“I’m pretty sure Mommy was the one who called me,” Samuel asserted confidently.
Boyce glanced at Matthew, exchanging a knowing look. Matthew asked, “Can you track her location?”
“The call lasted only a few seconds, so I can’t pinpoint her exact location, but I can determine the region based on the number,” Boyce explained.
Samuel couldn’t contain his excitement. “If I call that number back, can’t we find out where she is?” All he wanted was to find his Mommy as soon as possible.
Matthew firmly held Samuel’s hand, increasing his grip and pulling the boy into his embrace. Samuel tried to struggle, but Matthew gently pressed his shoulders. “If your mommy is safe, she’ll surely reach out to you. But during that call, you heard another person’s voice, which means she’s not free at the moment. If you suddenly call her back, what if the bad guy catches on?”
Samuel reluctantly admitted that Matthew made sense. If his mom was free, she would have called him. The fact that she hadn’t reached out again meant that she was likely being monitored by the kidnapper.
“What do we do now?” Samuel asked anxiously.
“Trust me, we will find her. Don’t worry,” Matthew assured him, successfully diverting Samuel’s attention. The boy had completely forgotten that he was sitting on Matthew’s lap. His focus was solely on figuring out how to locate his mom.
Boyce quietly glanced at them. “I’ll guide the driver on the routes.”
Using the landline number, he had determined the region. Although it was still a large area, reaching that destination would bring them closer to Dolores’ hiding place, which would significantly aid in their search.
“Okay,” Matthew replied nonchalantly.
“Will we find Mommy?” Samuel inquired.
“Absolutely,” Matthew replied with conviction.
He had unwavering faith.
He would undoubtedly bring her back!
Boyce entered the scene. “We’ll make a stop at the service area. Let’s get the kids out for some fresh air.”
Staying inside the caravan would become tedious. Although the vehicle was equipped with all the necessities of a home, it had limited space.
Samuel stood up. “I’ll come with you.”
“Sure.” Boyce extended his hand. “Hold my hand.”
Samuel obediently placed his hand in Boyce’s palm.
“Take care of him,” Matthew requested.
The service area would be crowded with various people, and he didn’t want Samuel to get lost in the commotion.
“I will,” Boyce assured, glancing at Matthew and wondering why he had become so overly concerned since becoming a father.
Boyce believed that as an adult, he was perfectly capable of looking after the boy.
However, he understood how much Matthew loved his son, so he didn’t say anything further.
“Let’s see if we can find a spot to rest.”
Boyce led Samuel off the caravan, while Matthew walked to the back compartment to pick up his daughter.
The little girl was still asleep, her rosy cheeks chubby. Matthew leaned down and lifted her. As soon as she stirred, her eyes fluttered open. She gazed at Matthew and called out in a soft, sweet tone, “Daddy.”
Her voice melted Matthew’s heart. He planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Let’s get off and take a break.”
The mention of being able to leave the caravan immediately energized the little girl. She shook off her sleepiness. “Can we buy something?”
Matthew caressed her button nose affectionately and said lovingly, “Of course.”
A wide grin stretched across the girl’s face.
Simona’s hair was slightly disheveled. Matthew wanted to brush it, but as soon as he made a move, she winced. “Ouch, it hurts!”
Matthew had never brushed someone else’s hair before.
In a rush, he halted and put the comb down. “I’ve never done this before, brushing someone else’s hair.”
Simona looked at herself in the mirror and realized her hair was indeed messy. However, she didn’t want her father to comb it for her. She pouted. “Daddy, do you think I look ugly, so you want to comb my hair?”
Matthew was left speechless.
“Absolutely not. You’re the most beautiful girl in the whole wide world. No one even comes close to you,” Matthew reassured her, lifting her up. “Forget about it.”
The little girl nestled on his shoulder. “I’m hungry. Let’s get some food.”
Matthew glanced at her. Samuel had mentioned that she had an insatiable appetite, and it seemed to ring true.
But he adored her for it.
He had encountered countless conniving, two-faced, and hypocritical individuals. Having such a naive and lively child in his life made him realize that his existence held meaning once again.
