?” Mr. Mysterious asked anxiously. “I thought something bad happened to you…”
Estelle recalled that when she was in the car just now, her phone didn’t ring at all.
Estelle’s mind raced as she thought, ‘There could have been a signal-blocking device in the car. Mr. Field must have forced me into the car to keep me from contacting Mr. Mysterious.’
“I’m fine. There may be something wrong with my phone,” she replied to Mr. Mysterious softly.
“Isn’t your phone newly bought?”
“Yes, but I dropped it by accident before. Maybe some part of it was broken.”
Hearing this, Mr. Mysterious breathed a sigh of relief and suggested, “I’ll buy you a new one. Have you picked up Yohan?”
“Not yet. He may come out soon. Sir, where are you now?”
“I… I have something to do now. I’ll go home tonight.”
“Got it.”
“Ron has gone to the court to submit the evidence today, so he couldn’t come to pick you up. Estelle, can you take a taxi?” Mr. Mysterious asked.
“Yes. Don’t worry.”
“Okay,” Mr. Mysterious stated with a sense of relief. “I’ve assisted you in reclaiming the company. Now, we just need to handle the matter of the car accident from six years ago. Once we bring the culprits to justice, we won’t have to carry the heavy emotional burden any longer.”
“Yeah.”
Mr. Mysterious chuckled and added, “By the way, I still owe you for seeing the snow. Once we witness the snow in Hadale, we’ll leave this place. Then, we can get married and have a wedding in a beautiful European church.”
Estelle was left speechless, trying to process all the overwhelming emotions and plans unfolding before her.
“Estelle, why are you so silent?”
“Nothing. I encountered a difficult problem and was thinking about how to solve it.”
With a gentle voice and a smile forming at the corner of his mouth, Mr. Mysterious assured, “If it’s about the company matter, don’t worry. Let’s discuss it tonight, and I’ll help you find a solution.”
“Okay.”
“Then… See you tonight.”
“See you tonight.”
Right after that, a clear and childish voice suddenly emerged from not far away.
“Mom, I miss you so much!” Yohan said as he threw herself into Estelle’s arms happily.
Estelle felt a dull pain in her incision, which hadn’t fully recovered, and frowned slightly in pain, but she didn’t push Yohan away.
Instead, she hugged him and said in a soft voice, “I miss you too.”
Yohan raised her head from her arms and said with his eyes sparkling, “Mom, I’m so surprised that you came to pick me up today! It’s usually Mrs. Moorsum who picks me up every day.”
Estelle chuckled and asked, “Are you happy?”
“Yes!” Yohan suddenly asked, “Mom, are we going to visit great-grandpa today?”
“Yes.”
“Are we going home to pick up my sister?”
“… No. We’ll go to your great-grandpa’s place directly. Yvonne is waiting for us there.”
“Did Dad or Mrs. Moorsum take Yvonne there first?”
Estelle paused and replied, “Neither.”
“Then it is our biological father who took her there, right?”
‘Cristofer?’ Estelle thought and shook her head.
‘He may not even remember that the kids will attend the Hans’ House today. After all, he is in a new relationship now. These days, he has never called to ask about the children’s condition.’
Holding Yohan’s hand, Estelle hailed a taxi and said with a smile, “Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep your sister and great-grandpa waiting.”
As Estelle had expected, Cristofer didn’t come.
When she and Yohan arrived at the Hans’ House, Gary, who looked forward to their coming, had been standing at the gate holding his crutch.
After getting out of the taxi, Estelle walked over with Yohan.
Gary was so excited that he opened his arms and squatted down, exclaiming, “Yohan!”
“Great-grandpa!” Yohan called him in a clear voice and turned to look at Estelle.
Seeing Estelle nod while smiling, he immediately let go of her hand and threw himself into Gary’s arms.
“Great Grandpa, I miss you so much!”
“Wow, Yohan, you’ve really grown taller! Let me check if you’ve also become stronger,” Gary exclaimed as he struggled to lift Yohan up.
As Gary struggled to stand up with Yohan in his arms, Luke and Estelle became anxious, witnessing his unsteady movements.
Reacting quickly, Estelle approached and gently held Gary’s arm, urging, “Grandpa Gary, please be cautious.”
Gary responded with joy, wearing a cheerful smile, “Oh, by the way, didn’t Cristofer come along with you? I asked Luke to call him to give you a ride.”
Luke explained, “I did call Mr. Hans, but he didn’t answer. Perhaps he’s occupied at the moment.”
It was only at this moment that Estelle noticed Luke was holding Yvonne in his arms.
“He didn’t answer the phone? Humph. He’s becoming more and more irresponsible. Yohan and Yvonne are his own children! We can only reunite with them once a week. I eagerly look forward to seeing them every day, but he doesn’t value this precious opportunity. It’s really disappointing,” Gary expressed his frustration.