“Daddy, look! Over there!” Simona pointed her index finger toward the nearby supermarket.
Matthew replied patiently, “Yes, I see it.”
He felt both helpless and enamored by her behavior. As they entered the supermarket, Simona insisted on being let down. She wanted to pick out the food herself.
Perhaps due to the location being a service area, prices in the supermarket were inflated, resulting in fewer customers. Matthew set her down, and she happily trotted away.
Matthew furrowed his brow slightly and followed her. “Slow down.”
“I want this one!” Simona grabbed a box of chocolates and cradled it in her arms. “And I want potato chips, and this one, and that one…” Within seconds, she found herself unable to carry everything. She called out to Matthew, frustration evident in her voice. “Daddy, I can’t reach that one!”
The shelf was too high for her to reach the snack she desired.
Standing behind her, Matthew extended his arm and effortlessly retrieved the snack for his daughter. “I’ll hold it for you.”
“No.” Simona shook her head. She felt secure only when she was holding them herself.
“Put that one back. It’s too expensive,” a mother advised her son from across the aisle.
The boy glanced longingly at the bottle of fruit juice but didn’t insist. His mother handed him a bottle of mineral water. “Drink this if you’re thirsty.”
The woman paid for the mineral water, and they proceeded to the checkout.
Simona looked at the items in her arms, then glanced at the boy and his mother. She raised her head and looked at Matthew. “Daddy, did I take too many things? Are they expensive? Will it cost a lot of money?”
Matthew squatted in front of his daughter. He reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. He replied gently, “Not at all. I’ll do my best to earn even more money so you can buy whatever you want.”
“Daddy, I love you.” Simona leaned over and kissed Matthew on the cheek. “Can I have that bottle of juice, please?”
Matthew was still taken aback by his daughter’s kiss. He reached up to touch his cheek, where her saliva lingered.
He didn’t find it dirty; instead, he recognized it as the love his daughter had for him. His face lit up with joy as he stood up and retrieved the bottle of juice for her.
Simona took the juice and trotted over to the cashier’s counter. She handed it to the boy. “This is for you.”
“We don’t need it,” the boy’s mother replied awkwardly.
“My daddy will pay for it,” Simona insisted, persistently extending her hand. She widened her bright, big eyes and looked at the boy. He appeared somewhat thin, wearing a hoodie with black stripes. It wasn’t from a famous brand, nor was it new, but it was clean.
The boy glanced at her but didn’t reach out. Although the little girl’s hair was slightly disheveled, he could sense that she came from a wealthy family.
Observing her innocent and naive eyes, he realized she had been shielded from the hardships of life.
Only those who had never experienced life’s cruelties, who were oblivious to the darkness that lay within human hearts, could possess such crystal-clear eyes.
He politely declined, “No, thank you.”
“But don’t you really want it?” Simona blinked.
“I do, but I should rely on myself.” After saying this, he tugged his mother’s hand. “Mom, let’s go.”
The woman paid for the mineral water and led the boy away.
Simona stood frozen, watching the boy’s retreating figure with a sense of loss.
She wondered if she had done something wrong.
Had she made a mistake?
Since Simona’s offer had been rejected, she began doubting herself.
She kept questioning herself inwardly.
Matthew lifted her up and ruffled her hair. He comforted her, “Simona, are you feeling sad?”
Simona nodded. “I could tell that he really wanted it, so I wanted to give it to him. Why did he say no?”
Matthew gazed out the window and saw the mother and her son standing by a bus, squinting into the distance. He could sense the boy’s pride and dignity, knowing that he would grow up to be a capable man.
“Simona, in this world, not everyone appreciates or accepts acts of kindness.” He understood that his daughter had acted out of genuine kindness. She felt compassion for the boy because he couldn’t obtain what he desired.
However, in the boy’s eyes, her kindness appeared as pity.
And the boy didn’t want to be pitied.
Matthew tenderly brushed his daughter’s forehead. “Your mother has done an excellent job of protecting you.”